USMC Helicopter Squadrons
$12.00
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Embroidered
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Officially Licensed US Navy VB-20 Tough Kitty Bombing Squadron Patch — Bombing Squadron 20 World War II Embroidered Patch
Tough Kitty — the dive bomber squadron that helped sink a battleship and turn the tide in the Pacific.
Bombing Squadron 20 (VB-20), nicknamed "Tough Kitty," was a United States Navy dive bomber squadron that flew the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver from the deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6) as part of Air Group 20 during World War II. Established as VB-99 on July 1, 1943, the squadron was redesignated VB-20 in October 1943 and quickly became one of the most battle-tested bombing units in the Pacific Theater.
VB-20's combat record reads like a history of the Pacific War itself. The squadron's first action came in August 1944 with strikes against the Bonin Islands, followed by pre-invasion strikes on the Palau Islands and air support for the invasion of Peleliu. On October 24, 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, VB-20's Helldivers flew devastating sorties against a powerful Japanese surface force in the Sibuyan Sea, contributing to the sinking of the battleship Musashi — one of the two largest battleships ever built. The following day, VB-20 attacked the Japanese carrier force in the Battle off Cape Engaño, helping sink four enemy carriers. Eighteen squadron members received the Navy Cross for their actions at Leyte Gulf alone. The Tough Kitties continued flying strikes against Luzon, Formosa, Hong Kong, and Okinawa through January 1945. This patch honors VB-20 and the Helldiver crews who flew into the fiercest anti-aircraft fire of the war.
Perfect For: VB-20 Tough Kitty descendants and historians, USS Enterprise (CV-6) veterans and enthusiasts, SB2C Helldiver warbird fans, World War II Pacific Theater aviation collectors, Battle of Leyte Gulf commemorators, and anyone who honors the dive bomber crews of the Greatest Generation.
Tough Kitty — dive bombing into history.
If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.
Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.
If the product is officially licensed, it will say “Officially Licensed” in the title and/or in the product details. If it doesn’t, it’s still a legitimate product—just not part of a licensed program.
Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.
Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.
