VFA-195

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Strike Fighter Squadron 195


caption= VFA-195 Insignia
dates= August 1943
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Navy
type= Fighter/Attack
role= Close air support
Air interdiction
Aerial reconnaissance
size=
command_structure= Carrier Air Wing 5
current_commander=
garrison= Naval Air Station Atsugi
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= "Dambusters"
patron=
motto= “Chippy Ho”
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
anniversaries=

Strike Fighter Squadron 195 (VFA-195), also known as the "Dambusters", are a United States Navy F/A-18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing 5 and their catail code is "NF".

Mission

VFA-195 exists to provide power projection for the United States.

quadron Insignia and Nickname

The squadron, originally known as the "Tigers", had its first insignia approved by CNO on 4 March 1944, consisting of a lion cub riding a torpedo. Bob Burns gave the squadron a lion cub. On the patch the cub is holding the musical "bazooka" that Burns used in his act, while riding a torpedo. The lion went to the LA Zoo. A new design replaced the cub with a tiger and parrot on the torpedo, and was approved on 18 April 1949. Sometime in the 1950s, the squadron adopted a shield insignia that featured an eagle's head and a torpedo. On May 1, 1951, squadron aircraft destroyed the heavily defended Hwa Chon Dam in North Korea earning them the nickname "Dambusters".Official history page of [https://www.atsugi.navy.mil/VFA-195/History.htm VFA-195] retrieved 06/25/2008] Destruction of the dam had been previously attempted by other units many times. In August 1985, the squadron adopted the stylized eagle on green background insignia in use today.

History

1940s

VFA-195 was originally established as Torpedo Squadron 19 (VT-19), at NAAS Los Alamitos, California on 15 Aug 1943, flying the TBM-1 Avenger.

As unit of Carrier Air Group 19 during World War II, it was a part of Admiral Bull Halsey’s Naval Task Force. On 18 Jul 1944, the squadron flew its first combat mission when it conducted pre-invasion strikes against Guam.

The squadron participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and in the landings at Palau, Morotai and Leyte (see also Battle of Leyte Gulf). Squadron pilots also flew strikes against the Carolines, Philippines, Bonin Islands, Okinawa, Mindanao, Luzon, and Formosa while embarked on USS|Lexington|CV-16.

In Oct 1944, squadron aircraft participated in strikes against the Central Japanese Task Force in the Sibuyan Sea, which included the super battleship Musashi. Three of the squadron’s personnel were awarded the Silver Star for their actions during this strike. Squadron aircraft also participated in the Battle Off Cape Engano, strikes against the Japanese Northern Force composed primarily of carriers, resulting in 25 Navy Cross awards. On 5 Nov 1944, squadron aircraft participated in the sinking of the Nachi, a Japanese heavy cruiser, which was making a sortie out of Manila Bay.

The squadron changed homeports several times during WWII, first to NAS San Diego, then to NAS Alameda, NAAS Santa Rosa, California, and NAS Barbers Point before finally ending up back at NAS Alameda in Aug 1946. VT-19 also upgraded their "Avengers" throughout the war, to the TBM-3 in Feb 1945, the TBM-3E in Apr 1945, and finally the TBM-3Q.

On 15 November 1946, the squadron was redesignated Attack Squadron TWENTY A (VA-20A). In May 1947, the squadron transitioned to the AD-1 Skyraider. In August 1948, VA-20A upgraded to the AD-2 and was redesignated Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED NINETY FIVE (VA-195). In January 1949, the squadron upgraded again to the AD-3.

1950s

VA-195 upgraded to the AD-4 in Jul 1950, and served in the Korean War while embarked on USS|Princeton|CV-37. On 5 Dec 1950, the squadron flew its first combat mission since the end of World War II, flying close air support missions for U.S. Marines near Chosin Reservoir in North Korea.

On May 1, 1951, the squadron’s Skyraiders, making precise low level runs, delivered aerial torpedoes on the heavily defended and strategically positioned Hwa Chon Dam in North Korea. Destruction of the dam had been attempted by Air Force and Navy bombers but was finally accomplished by VA-195, earning them the nickname the "Dambusters".Official history page of [https://www.atsugi.navy.mil/VFA-195/History.htm VFA-195] retrieved 06/25/2008]

The squadron upgraded to the AD-4L, and on 23 Jun 1952, the squadron conducted coordinated air strikes against the Suiho hydroelectric plant on the Yalu River and the Kyosen Number Three hydroelectric plant. Squadron aircraft participated in attacks against other hydroelectric plants the following day.On 11 Jul 1952, "Dambuster" aircraft participated in one of the major joint Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps air strikes of the war, hitting industrial targets in North Korea’s capital city of Pyongyang.

