VX-5 Vampires Patch - Sew on, 4\" For Sale

Fly with VX-5 Vampierss again with this beautifully embroidered patch. You\'ll love the quality and detail of this VX-5 Vampires Patch.

• 4.25 inch patch
• Embroidered
• US Naval Aviator Owned Business

On June 18, 1951, Air Development Squadron Five (VX-5) was established at Naval Air Station Moffett Field, California, with 15 officers, 100 enlisted personnel, and nine AD Skyraider aircraft. Initially under the operational control of Operational Development Force (now Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force), the squadron\'s mission was to develop and assess aircraft tactics and techniques for the delivery of airborne special weapons.

In the 1970s, VX-5 was renamed Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Five (VX-5) while retaining its original designation. Throughout the years, VX-5 maintained detachments at various locations in the US, including NAS Oceana, Virginia; Naval Weapons Evaluation Facility at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; NAS Whidbey Island, Washington; and the former NAS Sanford, Florida. These detachments allowed the squadron to take advantage of different facilities and stay up-to-date with the latest fleet tactics.

In July 1956, VX-5 moved to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, where it became an independent tenant command with access to improved ranges and instrumentation facilities. In January 1985, the VX-5 detachment overseeing EA-6B weapon system developments at Whidbey Island was relocated to China Lake. Since then, temporary detachments have been established across the US to test airborne weapons under varying conditions.

Over the years, VX-5\'s mission has expanded to include independent operation testing and evaluation of air-dropped munitions for use by the US Navy and US Marine Corps, the development of tactics for new weapon systems, and the integration of electronic warfare advances into attack aircraft\'s self-defense capabilities.

In June 1993, the Chief of Naval Operations directed the merger of VX-5 and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Four (VX-4 Evaluators) at NAS Point Mugu, California, into a single operational test and evaluation squadron, to be named Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX-9 Vampires), with a permanent F-14 Tomcat Detachment based at Point Mugu. This merger was part of the reduction of US naval forces following the end of the Cold War..