VA-94 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Bombing Squadron VB-99 on 1 July 1943, redesignated as VB-20 on 15 October 1943, and as VA-9A on 15 November 1946. It was finally redesignated as VA-94 on 12 August 1948. The squadron was disestablished on 30 November 1949. Its nickname was Bombing Twenty's Tough Kitty from 1943 to 1946.
July–October 1943: VB-99 was established as an experimental squadron for the new SB2C aircraft until its redesignation as VB-20 and assignment to Carrier Air Group 20 (CVG-20).
31 August 1944: The squadron’s first combat action involved an attack on the Bonin Islands.
September 1944: The squadron participated in pre-invasion strikes on Palau Islands and provided air support for the invasion of Peleliu.
October 1944: Squadron aircraft participated in air strikes against Okinawa, Formosa and Luzon.
24 October 1944: The squadron participated in the Battle for Leyte Gulf. VB-20’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. The following squadron personnel were awarded the Navy Cross for this action: Ensigns M. E. Adams, R. J. Barnes, H. A. Koster, R. D. Olson, M. T. Ross, and D. D. J. Spanagel; Lieutenant (jg)s P. P. Cook, J. M. Glynn, R. D. Reed, J. P. Trytten, and J. E. Tsarnas; Lieutenants W. N. Christensen, J. S. Cooper, H. C. Hogan, R. E. Moore, R. D. Warner and R. S. Wilcox; and Commander R. E. Riera.
25 October 1944: Squadron aircraft were part of the 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 following squadron personnel were awarded the Navy Cross for their actions during the Battle of Cape Engano: Ensigns H. C. Bearden, D. F. Hughes, C. Z. Stevens III, and W. P. Wright; Lieutenant (jg) W. C. Phtilla; Lieutenants W. W. Anderson, C. Burkhart and L. C. Flynt; and Commander R. E. Riera.
November 1944: Squadron aircraft flew strikes against a Japanese troop convoy in Ormoc Bay, Leyte and enemy positions on Luzon.
December 1944: The squadron participated in strikes flown against Luzon.
January 1945: Squadron aircraft flew strikes against Luzon, Formosa, Hong Kong, and Japanese convoys in South China Sea and Okinawa.
12 January 1945: The following squadron personnel were awarded the Silver Star medal for action against a Japanese cruiser protecting a convoy of cargo ships: Lieutenants W. N. Christensen and W. W. Anderson and Lieutenant (jg) H. Rubner.
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:
NAS San Diego – 01 Jul 1943
NAS Kaneohe – 21 Apr 1944*
NAS Barbers Point – 30 Apr 1944*
NAS Puunene – 17 Jun 1944*
NAS San Diego – 23 Feb 1945
NAS Wildwood – 16 Apr 1945
NAAS Edenton – 22 Jun 1945
NAAS Elizabeth City – 01 Nov 1945
NAAS Charlestown – 01 Mar 1946
* Temporary shore assignment while the squadron conducted training in preparation for combat deployment.
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:
SBD-5 Dauntless – Jul 1943
SB2C-1C Helldiver – 15 Nov 1943
SB2C-3 Helldiver – Jul 1944
SB2C-4E Helldiver – 18 Apr 1945
SBW-5 Helldiver – 04 Aug 1945
SB2C-5 Helldiver – Mar 1946
AD-2 Skyraider – 04 Oct 1948
