VFA-94 Shrikes 2025 F/A-18 Tail Flash Patch
Strike Fighter Squadron 94 (VFA-94) — "Mighty Shrikes" — 2025 Tail Flash
Strike Fighter Squadron 94 (VFA-94), the Mighty Shrikes, was established as Fighter Squadron 94 (VF-94) at Naval Air Station Alameda, California, on 26 March 1952. Named after the loggerhead shrike — a small carnivorous bird that impales its prey on sharp thorns — the squadron has earned a combat record spanning over seven decades of naval aviation excellence. The Shrikes began with the Vought F4U Corsair before rapidly transitioning through jet fighters including the F9F-5 Panther in 1953, the FJ-3M Fury, and the F9F Cougar.
Redesignated as Attack Squadron 94 (VA-94) on 1 August 1958, the Mighty Shrikes completed seven consecutive combat deployments to Southeast Asia beginning in 1964, flying all models of the A-4 Skyhawk before transitioning to the A-7 Corsair II in February 1971. VA-94 aircraft led the first major Navy bombing strikes into North Vietnam after the 1968 bombing halt and participated in the mining of Haiphong Harbor. In 1975, the squadron supported Operation Frequent Wind during the Saigon evacuation. During Operation Praying Mantis on 18 April 1988, the Shrikes were instrumental in sinking the Iranian frigate Sahand in the first major U.S. naval battle since World War II.
Redesignated VFA-94 on 1 January 1991 upon receiving the F/A-18C Hornet, the squadron led the first missions of Operation Enduring Freedom on 7 October 2001, amassing 664 combat sorties and expending 550,000 pounds of ordnance against Taliban targets in Afghanistan. Today, VFA-94 operates the F/A-18E Super Hornet with Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17) out of NAS Lemoore, California, with callsign "Hobo."
Perfect For: VFA-94 squadron members, CVW-17 personnel, F/A-18 Super Hornet aircrew, NAS Lemoore aviators, USS Nimitz carrier strike group members, and naval aviation tail flash collectors.
A tribute to over seven decades of strike fighter excellence — the Mighty Shrikes, impaling the enemy with precision since 1952.
