VFA-195
| Strike Fighter Squadron 195 | |
|---|---|
VFA-195 Insignia
|
|
| Active | 15 August 1943 - present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Fighter/Attack |
| Role |
Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance |
| Part of | Carrier Air Wing 5 |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Station Atsugi |
| Nickname(s) | "Dambusters" |
| Motto(s) | “Chippy Ho” |
| Engagements |
World War II Korean War Vietnam War Gulf War Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack |
TBM Avenger AD-1/A-1 Skyraider A-4 Skyhawk A-7 Corsair II |
| Fighter |
F/A-18A Hornet F/A-18E Super Hornet |
Strike Fighter Squadron 195 (VFA-195), also known as the "Dambusters", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) and their tail code is NF.
The squadron, originally known as the Tigers, had its first insignia approved by Chief of Naval Operations (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 Los Angeles 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 1 May 1951, squadron aircraft disabled the heavily defended Hwacheon Dam in North Korea, earning them the nickname Dambusters, echoing the original Dam Busters of No. 617 Squadron RAF. 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.
Torpedo Squadron 19 (VT-19) was established at NAAS Los Alamitos, California on 15 August 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 July 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 striking the Japanese Northern Force composed primarily of carriers, resulting in 25 Navy Cross awards. The squadron supported the landings at Palau, Morotai and Leyte. Squadron pilots also flew strikes against the Carolines, Philippines, Bonin Islands, Okinawa, Mindanao, Luzon, and Formosa while embarked on USS Lexington.
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