The Green Lizards of Attack Squadron Nine Five began their colorful history on 15 October 1943 when the squadron was commissioned Torpedo Squadron TWENTY (VT-20). The squadron was based at San Diego, CA at that time. The squadron has since served honorably in World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Conflict, and during numerous line periods in other minor conflicts, the latest being Operation Praying Mantis against Iran in April 1988. Torpedo Squadron TWENTY began sea duty when it deployed on USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6) with 16 Grumman TBM Avengers, the Navy?s standard torpedo?bomber of World War II. During the next two years the squadron saw action at Okinawa, Formosa, Leyte, and in the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea. The first years of the squadron, filled with valor and glory, saw VT-20 cross decks to USS LEXINGTON (CV-16) and the USS KWAJALIEN. By the end of the war, VT-20 was credited with sinking 154,000 tons of enemy shipping; an additional 212,000 tons of enemy shipping was either sunk or seriously damaged. At the close of World War II, the name Torpedo Squadron TWENTY was retired to the historical logs when a Navy wide change renamed the group ?Attack Squadron TEN ABLE?. This designation lasted for less than two years when the squadron was redesignated ?Attack Squadron NINE FIVE? (VA-95) on 12 August 1948. The squadron continued to fly the TBM Avenger and the Grumman F6F Hellcat, a battle-proven single seat fighter. The squadron was subsequently decommissioned in 1949. On 26 April 1952, Attack Squadron NINE FIVE was called back to active duty, deploying after an eight month workup period aboard the USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CV-47) for operations off the Korean coast. At this time, VA?95 was flying the ADl Douglas Skyraider, affectionately known as the Spad. VA-95 was chosen to be the first squadron to operationally deploy the new 2.75 ?Mighty Mouse? rocket in support of United Nations Troops. During this conflict the squadron was nicknamed the ?Sky Knights?. However, after one particularly demanding line period, several squadron officers anonymously placed an iguana in the Air Wing Commander?s Stateroom. Although the Marine guard was immediately called to remove the creature, the perpetrators of the deed were never unmasked. Word of the incident soon hit the grapevine and an underground newspaper editor of the period identified the culprits as the ?Green Lizards?. The CAG assigned the name to VA-95. After the Korean conflict, VA-95 continued its combat readiness training with numerous cruises until February 1962 when the squadron deployed with units from the Seventh Fleet to WESTPAC. The Lizards continued to fly the time honored workhorse of the fleet, the AD1 ?Spad?, for two cruises aboard USS RANGER (CV-6l) and USS TICONDEROGA (CV-l4). In late 1967 the men of VA-95 traded their ?Spads? for the McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhaw.k, embarked on USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67), and deployed to the South China Sea. During the cruise, 2171 day and night combat sorties were flown without the loss of either pilot or plane. In March 1970 the squadron was decommissioned. On 31 March 1972, Attack Squadron NINE FIVE was recommissioned, now flying the Grumman A-6A Intruder. The squadron completed its transition and workups in twelve months and departed in March 1973 for its first peacetime cruise to WESPAC since 1965. The Lizards accumulated 1450 carrier arrested landings on this cruise without harming any of their new aircraft. The Lizards sailed in December 1974 on the USS CORAL SEA (CV-43). During the next seven months they became part of a Pacific ?Fire Brigade?, rushing from one trouble spot to another. VA?95 made history when the squadron participated in Operation Eagle Lift, escorting helicopters during the evacuation of US citizens from Saigon in April 1975. When the Khmer Rouge forces seized the U.S. merchant ship Mayaguez in the Gulf of Thailand, VA-95 crews flew strikes on 15 May 1975 against the airfield and naval facility at Ream, Cambodia, to neutralize Khmer Rouge air and naval forces. The squadron also flew missions in support of the Marine landing at Koh Tang Island. On 01 July 1978 VA-95 shifted colors from Carrier Air Wing FIFTEEN to Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN. The squadron deployed aboard USS CORAL SEA (CV43) and USS AMERICA (CV-66) to the Mediterranean Sea. On their last cruise aboard AMERICA, the Lizards introduced the A6-E?s newest system, the TRAM (Target Recognition Attack Multisensor) and returned to NAS Whidbey Island in November 1981. The Green Lizards were awarded the, Battle ?E? in December 1981 and earned the CNO Aviation Safety ?S? for 1974 and 1981. In 1982 the Lizards were back in Westpac for deployment aboard the USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65), the nuclear namesake of VT-20?s original carrier. This was followed by another Westpac/Indian Ocean cruise in 1984. On 11 January 1986, VA-95 began another Westpac/IO cruise on ENTERPRISE. The Lizards made history again when ENTERPRISE became the first nuclear-powered carrier to transit the Suez Canal. The squadron was then called to duty in support of combat missions being flown against Libya. After two months of intense operations, ENTERPRISE headed home, transiting this time around Africa. The squadron finally returned to Whidbey in August 1986, marking the end of a seven-month cruise which saw operations in all four fleets. VA-95 was awarded its third CNO Safety ?S? in 1986. The Green Lizard tradition of safety excellence continued in 1987 as the squadron was again awarded the CNO Safety ?S? for that year. The Green Lizards presently hold the best safety record in the entire medium attack community, having recently completed ten years of mishap-free flying while amassing over 46,000 flight hours during that period. In April 1988 the Lizards once again saw combat. While deployed on board USS ENTERPRISE, VA-95 provided tactical air support for Operation Praying Mantis, a combined surface?air action against Iranian naval forces in response to the USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (FFG-58) mining incident. After the Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) struck a mine in the Persian Gulf. The squadron?s A-6Es attacked Iranian Boghammar speed-boats with Rockeye cluster bombs, destroying one boat and damaging another. Later, after evading surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) fired by the Iranian frigate Sahand, two VA-95 crews severely damaged Sahand with Harpoon missiles and Skipper laser-guided bombs. After taking another Harpoon hit from a U.S. destroyer, Sahand sank when fires reached her magazines. Later, Sahand?s sister ship, Sabalan, drew fire from VA-95 after the ship fired a SAM at the A-6s. One A-6 hit Sabalan with laser-guided bombs, leaving the ship dead in the water; the ship was taken under tow with its stern submerged. During the twelve hour period, VA-95 aircraft were responsible for sinking the Iranian SAAM?class frigate SAHAND and disabling the frigate SABALAN. In other action that same day, Lizard A-6?s sank two Iranian fast patrol craft, thus routing a dangerous attack on American civilians on Gulf oil platforms. VA-95?s fifth deployment on board Enterprise (1989?1990) took the squadron through WESTPAC, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, and to the U.S. East Coast. After transition to the Systems Weapon Improvement Program (SWIP) version of the A-6E, the squadron rode Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) around Cape Horn as that carrier changed home port to Alameda, Calif. The Green Lizards? last three deployments were made on board Abraham Lincoln to WESTPAC, the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, supporting Operation Southern Watch enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq. During the first of these, the Navy?s first deployment of the A-6E SWIP, VA-95 also supported Operation Fiery Vigil, the evacuation of American personnel and their dependents from Subic Bay, Philippines after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. By this time, the squadron had retired its KA-6D tankers. The second of these deployments included operations in support of UN relief efforts in Somalia. An 18 November 1995 ceremony at NAS Whidbey Island, Wash., marked the disestablishment (officially 31 October) of Attack Squadron VA-95 after over 40 years of service. Cdr. Pieter VandenBergh was the last CO of the Green Lizards. The officers and men of Attack Squadron NINE FIVE take great pride in the squadron?s history of outstanding service to the United States.