Home » Aircraft Models » RVAH-14 Eagle Eyes RA-5C (1974) Vigilante Model, 1/50th (18″) Scale, Mahogany, Navy, North American

RVAH-14 Eagle Eyes RA-5C (1974) Vigilante Model, 1/50th (18″) Scale, Mahogany, Navy, North American

$299.00

1 in stock (can be backordered)

Description

RVAH-14 Eagle Eyes RA-5C (1974) Model

Fly off the USS Independence again in this RA-5c model of the RVAH-14 Eagle Eyes. 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-14 was a Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established on 14 February 1968 and disestablished on 1 May 1974. It was the shortest lived RVAH squadron.

Reconnaissance Attack Squadron FOURTEEN is the newest of
ten Reconnaissance Attack Squadrons which fly the RA-5C “Vigilante.”
Construction of the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F.
KENNEDY (CVA-67) brought about the need for a new air wing;
thus RVAH-14 was commissioned on board Naval Air Station,
Sanford, Florida, 1 February 1968. Commander Darrell F.
KIRKPATRICK was the Squadron’s first Commanding Officer and
Commander Donald J. JARVIS was then the Executive Officer.
The Squadron was to spend only three short months at Sanford
and then moved to its new homeport, Naval Air Station,
Albany, Georgia. Upon arrival at NAS Albany, the officers
and men of RVAH-14 began intensive training to prepare themselves
for their first deployment aboard the USS KENNEDY.
On 17 July 1968, a change of command ceremony onboard
Naval Air Station, Albany, Georgia, made Commander JARVIS the
Squadron’s second Commanding Officer. It was “Skipper” Jarvis
and his Reconnaissance Attack Navigator, LT P. R. WILLIAMS, who
first flew an RVAH-14 “Vigilante” aboard an aircraft carrier;
their mission–to certify the arresting gear and catapults
of the newly commissioned USS JOHN F. KENNEDY with the RA-5C.
In mid-November 1968, the Squadron deployed aboard KENNEDY
for a short Caribbean shakedown cruise and then returned to
Albany’in mid-December. The last of February 1969, the “Eagles”
again put out for a short cruise in preparation for their
Mediterranean deployment. Following the cruise, the Squadron
returned to Albany for two weeks to participate in Reconnaissance
Attack Wing ONE Readiness Exercise 2-69, winning top
honors. Then it was another airlift to Norfolk and deployment
to the Mediterranean on 5 April 1969.
On 3 June 1969, the Executive Officer, Commander W. I.
LEWIS, Jr., became the Squadron’s third Commanding Officer in
a change of command ceremony on board KENNEDY while inport at
Genoa, Italy. “Skipper” Lewis became the first RVAH-14 and
KENNEDY “Vigilante” pilot centurian on 30 October 1969.
Simultaneously, his Reconnaissance Attack Navigator, LCDR H. V.
MOLLER, became RVAH-14’s and the KENNEDY’s first RAN centurian.
On 2 November 1969, CDR A. C. STALLINGS, Jr., became the
KENNEDY’s second RA-5C centurian.
After a successful cruise to the Mediterranean Sea, RVAH-14
returned to NAS Albany on 20 December 1969 and once again became
a part of Reconnaissance Attack Wing ONE. Immediately, the
Squadron began an intensified training program in preparation
for its next deployment.

On 2 June 1970, CDR E. 0. WILLIAMS became t f:ourLh
Commanding Officer of RVAH-14 in a change of command ceremony
on board Naval Air Station, Albany, Georgia. Also reporting
on board at this time was the new Executive Officer, CDR R. M.
SCHLEMMER. The f011owing July 10th saw the “Eagles” once again
on their way to Norfolk for a short cruise. With carrier qualifications
completed, the Squadron returned to Albany until
14 September when RVAH-14 again put out from Norfolk, this time
for an Operational Readiness Inspection in the Caribbean.
Before the KENNEDY had reached its Caribbean destination,
emergency deployment orders were received. Unexpectedly,
RVAH-14 had begun its second Mediterranean deployment, the
emergency orders being due to the volatile political situation
in the Middle East at that time. For this participation in
the overall efforts to ease the tensions of the Middle East,
RVAH-14, along with all Air Wing ONE Squadrons embarked on
KENNEDY, was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Many milestones were reached on this cruise. In December,
CDR E. O. WILLIAMS made his two-hundredth RA-5C carrier landing
and LCDR L. H. BUTSCH became a “Vigilante” centurian. As
1971 began, LT R. S. FEEBACK completed his four-hundredth
“Vigilante” arrested landing, while on 10 February 1971,
CDR R. M. SCHLEMMER touched down on KENNEDY’s flight deck to
make his five-hundredth carrier arrested landing.
After leaving the Mediterranean, the KENNEDY proceeded north
to participate in a NATO exercise, launching and recovering her
air wing from a point in the Irish Sea. Following a successful
fly-off, the “Eagles” again returned to their roost on board NAS
Albany on 28 February 1971.
On 6 April 1971, the Executive Officer, CDR R. M. SCHLEMMER,
became the Squadron’s fifth Commanding Officer during a change of
command ceremony on board Naval Air Station Albany, Georgia. It
wasn’t long until the Squadron was back at sea participating in
qualifications and exercises aboard KENNEDY. One week after
assuming command, CDR SCHLEMMER led the “Eagles” back to sea
for a one-month period to participate in Exercise Exotic Dancer.
In mid-summer, the Squadron was at sea for a two-week shakedown
cruise and the entire month of September was spent on
board KENNEDY for the Operational Readiness Exercise. During
this period, LT C. L. McGLOGTHLIN became a KENNEDY centurian.
After a month in Albany, the Squadron returned to sea in
November for final preparation for its deployment. Then, on
1 December 1971, RVAH-14 began its third cruise to the Mediterranean
on board USS JOHN F. KENNEDY. The first month of

