1965 - 1968

NAS Sanford, Florida

Reconnaissance Attack Squadron Twelve (RVAH-12) was commissioned on 1 July 1965 at NAS Sanford, Florida. It was the first unit ever commissioned as a Reconnaissance Attack Squadron from its inception. From the beginning, the Squadron's call sign has been  "SPEARTIP"  and the Squadron insignia symbolizes the call-sign with a SPEARTIP climbing into a clear blue sky at supersonic speed. The Squadron's motto is

"We Point the Way"

The squadron immediately began a new training cycle and turned its sights west in preparation for its second deployment and first combat experience. On 28 March 1967, RVAH-12 departed San Diego, California with Attack Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN in USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64). After a shakedown and Operational Readiness Exercise, the Speartips arrived on Yankee Station off the coast of North Vietnam on 28 May 1967.

From then until 12 November 1967, RVAH-12 was the only Reconnaissance Attack Squadron on Yankee Station. By the end of the first month the SPEARTIPS were pioneering new methods and camera configurations for the Vietnam combat environment. On 25 November the Ship and her Air Wing departed for home, arriving in San Diego on 4 December 1967.

1968-1974

NAS Albany, Georgia

RVAH-12, as a unit of Reconnaissance Attack Wing ONE, moved from NAS Sanford, Florida to NAS Albany, Georgia in the spring of 1968. On 9 June of that year the Squadron deployed to the Mediterranean in USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59) with Attack Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN. The squadron returned to NAS Albany on 28 April 1969.

Until June 1971 the Squadron operated at NAS Albany in preparation for a Mediterranean deployment with Attack Carrier Air Wing SEVEN. In July 1971 the Squadron and Air Wing operated from USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA-62) off the Virginia Capes and over the Jacksonville operating area. The four aircraft and 200 men returned to NAS Albany in August 1971 for additional shore-based reconnaissance training prior to the long deployment.

RVAH-12 departed Norfolk, Virginia in USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA-62) on 16 September 1971 to participate in the NATO Exercise "ROYAL KNIGHT" in the Norwegian Sea during which the Squadron operated above 70 degrees north longitude. During the deployment the Squadron participated in Exercises "MAGIC SWORD IV", "NATIONAL WEEK XI", "QUICK DRAW", and "MAGIC SWORD V".

On 16 March 1972 the SPEARTIPS returned to NAS Albany to commence training in preparation for a Western Pacific deployment in USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64). The Squadron completed refreshers and the ORE in December.

The SPEARTIPS then left San Diego on 5 January 1973 for the Western Pacific. Although this deployment marked the end of the Vietnam war, RVAH-12 was heavily tasked to provide crash site photography in an effort to verify MIA status. The Squadron returned to CONUS on 11 October 1973 and commenced preparations to return to the Western Pacific aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN-65).

1974-1979

NAS Key West, Florida

On 15 January 1974 RVAH-12 as a unit of Reconnaissance Attack Wing ONE moved to it's new home port at NAS Key West, Florida. On 17 September 1974 RVAH-12 departed San Francisco in USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN-65) for another cruise to the Western Pacific. While on the cruise RVAH-12 participated in BAHANIAN, a combined Philippine and U. S. Forces exercise.

On 12 January 1975 the ENTERPRISE entered the Indian Ocean for five weeks of routine operations. While in the Indian Ocean the Enterprise was diverted to Port Louis, Mauritius to provide disaster relief for victims of tropical cyclone GERVAISE.

At the conclusion of an in port period at Subic Bay, the Enterprise proceeded to South Vietnam where it and RVAH-12 participated in operation "FREQUENT WIND", the evacuation of that country. Following the successful completion of that operation, the ENTERPRISE was relieved on station and then returned to the continental United States. The Squadron arrived back at NAS Key West on 20 May 1975.

After completing its post cruise stand-down, the Squadron commenced its training cycle to prepare for a Bicentennial/Northern European cruise aboard USS FORRESTAL (CV-59) as a member of Attack Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN.  In February 1976 RVAH-12, along with the Air Wing, participated in a weapons exercise at NAS Fallon, Nevada. From March through June 1976, the Squadron completed buildups with Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN and USS FORRESTAL operating along the U. S. eastern coast and in the Caribbean.

In July, RVAH-12 in USS FORRESTAL commenced in a Bicentennial cruise participating in OPSAIL 76 on the Nation's 200th birthday in New York Harbor. Readiness exercises followed with USS FORRESTAL until October 1976 when the Squadron was transferred to Carrier Air Wing SEVEN and was crossed decked to the USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62). From November 1976 through February 1977, the SPEARTIPS completed their second buildup of the year conducting ORE and another Caribbean exercise with USS INDEPENDENCE.

On 31 March 1977, RVAH-12 departed Norfolk, Virginia commencing a Med deployment with USS  INDEPENDENCE. During one period of the cruise, the Squadron attained a remarkable achievement completing sixty consecutive sorties without a maintenance related cancellation. During the last six weeks of the cruise, the Squadron operated a detachment at NAS Rota, Spain in support of operation "SWING WING".

On 21 October 1977, USS  INDEPENDENCE reentered Norfolk harbor and RVAH-12 returned to NAS Key West marking the end of a very successful deployment. Following a turnaround cycle which included two special detachments to Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, the Squadron prepared for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.

In September 1978 the Squadron deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain in support of CVW-3 and USS SARRATOGA (CV-60). While deployed, the Squadron maintained a detachment aboard the USS SARRATOGA and sent two detachments to Naval Air Facility, Sigonella, Italy in support of special tasking requirements.

The Squadron returned to NAS Key West on 7 February 1979 with a detachment left behind to bring the Vigilantes back aboard the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67), marking the end of the last RA-5C Mediterranean deployment. The Squadron remained on alert status until the return of the USS SARATOGA to the United States. In June 1979 two of the Squadrons RA-5C Vigilante aircraft were flown to the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland. With the completion of this fly off, the Squadron has acquired over six years and 6,895 accident free flight hours, and was recipient of the 1978 CNO Safety Award.  The third aircraft was parked at the entrance of NAS Key West. On 2 July 1979, Reconnaissance Attack Squadron TWELVE was disestablished marking the end of an era.