RVAH-3 |
Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO).
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Patch Thanks go to "Boom" Powell for the second patch. |
Sources David Weber "Boom" Powell Jim Vaughn Tom Kloves |
Handle Dragons, Radio call “Drake” Heritage 15 June 1956 - - - VAH-3 Established 1964 - - - - - - - - VAH-3 redesignated RVAH-3 17 August 1979 - - RVAH-3 Disestablished Served as Replacement Air Group (RAG) for the Vigilante. VAH-3/RVAH-3 "Sea Dragons" |
Home Ports 15 June 1956 - - - NAS Jacksonville, FL June 1958- - - - - NAS Sanford, FL May 1968 - - - - - NAS Albany, G january 1974 - - - NAS Key West, FL |
Air Wings 1956 - CVG-17 |
Aircraft Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: 30 December 1965 - - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4C) Skyhawk * 3 August 1970 - - - -Douglas A4D-5 (A-4E) Skyhawk * 3 August 1970 - - - -Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk |
Deployments Reconnaissance Attack Wing One (Deployed squadrons under normal CVW) None for the Skyhawks. |
Commanding Officers No info yet. |
Awards No info yet |
Awards continued No info |
Events June 15, 1956: VP-34 was disestablished and VAH-3 was commissioned at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, as an operational A3D-1 squadron. RVAH-3 was the RA-5C Vigilante RAG and since its transition from the A3D Skywarrior training squadron operated multiple types of aircraft. From the mid-1960’s the roster included RA-5C, TA-3 (for Nav training; bomb bay set up with multiple positions for ASB-1), an ancient R4D/C-47/C-117 for logistics, and A-4/TA-4 (replacing the previous F9F Cougars) for chase, proficiency, instruments, x-country and boondoggles. On June 15, 1956, VP-34 was disestablished and VAH-3 was commissioned at NAS Jacksonville, During 1960, VAH-3 was given the additional duty of training crews for the North American May 1968: RVAH-3 moved to NAS Albany, GA. January, 1974: RVAH-3 moved to NAS Key West, Florida August, 1979: RVAH-3 is disestablished. A-4 Skyhawks serving with RVAH-3 per "Boom" Powell: 151084 A-4E (With RVAH as GJ-340 and also served with VF-43 154343 TA-4F (With RVAH as GJ-341 and with VAQ-33 in 1987) Nov 1969 - July 1970 at NAS Albany 154327 TA-4F (Was also there in March 1975.) 154332 TA-4F 154614 TA-4F 155071 TA-4F Sep 1971 154343 TA-4F Mar 1972- Aug 1973 at NAS Albany 154300 TA-4F 154614 TA-4J 154343 TA-4F/J (With RVAH as GJ-341 and with VAQ-33 in 1987) Aug 1973 - July 1974 at NAS Key West 154298 154343 154614 153502 (Apr 74) 154616 (May 74) Some comments from former Heavy 3 Guys: "I served as part of the electronics maintenance crew with RVAH-3 from 1966 to 1969. I think there were four Skyhawks with the squadron for two, maybe three, months before our home-base move from NAS Sanford, FL to NAS Albany, GA., Their stay continued with us briefly after the move. We did carrier quals about the same time, on the America, but I don't think they came with us. "About the move RVAH-3 made from NAS Sanford, FL to NAS Albany, GA. I'd be remiss if I indicated that I remember exactly when the move occurred. However, my best guess is that it was in the last 5 months of 1968. I was discharged in Oct. of '69, and I think we'd been in Albany just about a year. Rick Small "I served as Operations Chief VAH-3, and RVAH-3 1964/66. During that time we had a TF9-?, it was used primarily for pilots to get thier flight hours while waiting to start RAG Pilot Training in the A3D, A5A, and then the RA5C. Back log was at times 2/3 months. Of course it also made a great cross country aircraft, instrument training, and many other sundry things. I am sure the TF9 was replaced by the TA-4F and was used for that very same reason." Don Pierce. |
Unit Photos T Bird with RVAH-3. "Boom" Powell. 1969: Sea Dragons Skyhawk BuNo 155071, GJ-341, parked on the ramp minus the canopy which was inadvertently ejected into the vertical fin. Oops! Photo from "Boom" Powell. 1970: RVAH-3 Sea Dragons TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154343, GJ-341, inflight over Georgia (probably) with RA-5C Vigilantes BuNo 147852, GJ-304, and BuNo 150837, GJ-303, NAS Albany circa 1970. Tailstripes were orange. Photo from Boom Powell. 1972: Sea Dragons Skyhawk BuNo 154327, GJ-343, manned and ready for engine start. Unknown Photographer via W. Mutza. 29 July 1972 Sea Dragons Skyhawk BuNo 154343, GJ-341. Gary Verver Collection. 1974: BuNo 154343, GJ-341 Pic1, Pic2, Pic3. Gary Verver. RVAH-3 TA-4 Skyhawk BuNo 154327. RVAH-3 TA-4 Skyhawk BuNo 154327, side number GJ-343. Photograph from Michel Klaver, Webmaster of the F-4 Phantom II Website at www.vogue-web.ch/f4/. 07 AUG 1974: BuNo 154343 taxi at Andrews AFB. A few Skyhawks served with RVAH units. Joseph Handleman. March 1975: BuNo 154327, GJ-343, parked on the ramp. Photographer unknown via Tailhook Association. Dates unknown BuNo 154327, GJ-343, on the ramp. Pic1, Pic2. Gary Verver. AUG 1976: BuNo 154343 on the ramp. Dennis Huges via Stephen Miller. June 1978 BuNo 154343, GJ-341, configured with a centerline tank as she taxies by the photographer. Photo by Michael Grove via Tailhook Association. 1976-79: Sea Dragons Skyhawk BuNo 152614, GJ-307, on formation with Sea Dragons RA-5C Vigilante BuNo 156632, GJ-304. Photo from "Boom" Powell. Date unknown: RVAH-3 TA-3B Skywarrior BuNo 144859, GJ-330, NAS Albany. Photo from Boom Powell. Off-Duty Photos May 1965: RVAH-3 "Farewell Party" photo courtesy of Mark Johnson. |
A-4 Skyhawks assigned to this unit:
Skyhawks assigned to this unit:
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