In Nov 1952, the squadron relocated to NAS Moffett Field, and upgraded to the AD-4B and AD-4NA in early 1953. VA-195 received AD-6s in May 1954, and finally moved to the jet age with A4D-2 Skyhawks (later designated A-4C) in July 1959.

1960s

In Dec 1961, the squadron moved to NAS Lemoore, California. As the Vietnam war flared in the fall of 1964, the squadron made their fourth consecutive deployment on USS|Bon Homme Richard|CV-31 with the U.S. Seventh Fleet. During the next five years, while operating various models of the A-4 from the decks of the "Bon Homme Richard" and USS|Ticonderoga|CV-14, the squadron logged more combat flight hours and sorties than any other squadron in Carrier Air Wing 19.

On 20 Apr 1967, the squadron’s executive officer was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in planning and executing a successful strike against a Haiphong thermal power plant, accomplishing the mission without the loss of a single aircraft.

In Mar 1968, VA-195, along with other squadrons in CVW-19, conducted flight operations from "Ticonderoga" in the Sea of Japan following the capture of [USS Pueblo (AGER-2) by North Korea. In Sept 1968, the squadron upgraded to the A-4E.

1970s

In the spring of 1970 VA-195 passed another milestone, transitioning to the A-7E Corsair II. As a unit of Carrier Air Wing 11 on USS|Kitty Hawk|CV-63, the squadron deployed in the fall of 1970, marking its fourth consecutive decade of involvement in foreign conflicts. In May 1972, "Dambusters" participated in the mining of North Vietnamese harbours and Linebacker I operations, concentrated air strikes against targets in North Vietnam above the 20th parallel. On July 19, 1972 the squadron delivered the first data link version of the television guided Walleye Glide Bomb down the throat of a cave storage area causing its complete destruction. Later the same day, they destroyed the Ninh Binh railroad bridge, also with a single weapon.

In Nov 1973, VA-195 deployed with CVW-11 embarked on "Kitty Hawk" as part of the first CV concept air wing deployment on the west coast. This concept consolidated all aspects of carrier aviation warfare into one air wing deployed on a single deck.

1980s

In 1981, the "Dambusters" made back-to-back deployments aboard USS America (CV-66).

The "Dambusters" were assigned to CVW-15 and CVW-19 before joining CVW-9 late in 1982. From Jul–Aug 1983, USS Ranger (CV-61), with VA-195 embarked, was ordered to operate off the coast of Nicaragua in response to an unstable situation in Central America. Then from Oct 1983 to Jan 1984 during a 122 day line period in the Indian Ocean, "Ranger", with VA-195 embarked, was extended on station in the Arabian Sea due to the Iranian threat to block oil exports from the Persian Gulf.

The "Dambusters" were redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 195 on April 1, 1985 and commenced transition to the F/A-18 Hornet. Upon completion, VFA-195 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) and officially joined the Forward Deployed Naval Forces in U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan on July 1, 1986. While ashore, the "Dambusters" operated out of NAF Atsugi, Japan, and embarked aboard USS Midway (CV-41).

From Nov 1987 to Feb 1988, the squadron participated in Operation Earnest Will, the escorting of reflagged Kuwaiti tankers through the Persian Gulf. In the fall of 1988 and again in 1989, the squadron embarked aboard "Midway" and made deployments to the Indian Ocean, along with several shorter deployments in the Western Pacific.

1990s

VFA-195 was deployed aboard USS|Midway|CV-41 when Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm the "Dambusters" flew 564 combat missions, delivering 356 tons of ordnance, and became the first Hornet squadron to deliver a Walleye II glide bomb in combat.Aboard USS Independence (CV-62) in March 1996, CVW-5 and the "Dambusters"deployed to calm tensions in the Taiwan Strait over Taiwan’s first direct presidential elections.

2000s

VFA-195 flew in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, striking targets deep in Afghanistan. Called on for duty in the Persian Gulf in 2003, the "Dambusters" flew 278 combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, delivered 179,000 pounds of precision guided munitions against military targets over the course of a single month.

ee also

*Naval aviation
*Modern US Navy carrier air operations
*List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) / List of US Naval aircraft
*United States Naval Aviator
*Military aviation
*List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
*List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons

References

;Web
* [https://www.atsugi.navy.mil/cvw5/VFA195/index1.htm VFA-195's official website]