The second VA-95 was an Attack Squadron of the
U.S. Navy, and was the second of three unrelated squadrons to bear that designation. It was established on 26 March 1952, and disestablished on 1 April 1970. The squadron's nickname was the ''Skyknights'' from 1957 to 1963, and the ''Green Lizards'' thereafter.
Operational history
*January 1963: The squadron participated in cross deck operations with the British carrier
HMS Hermes (R12) while operating in the western Pacific.
*May 1963: Following the military losses of
Lao neutralists to the
Pathet Lao
The Pathet Lao ( lo, ປະເທດລາວ, translit=Pa thēt Lāo, translation=Lao Nation), officially the Lao People's Liberation Army, was a communist political movement and organization in Laos, formed in the mid-20th century. The gro ...
on the
Plain of Jars, Laos, transited to the South China Sea to support possible operations in Laos.
*November 1964–April 1965: The squadron participated in support for photo reconnaissance missions and conducted strikes against targets in Laos.
*7 February 1965: Following the
Attack on Camp Holloway in Pleiku, South Vietnam, the President ordered
Operation Flaming Dart
Operation Flaming Dart was a U.S. and South Vietnamese military operation, conducted in two parts, during the Vietnam War.
Background
United States President Lyndon B. Johnson in February 1965 ordered a series of reprisal air strikes after seve ...
, a reprisal strike against North Vietnam. The squadron’s target was the Vit Thu Lu Barracks. However, the strike turned back due to poor weather conditions.
*11 February 1965: Squadron aircraft participated in Flaming Dart II, retaliatory strikes against the Chanh Hoa military barracks near
Đồng Hới, North Vietnam.
*March 1965: The squadron participated in
Operation Rolling Thunder strikes against the Phu Qui ammunition depot in North Vietnam.
*April 1966: The squadron departed Norfolk, Virginia, en route to Vietnam as part of an air wing composed only of attack squadrons.
*September 1969: Following a
coup that overthrew the Libyan monarchy cut short its visit to Cannes, France, and departed for operations in the Ionian Sea. The United States later extended diplomatic recognition to the new Libyan government.
Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:
*
NAS Alameda – 26 Mar 1952
*
NAS Moffett Field – 08 Mar 1962
*
NAS Lemoore – 01 Apr 1963
*
NAS Alameda – 04 Aug 1968
Aircraft assignment
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:
*
F6F-5 ''Hellcat'' – 21 Apr 1952
*
AD-1 ''Skyraider'' – 19 May 1952
*
AD-4NA ''Skyraider'' – 03 Jul 1952
*
AD-4 ''Skyraider'' – Sep 1952
*
AD-4L ''Skyraider'' – Oct 1952
*
AD-6 ''Skyraider'' – Oct 1953
*
AD-7 ''Skyraider'' – Sep 1956
*
A-4C ''Skyhawk'' – 15 Jul 1965
*
A-4B ''Skyhawk'' – 05 Dec 1965
*
A-4C ''Skyhawk'' – Sep 1968
See also
*
VA-95 (U.S. Navy)
*
Third VA-95 (U.S. Navy)
The third VA-95 established April 1, 1972 and reclaiming the original "Green Lizards" name, the first VA-95 being established in 1943, as an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The second squadron was established on 1 April 1950, renamed the "Skykn ...
*
Attack aircraft
An attack aircraft, strike aircraft, or attack bomber is a tactical military aircraft that has a primary role of carrying out airstrikes with greater precision than bombers, and is prepared to encounter strong low-level air defenses while pre ...
*
List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
*
History of the United States Navy
References
{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017
Attack squadrons of the United States Navy
Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons