VA-75, nicknamed the Carrier Clowns, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Torpedo Squadron VT-18 on 20 July 1943. The squadron was redesignated as VA-8A on 15 November 1946, and finally as VA-75 on 27 July 1948. It was disestablished on 30 November 1949. A second squadron also bore the VA-75 designation.
24–26 October 1944: The squadron participated in the Battle for Leyte Gulf. On 24 October VT-18’s TBMs 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. On 25 October, the squadron’s planes were part of a Fast Carrier Task Force that attacked a Japanese carrier force in the Battle of Cape Engano. Four Japanese carriers were sunk during that engagement. On the 26th, squadron planes participated in an attack on the Japanese surface force which was retiring from the Battle Off Samar.
September–December 1946: The squadron participated in USS Leyte shakedown cruise in the Caribbean and a goodwill cruise to South America for the inauguration of Chile’s President Gabriel González Videla.
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:
NAS Alameda – 20 Jul 1943
NAAS Monterey – 28 Oct 1943*
NAAS Hollister – Nov 1943*
NAS Hilo – Feb 1944*
NAS Kaneohe Bay – Jun 1944*
NAS Alameda – 20 Dec 1944
NAS Astoria – 25 Jan 1945
NAS San Diego – 22 Apr 1945
NAS Quonset Point – 14 Nov 1945
* Temporary shore assignments while the squadron conducted training in preparation for combat deployment.
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:
TBF-1 Avenger – Jul 1943
TBM-1 Avenger – Sep 1943
TBM-1C Avenger – Nov 1943
TBM-3 Avenger – Feb 1945
TBM-3E Avenger – 22 Apr 1945
TBM-3Q Avenger – 6 May 1946
AD-3 Skyraider – 18 Apr 1949
