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RVAH-11 Checkertails RA-5C (1967) Vigilante Model, 1/50th (18") Scale, Mahogany For Sale
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RVAH-11 Checkertails RA-5C (1967) Vigilante Model, 1/50th (18") Scale, Mahogany: $359.00
RVAH-11 Checkertails RA-5C (1967) Model Fly off the USS Forrestal again in this RA-5c model of the RVAH-11 Checkertails. Each model is carefully carved from wood and painted to provide a unique piece of art you'll be proud to show off. 18 inches RVAH-11 was a Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron of the U.S. Navy. Originally established as Composite Squadron Eight (VC-8) on 3 December 1951, it was redesignated Heavy Attack Squadron Eleven (VAH-11) on 1 November 1955 and was redesignated as Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron Eleven (RVAH-11) on 1 July 1966. The squadron was disestablished on 1 June 1975. Heavy Attack Squadron ELEVEN (VAH-11) was formed on 1 November 1955 from Composite Squadron EIGHT (CV-8). The Squadron operated twelve North American Savage (AJ-1) Attack Bombers. From October 1956 until February 1957, three VAH-11 Detachments were deployed in the Mediterranean; two operating aboard carriers, the third based at NAF Port Lyautey, French Morocco. In November 1957, VAH-11 received the first of its complement of A-3B "SKYWARRIORS." It was clear in this period of transition that the nickname of the "CHECKERTAILS" was born. The CHECKERTAILS were assigned to Air Group ONE and on 13 February 1959 deployed on the USS ROOSEVELT to the Mediterranean. The Squadron returned to the continental United States in September 1959, and was selected to represent Heavy Attack Wing ONE at the All Navy Weapons Meet. Early in 1960, the Squadron was again deployed onboard the USS ROOSEVELT with the SIXTH Fleet. During the seven month period in the Mediterranean the Squadron, with seven aircraft, flew as many hours . as previously deployed squadrons did with twelve. CHECKERTAIL flight crews showed their proficiency by earning a total of 49 out of a•possible 52 coveted Navy "E"'s for bombing and navigation excellence. On 15 February 1961, VAH-11 deployed for the Mediterranean aboard the USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. Continuing in its tradition of excellence, Heavy Attack Squadron ELEVEN was named the Heavy Attack Wing ONE top bombing squadron for fiscal year 1962. On 6 August 1962, the Squadron was divided into two units. The major portion, which continued to be designated Heavy Attack Squadron ELEVEN, deployed to the Mediterranean with six "SKYWARRIORS" aboard the USS ROOSEVELT from 14 September 1962 until 22 April 1963. The other part of the Squadron, officially known as Heavy Attack Squadron ELEVEN, Detachment EIGHT, remained at NAS Sanford, Florida. There they were assigned the responsibility of meeting all HATWING ONE's SECOND Fleet operational commitments during the period when other squadrons were transitioning to a new aircraft, the A-5A Vigilante. In October, HATRON ELEVEN was presented the Navy "E." Receipt of this coveted award was a fitting climax to a year of intensive operations, recognizing the Squadron's exceptionally high state of operational readiness and efficiency. :ATRON ELEVEN deployed to Mediterranean with the SIXTH Fleet on 23 April 1964. This was the Squadron's Sixth Mediterranean deployment. In August 1964, VAH-11 received the Navy "E" for the second consecutive year. In October, the Squadron achieved another first when VAH-11 Detachment EIGHT relieved VAH-11 in the Mediterranean. This occurred when the USS ROOSEVELT, with VAH-11 onboard, returned to CONUS for emergency repairs and was relieved by the USS INDEPENDENCE with VAH-11 Detachment EIGHT embarked. Both units of the Squadron completed deployments in December 1964, and on 4 January 1565, Detachment EIGHT was disestablished and again became a part of VAH-11. During its existence, Detachment EIGHT was designated by Heavy Attack Wing ONE as the top bombing squadron of 1964. During the Spring of 1965, VAH-11 completed an Operational Readiness Inspection with Air Group ONE and competed in the bombing derby in which it won every event in which the A-3 was capable of competing against the newer A-5A. VAH-il was assigned to Carrier Air Wing EIGHT and departed onboard the USS FORRESTAL on 24 August 1965 for another deployment in the Mediterranean. The Squadron returnedto NAS Sanford, Florida, on 7 April 1966 and began transitioning to the RA-5C aircraft and training to assume a new mission as a Reconnaissance Attack. Squadron. In January 1967, RVAH-11, now fully combat ready,'became a member of the,.USS FORRESTAL/CVW-11 fighting team. After two, three-week training cycles in March and April at the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range off the coast of Puerto Rico, the Squadron departed Norfolk, Virginia, on 6 June 1967 for its first combat cruise. On 29 July 1967 at 1052 hours, a tragic fire ravaged USS FORRESTAL, then operating in the Gulf of Tonkin, killing 132 men and forcing the ship out of action and back to