VAH9 and RVAH9

VAH-9 (Heavy Attack Squadron 9) was established by the U.S. Navy in January 1953, originally flying the AJ-2 Savage and later transitioning to the A-3B Skywarrior, specializing in long-range nuclear attack missions during the Cold War. In 1964, the unit was redesignated as RVAH-9 (Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron 9) and transitioned to the RA-5C Vigilante, shifting its focus to high-speed, carrier-based photographic reconnaissance. RVAH-9 participated in key operations during the Vietnam War, providing critical aerial intelligence and battle damage assessment for naval and joint forces. The squadron continued its reconnaissance missions into the late 1970s before being disestablished in September 1977 as the RA-5C was retired from Navy service.