VA-75 Sunday Punchers Squadron Patch – Sew On Aviators! Are you looking for a high-quality patch you'll proudly wear or display? Look no further than the VA-75 Sunday Punchers Squadron Patch! 4.0 inch Embroidered US Naval Aviator Owned Business Sew On Plastic Backing increases rigidity, so the patch lasts longer and stays flat. From the Dictionary of Naval Aviation Squadrons World War II VB-18 SB2C-3 on USS Intrepid during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944 5 February 1944: Lieutenant Commander Dickson, the squadron’s commanding officer, was killed in a training exercise 12 October 1944: Squadron commanding officer, Commander Mark Eslick, was lost in combat during an attack on Kiirun Harbor, Formosa. 24–26 October 1944: The squadron participated in the Battle for Leyte Gulf, part of the operations surrounding the invasion of Leyte. On 24 October VB-18’s SB2Cs flew sorties against a powerful Japanese surface force in the Sibuyan Sea. These attacks contributed to the sinking of the Japanese battleship Musashi, one of the two largest battleships in the world. Lieutenant Donald L. Wilson was awarded the Navy Cross for scoring a direct hit on a Japanese battleship during the battle. On 25 October the squadron’s planes were part of a Fast Carrier Task Force that attacked the Japanese carrier force in the Battle of Cape Engano. Four Japanese carriers were sunk during this engagement, the squadron’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander George D. Ghesquiere was awarded the Navy Cross for leading his squadron in this battle and Lieutenant Benjamin G. Preston was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of his third Navy Cross for leading a division of dive bombers in this battle.On the 26th, squadron planes participated in attacks on the Japanese surface force which was retiring from the Battle Off Samar. Postwar September–December 1946: The squadron participated in the USS Leyte's shake-down cruise in the Caribbean and a goodwill cruise to South America for the inauguration of Chile’s President. 25 January 1949: the squadron conducted cross-deck operations with the British carrier HMS Triumph in the Mediterranean. Korean War VA-75 AD-4 launches from USS Bon Homme Richard in 1952 23 June 1952: The squadron’s first combat action in the Korean War was a joint operation with Air Group 7 and the U.S. Air Force in an attack against hydro-electric complexes in North Korea that had previously been restricted from attack. 11 July 1952: The squadron participated in a combined attack against Pyongyang, North Korea, with aircraft from CVG-7, USS Princeton (CV-37), the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Australian Air Force and British Royal Navy. 5 December 1952: On a strike against enemy troop concentrations the squadron’s commanding officer, Commander H. K. Evans, was lost when his aircraft was hit by antiaircraft fire and crashed. 1960s VA-75 AD-6s c.1960 April 1961: The squadron operated from USS Independence in an area south of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during the Bay of Pigs Invasion 22 October–22 November 1962: Participated in the Cuban Quarantine while embarked on Independence. 14 November 1963: The first operational fleet squadron to be assigned the A-6A Intruder. Vietnam War[edit] May–December 1965: Operating from Independence, VA-75 was the first squadron to deploy with the A-6A Intruder and operate the aircraft in a combat environment. 18 September 1965: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander Leonard Vogt, was lost during a combat mission while engaged in a night bombing attack on enemy patrol boats. 24 February 1968: Commander Jerrold M. Zacharias and Lieutenant Commander Michael L. Hall were awarded the Navy Cross for their action with VA-35 in planning and executing a coordinated A-6A strike on Hanoi. 1970s September and October 1970: VA-75 operated from USS Saratoga while on station in the eastern Mediterranean during the Black September in Jordan 7 October 1971: VA-75 became the first A-6 squadron to drop sonobuoys. The integrated A-6A radar
