VAH-8

VAH-8, nicknamed the Fireballers, was a Heavy Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. It served from 1 May 1957 to 17 January 1968, a period of almost eleven years. The squadron primarily flew the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior aircraft.

On 13 Mar 1960, all nine of the squadron’s A3D-2 Skywarriors were launched from the deck of USS Midway (CVA-41), while deployed to WestPac, and flew a formation trans-Pacific flight of 4,800 miles to their home port of NAS Whidbey Island. Refueling stops were made at NAS Barbers Point and NAS Alameda. The total flight time was 10.9 hours and the aircraft arrived at NAS Whidbey Island on 15 March.

On 13 Mar 1962 during exercise Potshot, squadron A3Ds were launched from USS Midway carrying Marine Corps paratroopers who were dropped on a target site at Camp Pendleton.

The squadron participated in many combat operations during the Vietnam War. The first was in April 1965, when it flew bombing missions against targets such as army camps and marshalling yards, and aerial refueling sorties for attack and fighter aircraft.