VFA - 94 Strike Fighter Squadron 94 ( VFA - 94 ) , also known as the " Mighty Shrikes " , are a United States Navy F / A - 18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore . Currently a land - based " Unit Deployment Program " squadron , they deploy with no tail code assigned . Their radio callsign is " Hobo " . Insignia and nickname . The original squadron was known as the " Tough Kitties " and had a cartoon cat insignia . When the second squadron was formed and deployed aboard USS Hornet ( CVA - 12 ) during its world cruise in 1954 , it also used a cartoon cat insignia . There is no record of this insignia being officially approved for use by the squadron . The squadron ’ s first official insignia was approved by Chief of Naval Operations on 21 November 1955 , and consisted of a yellow and black tiger paw with lightning bolts on a blue background . A new insignia was approved on 21 April 1959 consisting of a dark blue stylized aircraft with above an atom symbol on a blue background . A modification to this insignia was approved on 16 May 1967 , replacing the atom symbol by a stylized bird design . The stylized bird was orange and the other colors from the previous design stayed the same . Nicknamed the Mighty Shrike s , the squadron was named after a small carnivorous bird of prey , the Loggerhead Shrike . It engages in aerial combat to strike its prey in the air and on the ground , and then impales its victim on a sharp thorn . History . Two distinct US Navy squadrons have held the designation VA - 94 . The first served in World War II and was disestablished in the late 1940s . The second of those squadrons later became VFA - 94 , the main subject of this article . Officially , the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage of newly formed squadrons with disestablished squadrons . Often however , the new squadron will assume the nickname , insignia , and traditions of the earlier squadrons . That appears to have happened in this case , as ( for a short time ) the new squadron used a cat insignia similar to the earlier one . 1940s . The first VA - 94 was established on July 1 , 1943 , as Bombing Squadron NINETY NINE ( VB - 99 ) , an experimental squadron for the new SB2C Helldiver . VB - 99 was initially equipped with the Douglas SBD - 5 Dauntless . On October 15 , 1943 , the squadron was redesignated Bombing Squadron TWENTY ( VB - 20 ) , and on November 15 , 1943 the squadron started to receive its first SB2C - 1C Helldivers . From August 16 through November 23 , 1944 , VB - 20 flew the Helldiver from for the first of two World War II Pacific Theater combat cruises . The squadron ' s first combat action occurred on August 31 , 1944 and involved an attack on the Bonin Islands . In September 1944 , VB - 20 participated in pre - invasion strikes on Palau Islands and provided air support for landings on Peleliu Island . In October 1944 , the squadron participated in air strikes against Okinawa , Formosa and Luzon . On October 24 , 1944 , VB - 20 participated in the Battle for Leyte Gulf . Squadron SB2Cs flew sorties against Japanese surface force in the Sibuyan Sea , these attacks contributed to the sinking of the " Musashi " , one of the two largest battleships in the world . On October 25 , 1944 , VB - 20 aircraft were part of the Fast Carrier Task Force that attacked the Japanese carrier force in the Battle of Cape Engaño . Four Japanese carriers were sunk during this engagement . From November 23 , 1944 through February 2 , 1945 , VB - 20 embarked aboard , for the second of two World War II combat cruises . Squadron Helldivers struck Japanese positions in Ormoc Bay , Leyte , Luzon , Formosa , Hong Kong , the South China Sea and Okinawa . On November 15 , 1946 , VB - 20 was redesignated Attack Squadron NINE A ( VA - 9A ) . On August 12 , 1948 , they were re - designated Attack Squadron NINETY FOUR ( VA - 94 ) , and in October 1948 they received the new AD - 2 Douglas Skyraider . On November 30 , 1949 , VA - 94 was disestablished . 1950s . A new squadron , Fighter Squadron 94 , was established at NAS Alameda , California on March 26 , 1952 . The " Mighty Shrikes " began flying the F4U Corsair , but quickly transitioned to jet aircraft . Over the next eight years , the squadron received and flew numerous fighter aircraft before becoming an attack squadron . In Sep 1953 , the squadron received the F9F - 5 Panther . In Jan 1955 the " Shrikes " moved to NAS Moffett Field and received the FJ Fury in Feb 1955 . In Nov 1955 , they transitioned to the F9F Cougar . They again flew various models of the FJ - 3 Fury from Jun 1957 until 1959 . The Mighty Shrikes were redesignated as Light Attack Squadron VA - 94 on Aug 1 , 1958 and moved back to NAS Alameda on 20 Aug 1958 . In January 1959 , they transitioned to the aircraft they would fly ( in various models ) for the next twelve years , the A - 4 Skyhawk . 