RA-5C Vigilant Clean

This is an ErikGen design. We are an approved printer for EriKGen designs. His exquisite STLs can be purchased and self printed here: EriKGen Designs.
 
The RA-5C Vigilante was used extensively by the U.S. Navy for high-speed, tactical reconnaissance during the Vietnam War, operating from aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin. It served with eight squadrons in Southeast Asia, conducting post-strike reconnaissance missions. The RA-5C also saw limited service during the Cold War in other roles, including potential surveillance missions. 
 
Key Areas of Operation:
Vietnam War: The primary theater of operation, providing surveillance and battle damage assessment from 1964 until the mid-1970s.
Carrier-Based: Operated from U.S. Navy aircraft carriers deployed in the Gulf of Tonkin.
International Presence: Deployed on aircraft carriers worldwide during the Cold War for reconnaissance purposes. 
 
The aircraft was often escorted by F-4 Phantoms during reconnaissance missions due to its high-speed and unarmed nature. The RA-5C was designed for Mach 2 speeds and was a crucial intelligence-gathering tool for identifying, for example, the "Hanoi Hilton" POW camp.