Heavy Attack Squadron 123 (VAH-123), called the “Professionals,” was a US Navy squadron formed on June 15, 1957, at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington. The squadron was formed to train personnel for the A-3 Skywarrior, the Navy’s largest and heaviest carrier aircraft. Rather than going straight into combat, Heavy Attack Squadron 123 provided a link between new naval aviators and active heavy attack squadrons. Its instructors taught pilots and aircrew how to handle, operate, and maintain the large twin-engine aircraft before they joined fleet units. VAH-123 operated various A-3 aircraft types during its time, including the A3D-1, A3D-2, EA-3B, TA-3B, and EKA-3B. The A-3 started as a heavy attack aircraft, but its size, long range, and large payload made it suitable for many specialized roles. Therefore, VAH-123 had to prepare crews not only for heavy attack missions but also for the diverse missions of later Skywarrior models. In the 1960s, Heavy Attack Squadron 123 added electronic warfare training for the EKA-3B, a Skywarrior variant designed for electronic countermeasures.
A US Navy Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior (BuNo 146452) from Fleet Reconnaissance Squadron VQ-1 Det.64 World Watchers in flight over the South China Sea. VQ-1 Det.64 was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) aboard the aircraft carrrier USS Constellation (CVA-64) for a deployment to the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean from 21 June to 23 December 1974. (Image via Wikipedia) | Source: Wikipedia
The squadron also focused on safety. Early Skywarrior incidents provided lessons that improved emergency procedures and crew training. As a Fleet Replacement Squadron, Heavy Attack Squadron 123 trained crews to manage the challenges of operating a large, complex carrier aircraft before they joined operational units. During the Vietnam War, the squadron’s training mission became increasingly important as the United States expanded its naval air operations. Operational A-3 units needed a steady supply of pilots, aircrew, and maintenance staff, all of whom had to be trained on the aircraft’s different configurations. Heavy Attack Squadron 123 at NAS Whidbey Island provided this training, preparing personnel for heavy attack and specialized Skywarrior units working with the fleet. Although VAH-123 did not directly participate in combat, it supported naval aviation by supplying trained personnel and aircraft. By the end of the 1960s, the Navy’s heavy attack force was changing. The A-3 aircraft was moving away from its original role on aircraft carriers, while other planes took over many of the missions that the Skywarrior had once handled. After more than ten years of training naval aviation personnel, Heavy Attack Squadron 123 was disbanded on February 1, 1971.
The EA-3B Skywarrior was the largest and heaviest aircraft to regularly operate from an aircraft carrier, earning the nickname “Whale.” Photo by Moreno Aguiari
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