Norfolk for repairs. Three Squadron aircraft were'destroyed in the fire and two more were extensively damaged by salt water. No CHECKERTAIL personnel fatalities were incurred. While others onboard the USS FORRESTAL could look forward to some well deserved rest following their ordeal, the CHECKERTAILS started preparing for an immediate re-outfitting and return to Southeast Asia. Arriving home at NAS Sanford, Florida, on 12 September 1967, the Squadron spent the'next three weeks completely re-outfitting in preparation to return to sea, and on 6 October departed Sanford to join Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN and the USS KITTY HAWK in San Diego, California. Three weeks operating off the coast of San Diego, two weeks back home at NAS Sanford, Florida, and the Squadron was ready. Leaving San Diego on 18 November onboard the "HAWK," the CHECKERTAILS again headed for combat. Following an Operational Readiness Inspection off the coast of Hawaii in which the Squadron received a grade of "Outstanding," the highest grade received by any squadron in the Air Wing, the CHECKERTAILS and their shipmates arrived on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin on 23 December 1967. Because of heightened world tension and the greater demands placed on the Navy during the Pueblo crisis, the ship conducted combat air operations for sixty-two consecutive days before returning to port in late February 1968. Three • more combat line periods followed with the Squadron flying a record number of 518 combat reconnaissance sorties. Combat flight operations were completed on 1 June 1968 and the Squadron aircraft were TransPac'd to the Squadron's new home, NAS Albany, Georgia with the personnel arriving on 29 June 1968. On 17 July 1968, CDR D. F. KIRKPATRICK relieved CDR C. V. CHOYCE as Commanding Officer of the CHECKERTAILS. After a short training cycle, the Squadron departed Albany on 6 November to begin air wing shipboard operations in preparation for another combat cruise aboard the USS KITTY .HAWK. In January 1969, the Squadron became the first RVAH squadron to receive the Presidential Unit Citation for exceptional performance during the previous WESTPAC combat deployment. The CHECKERTAILS returned to combat on 28 January and had a very successful cruise flying/a total of 396 combat reconnaissance sorties. In May, CDR R. K. JELLISON, the Squadron's Executive Officer, assumed command. Five highly successful line periods on "YANKEE STATION" and one extended line period on DEFENDER STATION off Korea following an incident in which the North Koreans shot down an EC-121M, were completed on this deployment. VADM COUSINS extended accolades to the Squadron for the former and the efforts on DEFENDER STATION resulted in the Squadron receiving the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea). After returning to NAS Albany in September, preparations commenced for the Squadron's next deployment, this time to the Mediterranean. New improved aircraft were received between November 1969 and January 1970. In May 1970, CDR D. R. NOTHWANG became the seventeenth Commanding Officer of RVAH-i1 at change of command ceremonies held aboard NAS Albany. CDR NOTHWANG assumed command of the CHECKERTAILS following a year of services as the Squadron's Executive Officer under CDR R. K. JELLISON. CDR H. W. WRIGHT became the Squadron's Executive Officer following this change of command. 72 On 23 June 1970, the CHECKERTAILS began a seven month deployment to the Mediterranean, the Squadron's first MED deployment since transitioning from A-3's to RA-5C's in April 1966. After a highly successful ORI at the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range off the coast of Puerto Rico, RVAH-11 began transiting the Atlantic Ocean as part of COMATKCARAIRWING SEVEN onboard the USS INDEPENDENCE. On 22 July 1970, a tragic accident claimed the lives of two CHECKERTAILS. LCDR Dick KARR and LCDR Bill PULLINGER were killed when their aircraft crashed into the sea off the flight deck of the USS INDEPENDENCE. In September 1970, strained relations in the Middle East drastically changed the routine in whiCh RVAH-11 and the rest of INDEPENDENCE's crew had been following. For the next 32 days aboard the INDEPENDENCE, the CHECKERTAILS were involved in intensive operations aimed at easing the tension of the Middle East situation. On 23 September 1970, RVAH-11 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for operations in Southeast Asia, and on 18 November 1970, the CHECKERTAILS were awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Meritorious Unit Commendation. The Squadron returned to NAS Albany on 31 January 1971 and was presented with the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation for the "professionalism, determination, and resourcefulness displayed in easing the tensions in the Middle East while they were aboard the USS INDEPENDENCE." On 21 May 1971, CDR H. W. "Murph" WRIGHT assumed command of RVAH-11 in ceremonies held at NAS Albany, Georgia. After serving a year as Executive Officer under CDR D. R. NOTHWANG, CDR WRIGHT became the eighteenth