History

Reconnaissance Attack Squadron Seven, a unit of the Naval Air Force, U.S Atlantic Fleet, was originally commissioned as Composite Squadron Seven at NAS Moffet Field. Within a year of their commissioning, VC-7 transferred their AJ  Savage aircraft to NAS Norfolk. After one Med cruise they moved north to NAS PAX River. In July'55 the squadron was redesignated as Heavy Attack Squadron Seven and relocated to NAS Sanford. March'58 brought VAH-7 its first A3D " Sky warrior".

After flying the A3D for three years, in August '61, VAH-7 became the first squadron to transition to the A5A "Vigilante." Upon transition to the RA5C Vigilante, the present squadron insignia was adopted and the men of RVAH-7 became known as "The Peacemakers of the Fleet."

In December '64 the squadron was redesignated as Reconnaissance Attack Squadron Seven and its mission changed from attack to carrier based tactical reconnaissance. 

The Peacemakers began their first combat deployment to West Pac in October'65 aboard USS Enterprise, flying their first combat mission over Vietnam on 2 December'65. Since their introduction to the Vietnam conflict, RVAH-7 returned to the "Combat Zone " from November'66 to July'67, and again from June'69 to May'70, and from February to December'72.  

Between combat deployments RVAH-7 made two Med deployments.  Following the April to December'68 cruise, the squadron returned to a new home at NAS Albany.  Their next Med cruise was from January to July'70.

In the summer of 1979 the squadron returned to NAS Key West from the last RA5C Vigilante deployment.  RVAH 7 was decommissioned in October of 1979 - the last of the CRAW ONE RA5C squadrons.  It was ironic that RVAH 7 was also the first RA5C tactical reconnaissance squadron  to be commissioned in December '64. 

Established:  December 1964

Decommissioned:  NAS Key West,  Oct 1979

Commanding Officer

1963

1965

1967

1969

1971

David W. Pierce
email piercedwmy@surfline.ne.jp or
davidw50@hotmail.com 

RVAH-7 was my first real duty station in the US Navy after RVAH-3 and numerous
otgher schools. I was attached to RVAH-7 from when theyreturned to NAS Albany, GA
 from the '70 WESTPAC until 1972. I joined RVAH-7 as an AMEAR and left as an 
AME2 and made both the MED and WESTPAC cruises during those years. 
I'm now retired and live in Yokosuka, Japan and work for the civil service.
Enjoyed your page,


1973

1975

1977    Cdr Tom Myers

1979    Decommissioned  Oct 1979