VFA - 195 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 " . Mission . VFA - 195 exists to provide power projection for the United States . Squadron insignia and nickname . The squadron , originally known as the " Tigers " , had its first insignia approved by Chief of Naval Operations 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 . History . 1940s . VFA - 195 was originally established as Torpedo Squadron 19 ( VT - 19 ) , 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 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 . In October 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 November 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 the Second World War , 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 August 1946 . VT - 19 also upgraded their " Avengers " throughout the war , to the TBM - 3 in February 1945 , the TBM - 3E in April 1945 , and finally the TBM - 3Q . On 15 November 1946 , the squadron was redesignated Attack Squadron 20A ( 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 195 ( VA - 195 ) . In January 1949 , the squadron upgraded again to the AD - 3 . 1950s . VA - 195 upgraded to the AD - 4 in July 1950 , and served in the Korean War while embarked on . On 5 December 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 torpedo es on the heavily defended and strategically positioned Hwacheon 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 " . The squadron upgraded to the AD - 4L , and on 23 June 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 July 1952 , " Dambuster " aircraft participated in one of the major joint U . S . Navy , Air Force and Marine Corps air strikes of the war , hitting industrial targets in North Korea ’ s capital city of Pyongyang . In November 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 - 4B ) in July 1959 . 1960s . In December 1961 , the squadron moved to NAS Lemoore , California , ( USA ) . As the Vietnam war flared in the fall of 1964 , the squadron made their fourth consecutive deployments on the USS " Bon Homme Richard " 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 " , the squadron logged more combat flight hours and sorties than any other squadron in Carrier Air Wing 19 . On 20 April 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 March 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 September 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 , 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 November 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 an aircraft carrier . The most important difference was the integration of the anti - submarine squadrons ( VS ) into the former " Attack Carrier Air Wing " , as the old Essex - class anti - submarine carriers ( CVS ) and their " Anti - Submarine Carrier Air Groups ( CVSG ) " were retired . Between 1970 and 1981 VA - 195 made seven deployments with CVW - 11 aboard the " Kitty Hawk " . The 1979 deployment led CVW - 11 in unfamiliar waters , as it was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea , followed by the 1981 cruise to the same area and the Indian Ocean . 1980s . In 1981 , the " Dambusters " made back - to - back deployments aboard USS America ( CV - 66 ) . In 1983 / 84 VA - 195 made its last deployment with the A - 7 " Corsair II " , this time being re - assigned to the Pacific Fleet CVW - 9 aboard the USS " Ranger " . From July to August 1983 , " Ranger " was ordered to operate off the coast of Nicaragua in response to an unstable situation in Central America . Then , from October 1983 to January 1984 , during a 122 day line period in the Indian Ocean , " Ranger " was extended on station in the Arabian Sea due to the Iranian threat to block oil exports from the Persian Gulf . In 1985 The " Dambusters " were redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 195 ( VFA - 195 ) on 1 April 1985 and commenced transition to the McDonnell Douglas F / A - 18A " Hornet " . In 1986 VFA - 195 was assigned to the newly established CVW - 10 . This wing was to deploy on the USS " Independence " , and it was given the old CVW - 19 tail code " NM " . However , " CVW - 10 " was never deployed . VFA - 195 was the only squadron of this wing that was not disestablished in 1987 . Instead , the " Dambusters " were reassigned to CVW - 5 aboard the USS " Midway " , when CVW - 5 ' s fighter squadrons transitioned from the McDonnell Douglas F - 4S " Phantom II " and the A - 7E " Corsair " to the F / A - 18 " Hornet " . VFA - 195 joined the Forward Deployed Naval Forces in U . S . Fleet Activities Yokosuka , Japan on 1 July 1987 . While ashore , the " Dambusters " since then operate out of NAF Atsugi , Japan . From November 1987 to February 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 the USS " Midway " 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 . In August 1991 " CVW - 5 " switched from the " Midway " ( which was being retired ) to the new forward deployed carrier , the USS " Independence " near Hawaii . In March 1996 , CVW - 5 and the " Dambusters " deployed to calm tensions in the Taiwan Strait over Taiwan ’ s first direct presidential elections . Between 1991 and 1998 VA - 195 made ten deployments aboard the " Independence " to the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean . 2000s . From 1998 to 2008 VFA - 195 was assigned with " CVW - 5 " to the USS " Kitty Hawk " . 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 . When the " Kitty Hawk " was retired , " CVW - 5 " and VFA - 195 moved to the USS " George Washington " in August 2008 . 2010s . During fall 2010 the squadron will start transition to the Super Hornet . Carrier Air Wing Five will be the first wing totally equipped with Super Hornets without legacy Hornets .