History of VA-95: From Avengers to Intruders
Taken together, the history of VA-95 story spans an extraordinary period in American naval aviation. It begins with young sailors and aviators taking TBM Avengers into battle against the Imperial Japanese Navy.
It passes through the era of the Skyraider and Skyhawk. And it ends with Green Lizard crews flying sophisticated A-6 Intruders from nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
Behind those aircraft were thousands of sailors—pilots, bombardier/navigators, plane captains, aviation electricians (AE), structural mechanics (AMS, AMH and AME), ordnancemen (AO), avionics technicians (AT), fire control (AQ) engine mechanics (AD), support personnel (PR, AZ, AK, HM) and countless others—who kept the squadrons flying.
The official Navy records correctly treat the three VA-95s as separate squadrons. But viewed as naval aviation history, they each share something important. They carried the same number and they performed the Navy’s attack mission.
And they contributed to a tradition that stretched from the Pacific battles of World War II to combat operations in the Persian Gulf.
- VT-20 Vultures.
- VT-10A Vultures.
- VA-95 Skyknights.
- VA-95 Green Lizards.
Different squadrons. Different aircraft. Different generations of sailors. But all are part of the remarkable history behind the name:
ATTACK SQUADRON NINETY-FIVE.
The history of VA-95 behind the name Attack Squadron Ninety-Five—reaches back to the carrier battles of World War II. Over the decades, three different U.S. Navy squadrons would carry the VA-95 designation. Although these squadrons were separate official lineages, together they tell a remarkable story of Navy attack aviation—from the propeller-driven TBM Avenger of World War II to the F6F-5 Hellcat, A-1 Skyraider, A-4 Skyhawk, and eventually the legendary A-6 Intruder.
The story begins in 1943 with Torpedo Squadron Twenty—VT-20.
History of VA-95: 1943-Torpedo Squadron Twenty Is Born
Torpedo Squadron Twenty (VT-20) was established on October 15, 1943, at Naval Air Station San Diego, California.
The squadron became known as the Vultures and flew the Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger, one of America’s most important carrier-based torpedo bombers of World War II.
By August 1944, VT-20 was aboard the legendary aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) and heading into combat in the Pacific.
The Vultures entered combat on September 1, 1944, striking Japanese installations on Chichi Jima in the Bonin Islands. That was only the beginning.
During the following months, VT-20 participated in strikes against the Palau Islands, Peleliu, Okinawa, Formosa, Luzon and the Philippines as American forces continued their advance toward Japan.
History of VA-95: VT-20 at Leyte Gulf
One of the most important chapters in VT-20 history came during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. VT-20 Avengers participated in attacks against the Japanese fleet during one of the largest naval battles in history.
On October 25, squadron aircraft took part in attacks against the Japanese carrier force during the Battle of Cape Engaño. Four Japanese aircraft carriers were sunk during the engagement. Several VT-20 aviators received the Navy Cross for their actions against the Japanese fleet.
The squadron continued fighting through the Philippines campaign, including strikes against Japanese forces around Ormoc Bay and Luzon. In November 1944, VT-20 transferred from USS Enterprise to USS Lexington (CV-16) and continued combat operations.
During January 1945, its Avengers struck targets on Luzon, Formosa, Hong Kong, Okinawa, the South China Sea and the coast of French Indochina.By the time VT-20 returned to the United States in February 1945, the Vultures had established a combat record worthy of remembrance.
History of VA-95: 1946-VT-20 Becomes VA-10A
With World War II over, the Navy reorganized its aviation squadrons. On November 15, 1946, Torpedo Squadron Twenty was redesignated:
VT-20 → VA-10A
The squadron was now officially Attack Squadron Ten A. This seemingly simple change represented something much larger happening throughout naval aviation.
The traditional distinction between torpedo and bombing squadrons was changing. The Navy was moving toward the broader concept of the carrier-based attack squadron. The aircraft, weapons and missions were changing—but the job remained essentially the same: Take the fight from the carrier to the enemy.
