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HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON SEVEN
VAH-7 "PEACEMAKERS OF THE FLEET"

Commissioned at NAS Moffen Field, California, in October, 1950, Composite Squadron Seven moved to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, in 1951, and to NAS Sanford, Florida, in 1955. Redesignated VAH-7 on July 1, 1955, the squadron exchanged its Savages for Skywarriors in early 1958. However, VAH-7's association with the Douglas heavy attack aircraft lasted only a little over three years (during which only a partial deployment was made when some VAH-7 aircraft and crews supplemented VAH-1 aboard the USS Independence, CVA-62) as it began its transition to North American A3J-1s in August, 1961. After transitioning to the RA-5C, the Peacemakers became RVAH-7 on December 1, 1964.

HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON EIGHT
VAH-8 "FIREBALLERS"

In existence for less than 11 years, VAH-8 nevertheless became one of the foremost proponents of the Skywarrior. Commissioned as VAH-8 at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, on May 1,1957, the squadron received its first A3D-2 three months later and departed for its first WestPac deployment aboard the USS Midway (CVA-41) in August, 1958. At the end of its next WestPac cruise in March, 1960, nine of its A3D-2s accomplished a "first" when they were launched from the Midway some 2100 miles west of Hawaii; refueling at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, and NAS Alameda, California, these aircraft flew over 5500 miles in 10.9 hours to reach their homeport at NAS Whidbey Island.

 A four plane detachment (Det Lima) deployed aboard the USS Lexington, bound for the Taiwan Straits, on July 17, 1958. They returned in Dec. 18, 1958.

During the Southeast Asia War, VAH-8 made three combat cruises (one aboard the Midway and two aboard the Constellation, CVA-64) prior to being disestablished on January 17, 1968.

HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON NINE
VAH-9 "HOOT OWLS"

The squadron came into being in January, 1953, when it was commissioned as Composite Squadron Nine at NAS Sanford, Florida. Flying Savages, VC-9 conducted the Navy's first inflight refueling operations while deployed aboard the USS Midway (CVA-41) in 1953. Redesignated VAH-9 on November 1, 1955, the unit received its first Skywarriors 14 months later. Thereafter VAH-9 flew A3Ds for eight years, making six Med deployments aboard the USS Saratoga (CVA-60). Transition to the RA-5C began in April, 1964, the unit's designation was changed to RVAH-9 in June, and the last A-3B was transferred out on August 4, 1964.

HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON TEN
VAH-10 "VIKINGS"

Commissioned at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, on May 1,1961, VAH-10 was the last HATRON to be activated. It received its first A3D-2s six weeks after being organized. As part of CVG-8, the squadron took part in the shakedown cruise of the USS Constellation (CVA-64) in March-April 1962. During the following two years, VAH-10 deployed twice to WestPac aboard this carrier. It was there that VAH-10 and the other CVW-8 squadrons provided some of the first naval aircraft to go into combat in Southeast Asia as the Constellation was involved in the August, 1964, Gulf of Tonkin Incident.

Back at Whidbey Island in February, 1965, the squadron enjoyed a short leave before departing for the Med aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42). Thereafter, VAH-10 became a detachment squadron, with its Skywarriors deploying seven times to the Gulf of Tonkin between June, 1966, and August, 1970. Other VAH-10 detachments continued to operate A-3Bs and KA-3Bs aboard carriers of the Sixth Fleet in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. While Det 62 (USS Independence CVA-62) was deployed to the Med from June 70 to Jan 71, they became VAQ-129 as a part of the redesignation process. It is reported that they even sported dual logos during this cruise.

The last operational HATRON, as VAH-2 and VAH-4 had been redesignated TACELRONS in November, 1968, VAH-10 finally followed this path and was redesignated VAQ-129 on September 1, 1970.

HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON ELEVEN
VAH-11 "CHECKERTAILS"

HATRON Eleven was formed at NAS Sanford, Florida, on November 1, 1955 from Composite Squadron Eight and initially flew North American AJ-1 s. The unit received its first A3Ds in November, 1957.

Remaining homeported at NAS Sanford throughout its existence, VAH-11 deployed to the Med five times aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) and once each aboard the USS Independence (CVA-62) and the USS Forrestal (CVA-59). Between August, 1962, and January, 1965, the squadron was divided into two units: one with six Skywarriors performing all the normal duties of a Heavy Attack Squadron and the other taking up an operational readiness posture from other HATRONS while they converted from A-3s to A-5s. In turn, VAH-11 transitioned to the RA-5C and was redesignated RVAH-11 in July, 1966.

HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON THIRTEEN
VAH-13"BATS"

On January 3,1961, VAH-13 was commissioned at NAS Sanford, Florida, to fly A3D-2s.The squadron was assigned to CVG-11 upon completing its initial training and deployed on the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) for her shakedown cruise in the Caribbean. Shortly thereafter VAH-13 transferred to the Pacific Fleet with the Kitty Hawk and its homeport became NAS Whidbey Island, Washington.

For the next three years, the "Bats" maintained readiness requirements and served with the Seventh Fleet. However, in anticipation of its transition to the RA-5C, VAH-13 moved back to NAS Sanford in August, 1964. The squadron was redesignated RVAH-13 on November 1, 1964.

HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON ONE TWO THREE
VAH-123 " PROS"

The transition of HATRONs from the propeller driven Savage to the jet-powered Skywarrior created the need for jet transitional training. To accomplish this training, HATUPAC (Heavy Attack Training Unit, Pacific) was commissioned on June 15, 1957, at NAS North Island, California; two weeks later HATUPAC moved to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. The unit was redesignated VAH-123 on June 29, 1959.

Operating as a part of Replacement Carrier Air Group Twelve throughout its existence, VAH-123 retained as its primary mission the training of replacement pilots, bombardier/navigators, crewman/navigators, and maintenance personnel for all Pacific Fleet units using Skywarriors. To perform this mission the Pros initially flew Douglas F3D-2Ts, Grumman F9F-8Ts, and Lockheed P2V-3Bs to complement its A3D-1s. Soon, however, the squadron primarily operated various Skywarrior models (mainly A-3As, A-3Bs, and TA-3Bs) and the other types were phased out.

Over the years, the activities of VAH-123 were broadened, with low-level navigation and "log" bombing being added to its syllabus in 1961, and aerial refueling gaining in importance during the mid-sixties. Moreover, in 1964, VAH-123 gained sole responsibility for A-3 training as VAH-3 converted to Vigilantes. For 13 months beginning in August, 1966, VAH-123 was also responsible for A-6 crew training, but this duty was later transferred to VA-128.

VAH-123 was decommissioned on February 1, 1971 and its A-3 training responsibility was transferred to VAQ-130.

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