Following World War II, the Navy was involved in a struggle with the Army and newly independent Air Force over roles and missions. In particular, a bitter battle was engaged regarding strategic nuclear bombing. To prove the Navy’s ability to launch these missions from its carriers, a top-priority program resulted in production of the North American Aviation AJ-l Savage atomic bomber and the establishment of Composite Squadron Five (VC-5) as a unit of the heavy attack program to deliver the weapons. CAPT John T. Hayward (VADM, USN Ret.), commanded VC-5 and was given the responsibility for development of the carrier-based atomic delivery mission. Chick Hayward and VC-5 virtually saved the Navy’s carriers as first-line units of the Nation’s defense.
Established on 8 September 1948 at NAS Moffett Field, VC-5 First flew Lockheed P2V-3C Neptunes modified to fly from carriers then recover at land bases, or ditch alongside fleet units for crew recovery. In March 1950 the squadron received AJ-ls and later that year moved to NAS Jacksonville, then to NAS Sanford in February 1955.
Redesignated Heavy Attack Squadron Five (VAH-5) on 3 February 1956, the squadron soon acquired the sobriquet of “The Savage Sons of Sanford.” In mid-1958 “Heavy Five” began flying the new A3D-1 Skywarrior, which it flew until 1963 when tactical aerial reconnaissance was added to its mission. The added mission was accompanied by a new aircraft, the North American RA-5C Vigilante. VAH-5 was redesignated RVAH-5 on 1 May 1964 as the Navy relinquished its tactical nuclear delivery role. RVAH-5 was the first squadron to take the “Vigi” into combat, flying missions over Vietnam and Laos from the USS Ranger (CVA-61) in 1964.
Final moves of RVAH-5 were made to NAS Albany during January 1969, then to NAS Key West on 16 January 1974. The squadron was disestablished on 30 September 1977 as the Navy began the process of abandoning its dedicated tactical reconnaissance squadrons.