1960s . On 8 March 1962 , VA - 94 moved to NAS Lemoore , California . As the Vietnam War escalated , the " Mighty Shrikes " completed seven consecutive combat deployments to Southeast Asia , commencing with a cruise aboard in 1964 . On 1 Dec 1964 , the squadron flew its first sorties in support of Yankee Team Operations , armed escort for photo - reconnaissance missions over Laos . On 7 February 1965 , following a Viet Cong attack against American advisors in South Vietnam , President Lyndon Johnson ordered a reprisal strike against North Vietnam , named Flaming Dart I . The squadron ’ s target was concealed by heavy weather and the mission was aborted . On 11 February , the squadron participated in Flaming Dart II , retaliatory strikes against the Chanh Hoa military barracks near Dong Hoi , North Vietnam . In March 1965 , the squadron participated in Rolling Thunder strikes against targets in North Vietnam . In October 1965 , as part of Air Wing 9 , the squadron moved to NAS Norfolk to join on her first combat cruise . The squadron was assigned to Air Wing 5 in 1966 and completed four combat deployments aboard and . 1970s . In February 1971 , the squadron transitioned to the Ling - Temco - Vought A - 7 Corsair II and was assigned to Air Wing 15 / . On 9 May 1972 , the squadron participated in Operation Pocket Money , the mining of Haiphong harbor . The first mine was dropped at 08 : 59 to coincide with President Richard Nixon ' s public announcement of the mining . All mines were set with 72 - hour arming delays , thus permitting merchant ships time for departure or a change in destination consistent with the President ' s public warning . It was the beginning of a mining campaign that planted over 11 , 000 MK36 type destructor and 108 special Mk 52 - 2 mines over the next eight months . It is considered to have played a significant role in bringing about an eventual peace arrangement , particularly since it so hampered the enemy ' s ability to continue receiving war supplies . In May – June 1972 , VA - 94 participated in operation Linebacker I , heavy air strikes against targets in North Vietnam . In 1973 , the squadron deployed on its first peacetime cruise in a decade , again with Carrier Air Wing 15 aboard USS Coral Sea . On 29 April 1975 , squadron aircraft provided air cover for Operation Frequent Wind , the evacuation of American citizens from Saigon that terminated United States military involvement in Vietnam . On 15 May 1975 , " Shrike " aircraft , along with other elements from CVW - 15 launched air strikes against the Cambodia n mainland after the capture of the by Cambodian gunboats . From May 1979 to January 1980 , the squadron deployed aboard to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans , including 63 days of operations in the Arabian Sea during the Iran Hostage Crisis . 1980s . The squadron ' s next deployment aboard USS " Kitty Hawk " was completed in 1981 . In 1986 , aboard USS " Enterprise " , VA - 94 made history as part of the first nuclear aircraft carrier to transit the Suez Canal . The Shrikes cruised the Mediterranean for three months , supporting operations against Libya . In Feb – May 1988 , the " Mighty Shrikes " flew air support for Operation Earnest Will , escorting reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers in the Persian Gulf . In April 1988 , the squadron struck the naval forces of Iran as part of Operation Praying Mantis , the first major U . S . naval battle since World War II . Squadron aircraft delivered direct hits on the Iranian frigate Sahand . In Dec 1989 , the squadron participated in Operation Classic Resolve , providing support for the Philippine government during a coup attempt . 