1948: The First VA-95
Another redesignation occurred on August 12, 1948. Attack Squadron Ten A became:
VA-10A → VA-95
For the first time, the designation Attack Squadron Ninety-Five appeared in the United States Navy. The squadron transitioned into the powerful Douglas AD/A-1 Skyraider, affectionately known throughout naval aviation as the “Spad.” The Skyraider represented the next generation of carrier attack aircraft.
It could carry a tremendous weapons load, remain over the battlefield for long periods and absorb an impressive amount of punishment. Unfortunately, this first chapter of VA-95 history was short.
The original VA-95 was disestablished on November 30, 1949. Its official lineage ended there.
But the number 95 would return.
1952: A Second VA-95 Takes Flight
On March 26, 1952, the Navy established another Attack Squadron Ninety-Five. Despite carrying the same designation, this was officially a new squadron, not a reactivation of the original VT-20/VA-10A/VA-95 lineage.
This second VA-95 became associated with the nickname Skyknights and eventually flew aircraft including the AD/A-1 Skyraider and later the A-4 Skyhawk.
The squadron served during the Korean War era and continued operating through the increasingly tense years of the Cold War. During the 1960s, the name that would eventually become synonymous with VA-95 began to appear:
The Green Lizards.
The second VA-95 remained active until 1970, when it was disestablished. Once again, VA-95 disappeared from the Navy’s active squadron roster.
But not for long.
1972: The Green Lizards Return
On April 1, 1972, a third squadron was established as Attack Squadron Ninety-Five.
This was another new squadron rather than a continuation of the two previous official lineages.
This VA-95 would become the squadron most closely remembered as the: GREEN LIZARDS
And its airplane would become one of the most recognizable attack aircraft ever to operate from an American aircraft carrier:
The Grumman A-6 Intruder
The Intruder was a very different machine from the TBM Avengers that had carried VT-20 into combat nearly three decades earlier. The A-6 was designed to penetrate enemy defenses at low altitude and deliver heavy weapons loads accurately in darkness and bad weather.
Its two-man crew consisted of a pilot and bombardier/navigator working together with sophisticated navigation and attack systems. The Intruder gave the Green Lizards a true all-weather strike capability.
History of VA-95: From World War II to the Persian Gulf
There is an interesting historical symmetry in the VA-95 story.
The original VT-20 had gone to war from the deck of the famous USS Enterprise (CV-6) during World War II. More than four decades later, the Green Lizards of VA-95 would also go into combat from an aircraft carrier named Enterprise—this time the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise (CVN-65).
In April 1988, VA-95 participated in Operation Praying Mantis against Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf. Green Lizard A-6 Intruders helped attack Iranian naval forces during the operation. Among the most famous actions were attacks involving the Iranian frigates Sahand and Sabalan.
Once again, aircraft carrying the number 95 were flying from an American carrier and attacking enemy warships. The aircraft had changed dramatically. The mission had not.
History of VA-95: The End of VA-95
The third and final VA-95 continued flying the A-6 Intruder through the closing years of the Cold War and into the 1990s. Eventually, reductions in the Navy’s carrier air forces and the approaching retirement of the A-6 brought the Green Lizards’ story to an end.
VA-95 was disestablished in 1995.
More than fifty years had passed since VT-20’s Avengers first went into combat over the Pacific.
The VA-95 Family Tree
The history can be viewed as three distinct chapters:
FIRST VA-95
October 15, 1943
Torpedo Squadron Twenty (VT-20)
↓
November 15, 1946
Attack Squadron Ten A (VA-10A)
↓
August 12, 1948
Attack Squadron Ninety-Five (VA-95)
↓
November 30, 1949
Disestablished
SECOND VA-95
March 26, 1952
Attack Squadron Ninety-Five (VA-95) established
↓
Skyknights / Green Lizards era
↓
1970
Disestablished
THIRD VA-95
April 1, 1972
Attack Squadron Ninety-Five (VA-95) established
↓
Green Lizards
↓
Grumman A-6 Intruder era
↓
Combat in Operation Praying Mantis — 1988
↓
1995
Disestablished
.
Once a Lizard, always a Lizard.
Want more Green Lizard articles like this? Subscribe to our VA-95 All Weather Attack newsletter today and get VA-95-focused news, announcements, and website update delivered straight to your inbox.