Congress funded replacement Vigilantes while base policy repeatedly displaced the same force. The units moved from Naval Air Station Sanford to the former Turner Air Force Base, renamed Naval Air Station Albany, and then to Naval Air Station Key West after Albany closed in 1974. Moving whole squadrons meant relocating people, specialized engineering equipment, maintenance stores, and the support structure required by a complex aircraft. These basing decisions imposed readiness, personnel, and logistical costs while legislators continued to fund the front-line capability.
Notable Point · 27:19-29:09
Repeated base closures burdened the Vigilante force
Successive moves from Sanford to Albany and then Key West imposed logistical and personnel costs on the RA-5C squadrons.