Hobby Master Archive

North American RA-5C 156624 was one of the last Vigilantes to be manufactured and was accepted by the USN in January 1970. The first assignment was with Reconnaissance Attack Squadron 6 (RVAH-6) “Fleurs” that spent 1970 and 1971 on a cruise aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) West Pac Cruise. During 1972-73 the aircraft deployed aboard the USS America (CVA-66). The RVAH-6 moved to Florida and spent time aboard the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) in 1974. The next three years saw the aircraft move to RVAH-5 “Savage Sons”, RVAH-9 “Hoot Owls”, RVAH-12 “Speartips” and time on the USS Constellation (CVA-64) and USS Independence (CV-62) before returning to RVAH-6. RA-5C 156624 made its final flight in mid-1978 and is displayed at the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola, Florida wearing AJ-601 from its last cruise aboard the USS Nimitz.