VA-75 (U.S. Navy)

A TBF Avenger, similar to those flown by the Carrier Clowns, preparing for catapult launch.

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.

As was not uncommon during the 1940s, a second squadron also bore the VA-75 designation.^[1]

Significant events

• 24–26 Oct 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.

• Sep–Dec 1946: The squadron participated in USS Leyte (CV-32) shakedown cruise in the Caribbean and a goodwill cruise to South America for the inauguration of Chile’s President Gabriel González Videla.^[1]

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:^[1]

• 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.

Aircraft Assignment

The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:^[1]

• 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

See also

• Attack aircraft
• List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• History of the United States Navy

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.

1. Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1, Chapter 2, Section 5: Attack Squadron Histories for VA-64 to VA-75 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 129–131. Retrieved 2014-02-16.