the cruise was noteworthy, with the Squadron’s Commanding
Officer, CDR R. H. SCHLEMMER, and LCDR T. F. JOHNSTON, each
becoming centurians on board KENNEDY.
On 17 January 1972, LT R. H. MCMILLAN was added to the
list of KENNEDY centurians. Then on 19 February, the Executive
Officer, CDR C. M. JOHNS, completed his seven-hundredth
carrier arrested landing. Adding to the list of RVAH-14
achievements, the Squadron pilots garnered top tailhook honors
for the month of December and February.
On 19 April 1972, Commander C. M. JOHNS became RVAH-14’s
sixth Commanding Officer in a change of command ceremony on
board the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY while inport Athens, Greece.
The “Eagles” also welcomed aboard at this time their new
Executive Officer, Commander R. T. POLLARD.
As the deployment progressed, RVAH-14 set some enviable
precedents. The month of May saw 196 flight hours and 93
carrier landings in only 23 operating days. In June, Commander
POLLARD logged his 1000th hour in the Vigilante. By
June, all crewmembers who started the cruise had become
KENNEDY centurians, September brought the KENNEDY to the
cold North Atlantic and “Strong Express,” one of the largest
NATO exercises conducted to date. When the “Eagles” disembarked
in October, they brought with them the Carrier Air
Wing’s “Golden Tail Hook Award” for the deployment.
After a relatively short standown, RVAH-14 began intensive
training and testing of crews and systems in preparation for
its next deployment.
On 13 April 1973, Commander R. T. POLLARD became RVAH-14’s
seventh Commanding Officer in a change of command ceremony on
board Naval Air Station, Albany, Georgia. The Squadron also
welcomed aboard their new Executive Officer, Commander J. H.
CAVNESS.
The Squadron, led by Commander POLLARD, departed for its
fourth deployment to the Mediterranean on 21 June 1973.
During July 1973, RVAH-14 flight crews established squadron
records for monthly flight time and aircraft utilization. In
July, the Squadron joined Air Wing SEVEN and INDEPENDENCE to •
participate in Exercise International Week ONE. On 6 August
1973, RVAH-14 completed its third consecutive year of accidentfree
operations. In September, the Squadron participated in
“Exercise Deep Furrow 73.” Beginning on 7 October, RVAH- 14,
along with Air Wing SEVEN and INDEPENDENCE, was part of the
largest SIXTH Fleet Task Force assembled since World War II
in connection with the Middle East Conflict. During the
deployment, LT G. L. LONG and LT K. M. CARLTON both logged
their 1000th Vigilante flight hour, and LCDR 0. P. BU’iC7: ;Jecai:
an INDEPENDENCE centurian. When the Squadron departed the
Mediterranean on 10 January 1974, they were the recipients of
the Air Wing SEVEN “Golden Tail Hook Award” for the deployment.
On 17 January 1974, the “Eagles” returned from their final
deployment to their new home at NAS Key West, Florida.
RVAH-14 was disestablished 1 May 1974.

COMMANDING OFFICERS
OF
RECONNAISSANCE ATTACK SQUADRON FOURTEEN
Commander Darrell F. KIRKPATRICK Feb 68 – Jul 68
Commander Donald H. JARVIS Jul 68 – Jun 69
Commander Willis I. LEWIS Jun 69 – Jun 70
Commander Edward 0. WILLIAMS Jun 70 – Apr 71
Commander Robert M. SCHLEMMER Apr 71 – Apr 72
Commander Clifford M. JOHNS Apr 72 – Apr 73
commander Ronald T. POLLARD Apr 73 – May 74

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