USMC Helicopter Squadrons
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Embroidered
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Officially Licensed US Navy VX-5 Vampires Patch - Air Development Squadron Five (VX-5) Vampires Officially Licensed Throwback Embroidered Patch, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.
Nighttime test operations, a bat on the insignia, and four decades of weapons evaluation identity stitched into one throwback piece.
VX-5 was commissioned on 18 June 1951 at Naval Air Station Moffett Field, California, tasked with developing and evaluating aircraft tactics and techniques for the delivery of airborne special weapons. The squadron earned its Vampires nickname from its nighttime test operations and the distinctive bat logo on its insignia, giving the unit a recognizable identity that set it apart across the Navy test community. In 1956, VX-5 relocated to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, where the vast Mojave Desert ranges and advanced instrumentation made it the ideal home for live-fire evaluation and tactics development. Over the following decades, the squadron flew a wide array of aircraft including the A-4 Skyhawk, A-6 Intruder, F-4 Phantom II, and F/A-18 Hornet, and was instrumental in developing night attack tactics that gave carrier aviation an all-weather, round-the-clock strike capability. Weapons and tactics refined at China Lake saw direct use during the Vietnam War, connecting the Vampires insignia to real combat outcomes. In 1993, the Chief of Naval Operations directed VX-5 to merge with VX-4 to form Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine, VX-9, which carries the Vampires name and bat insignia forward today. This throwback patch honors the original VX-5 era and the test community that shaped modern naval strike aviation.
Perfect For: Navy test community veterans, VX-5 and VX-9 alumni, China Lake historians, naval aviation collectors, weapons evaluation enthusiasts, shadow box displays, patch boards, reunion gifts, cruise book tributes, and anyone preserving the story of the Vampires from the original Air Development Squadron Five era through the Cold War and Vietnam periods. It is also a strong fit for families and supporters who want a respectful, officially licensed piece tied to the nighttime test culture, bat insignia heritage, and the long China Lake legacy that shaped how the fleet fights.
Vampires heritage, officially licensed and stitched for the collectors who know what happened over the Mojave.
If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.
Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.
If the product is officially licensed, it will say “Officially Licensed” in the title and/or in the product details. If it doesn’t, it’s still a legitimate product—just not part of a licensed program.
Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.
Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.