1990s . In June 1990 , the Mighty Shrikes received their first F / A - 18C Hornet and was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron NINE FOUR ( VFA - 94 ) on Jan 1 , 1991 . In May 1991 , they deployed aboard to the Persian Gulf in support of United Nations sanctions following the war in Iraq . The " Mighty Shrikes " also participated in Operation Fiery Vigil , evacuating thousands of homeless people from the Philippines after the Mount Pinatubo eruption . They subsequently received the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation for their contribution to the disaster relief efforts . On 15 June 1993 , the squadron deployed aboard " Abraham Lincoln " flying missions over southern Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch . In October 1993 , " Abraham Lincoln " left the Persian Gulf for Somalia to provide force protection for U . S . and other United Nations forces aiding in the humanitarian relief effort . The " Mighty Shrikes " were key participants in Operation Vigilant Sentinel during their 1995 deployment , again aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln CVN - 72 . The " Shrikes " next deployed aboard " Kitty Hawk " on 10 October 1996 to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch . On 13 May 1997 , the " Mighty Shrikes " deployed aboard , and again on 10 November 1998 to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Fox . 2000s . Following the terrorist attacks of September 11 , 2001 , the Mighty Shrikes led the first missions of Operation Enduring Freedom on October 7 , 2001 . In the months that followed , VFA - 94 and Air Wing Eleven participated in precision strikes against key Taliban locations in Afghanistan . The squadron amassed 664 combat sorties and expended 550 , 000 pounds of ordnance on targets in Afghanistan . The squadron returned home on 19 January 2002 . The squadron deployed again on 3 March 2003 for an eight - month combat deployment aboard USS Nimitz ( CVN - 68 ) with CVW - 11 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . On 7 May 2005 , the squadron again deployed aboard " Nimitz " to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . In Oct 2006 , the Mighty Shrikes successfully completed the Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program , in preparation for the squadron ' s transition to an expeditionary role . In January 2007 , VFA - 94 joined their sister squadron VFA - 97 as one of only two F / A - 18 squadrons to deploy overseas as part of the Unit Deployment Program ( UDP ) . Strike Fighter Squadron 94 departed Naval Air Station Lemoore , CA on its first expeditionary evolution to MCAS Iwakuni , Japan . The squadron traversed nearly of open ocean , totaling almost 18 flight hours per jet . During the deployment , VFA - 94 participated in Operation Foal Eagle , the first ever U . S . Navy expeditionary deployment to Korea , and Operation Cobra Gold in Thailand . The squadron received numerous accolades for success in number of sorties completed and overall mission accomplishment . In July 2008 , VFA - 94 completed their second UDP deployment to Japan in support of the Global War on Terror and Pacific Operations . The Mighty Shrikes participated in Exercises Talon Vision at Clark AFB , Philippines ; Wolmi - Do Fury at Kadena AFB , Okinawa ; and Exercise Lava Viper at Hickam AFB , Hawaii . The Shrikes returned home in February 2009 after completing this successful 7 month deployment . The squadron has been awarded two Joint Meritorious Unit Awards , five Navy Unit Commendations , five Meritorious Unit Commendations , five Battle Efficiency Awards , two Navy Expeditionary Medals , three Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals , and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal . 2010s . After return , in January 2012 , from UDP duties in Japan , the squadron returned stateside to NAS Lemoore , California , but apparently was not assigned to one of the West Coast air wings until around August 2012 , as it temporarily took sister Strike Fighter squadron " Fist of the Fleet " ( VFA - 25 ) place within CVW - 17 , as the fourth unit ( 4xx modex ) , as - 25 was upgrading to the " Echo " Super Hornet , single - seat version , from the long time used , ( legacy ) Hornet F / A - 18C . VFA - 25 was returned to its former slot within CVW - 17 , thus replacing VFA - 94 , which again has not been rotated , to date to another PACFLT or LANTFLT air wing . In that same period , the Navy changed the CVW code letters , to be inline as a Pacific Fleet ( PACFLT ) assignment , instead of its Atlantic Fleet letter designation , ' AA ' , used for the CVW since 1966 , to ' NA ' , a formerly used code for both VFA ( AW ) - 4 , and Air Task Group One ( ATG - 1 ) from October 1951 to Feb 23 , 1959 .