Commanding Officer of Reconnaissance Attack Squadron ELEVEN. CDR H. F. LENHARDT, Jr. became the Squadron's Executive Officer. After an intense training cycle in NAS Albany and with Air Wing NINE at NAS Fallon, Nevada, RVAH-11 deployed aboard the USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64) in August 1971. After a successful five-week ORI, the Squadron returned to NAS Albany for three weeks, and then back to San Diego where the "CONNIE," with RVAH-11 aboard departed to Southeast Asia. The CHECKERTAILS operated on YANKEE STATION with normal support operations in Laos and South Vietnam for the first six line periods. Supposedly on the way home in Yokosuka, Japan, in April 1972, RVAH-11 and USS CONSTELLATION were recalled to the line after began what proved to be the last major Communist offensive in South Vietnam during United States involvement. The CHECKERTAILS flew numerous recce hops in all of North Vietnam and provided the first tactical reconnaissance photographs of Haiphong harbor since the bombing halt of 1968. The extended 73 cruise lasted three more months including a 47-day at sea period. On 14 May 1972, CDR H. F. LENHARDT, Jr. relieved CDR H. W. WRIGHT as Commanding Officer during ceremonies at sea onboard the USS CONSTELLATION. The CHECKERTAILS arrived back in the United States and NAS Albany on 1 July 1972. After a thirty-day standdown period with limited flight operations, RVAH-11 commenced a training cycle highlighted by TRAEX SLANT RANGE in November. In October 1972, VADM MICHAELIS, COMNAVAIRLANT, presented RVAH-11 with the CNO Safety Award. RVAH-11 began the new year with CQ's and work-ups onboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CVA-67) preparing for a scheduled WESTPAC in March. On 9 April 1973, CDR R. A. DAUM relieved CDR H. F. LENHARDT, Jr. as Commanding Officer during ceremonies at NAS Albany, Georgia. CDR T. W. BROWN became the Squadron's Executive Officer. The cease-fire in Southeast Asia prompted a rescheduling of CVA's and USS KENNEDY and RVAH-11 were ordered to the Mediterranean in April 1973. USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CVA-67) got underway on 16 April 1973 and arrived in the Mediterranean ten days later. The first six months of the deployment was highlighted by air shows and routine training missions in all areas of the MED. Port visits included Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Livorno and Gaeta, Italy; Athens and Rhodes, Greece; and Cannes, France. In late September and early October, RVAH-11 and USS JOHN F. KENNEDY participated in NATO exercises MAGIC SWORD and SWIFT MOVE in the Bay of Biscay and the North Sea. These exercises were followed by a port visit to Edinburgh, Scotland. This was the last scheduled port call before the CHECKERTAILS and KENNEDY were to start their return home. However, the Middle East War was raging and the USS KENNEDY was diverted to a position outside the Straits of Gilbraltar. Subsequently, the carrier was ordered into the MED and began full scale flight operations off the southwest corner of Crete. After the easing of the military alert, RVAH-11 and USS KENNEDY headed home to Norfolk arriving 1 December 1973, fifty days after its departure from Edinburgh. RVAH-11's stay at NAS Albany, Georgia, was shortlived. A homeport shift in January 1974 found RVAH-11 as a part of Commander, Reconnaissance Attack Wing ONE, now based at NAS Key West, Florida. 74 The CHECKERTAILS are now training for a scheduled MED deployment aboard USS SARATOGA (CVA-60) in the Fall of 1974. Reconnaissance Attack Squadron ELEVEN was honored in having CDR T. W. BROWN as its Commanding Officer prior to their disestablishment in May 1975 at Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida. 75 COMMANDING OFFICERS OP RECONNAISSANCE ATTACK SQUADRON ELEVEN Commander E. C. =DAWN Nov 55 - Apr 57 Commander J. BEAR Apr 57 - Jul 57 Lieutenant Commander H. C. HANSEN Jul 57 - Aug 57 Commander C. FERNANDEZ, Jr. Aug 57 - May 59 Commander G. H. ROBERTSON May 59 - May 60 Commander C. 0. DONNAUD III May 60 - Mar 61 Commander H. K. MANSHIP Mar 61 - Apr 62 Commander L. B. LAMPMAN Apr 62 - Mar 63 Commander J. F. BARLOW Mar 63 - Apr 64 Commander Barton W. BARTHOLOMEW Apr 64 - Jul 64 Commander Ronald KENNEDY Jul 64 - Jul 65 Commander K. M. SANDON Jul 65 - Jul 66 Commander Thomas J. KILCLINE Jul 66 - Aug 67 Commander Charles V. CHOYCE Aug 67 - Jul 68 Commander Darrell F. KIRKPATRICK Jul 68 - May 69 Commander Robert K. JELLISON May 69 - May 70 Commander David R. NOTHWANG May 70 - May 71 Commander Harry W. WRIGHT May 71 - May 72 Commander Harry F. LENHARDT, Jr. May 72 - Apr 73 Commander Richard A. DAUM Apr 73 - May 74 Commander Thomas W. BROWN May 74 - May 75
RVAH-11 Checkertails Squadron Patch - Sew On, 4" $13.99
Officially Licensed US Navy RVAH-11 Checkertails Squadron Sticker $7.00
Officially Licensed US Navy RVAH-11 Checkertails Squadron Patch $9.00
RVAH-11 Checkertails RA-5C (1967) Vigilante Model, 1/50th (18") Scale, Mahogany $359.00
4" NAVY RVAH-11 CHECKERTAILS SQUADRON VINYL STICKER DECAL $19.99
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