Fighter Squadron 94 was commissioned at NAS Alameda, California in 1952. Nicknamed the Mighty Shrikes, the squadron was named after a small carnivorous bird of prey, the Loggerhead Shrike. It engages in aerial combat to strike its prey in the air and on the ground, and then impales its victim on a sharp thorn. The Mighty Shrikes began flying the F4U Corsair, but quickly transitioned to jet aircraft. For the next five years, the squadron received and flew the F7U-7, FJ-3, F9F-8, F8U-1, F11F-1 Tiger and FJ-4. The Mighty Shrikes were redesignated as Light Attack Squadron 94 in 1958 and moved to NAS Lemoore, California in 1962. VA-94 aviators flew all models of the A-4 Skyhawk before transitioning to the A-7 Corsair II in February 1971.
The Mighty Shrikes completed seven consecutive combat deployments to Southeast Asia, commencing with a cruise aboard USS Ranger in 1964. In 1965, as part of Air Wing 9, the squadron was airlifted to NAS Norfolk to join USS Enterprise on her first combat cruise. The squadron was assigned to Air Wing 5 in 1966 and completed four combat deployments aboard USS Hancock and USS Bon Homme Richard. After transitioning to the A-7 Corsair II, the squadron was assigned to Air Wing 15 and completed its final Southeast Asia combat deployment aboard USS Coral Sea. VA-94 aircraft led the first major Navy bombing strikes into North Vietnam after the 1968 bombing halt and participated in the mining of Haiphong harbor.
In 1973, the squadron deployed on its first peacetime cruise in a decade, again with Carrier Air Wing 15 aboard USS Coral Sea. In 1975, the Mighty Shrikes participated in Operation Frequent Wind, the Saigon evacuation that terminated United States military involvement in Vietnam. Shortly thereafter, the squadron participated in the recovery of SS Mayaguez after its seizure by Cambodia. From May 1979 to January 1980, the squadron deployed aboard USS Kitty Hawk to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, including 63 days of operations in the Arabian Sea during the Iran Hostage Crisis. The squadron's next deployment aboard USS Kitty Hawk was completed in 1981.
In 1986, aboard USS Enterprise, VA-94 made history as part of the first nuclear aircraft carrier to transit the Suez Canal. The Shrikes cruised the Mediterranean for three months, supporting operations against Libya.
In June 1990, the Mighty Shrikes received their first F/A-18C Hornet and were redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 94. In May 1991, they transferred to USS Abraham Lincoln and deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of United Nations sanctions following the war in Iraq. The Mighty Shrikes also participated in Operation Fiery Vigil, evacuating thousands of homeless people from the Philippines after the Mount Pinatubo eruption. They subsequently received the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation for their contribution to the disaster relief efforts.
On 15 June1993, the squadron deployed aboard USS Abraham Lincoln for its 22nd deployment. Soon thereafter, the Mighty Shrikes flew their first missions over southern Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch. In October 1993, USS Abraham Lincoln left the Arabian Gulf for Somalia to provide force protection for U.S. and other United Nations forces aiding in the humanitarian relief effort.
The Mighty Shrikes were key participants in Operation Vigilant Sentinel. Following another short turnaround training cycle, the Mighty Shrikes deployed aboard USS Kitty Hawk on 10 October 1996 to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. On 13 May1997, the Mighty Shrikes transferred to USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) under the direction of Commander, Carrier Group Three. The Mighty Shrikes deployed aboard the Carl Vinson on 10 November1998 to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Fox.
Global War on Terror
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Mighty Shrikes led the first missions of Operation Enduring Freedom on October 7, 2001. In the months that followed, VFA-94 and Air Wing Eleven participated in precision strikes against key Taliban locations in Afghanistan. The squadron amassed over 2,400 combat hours, 664 combat sorties and the expenditure of 550,000 pounds of ordnance on targets in Afghanistan. The squadron returned home on 19 January 2002.
After an accelerated turn-around, the squadron deployed on 3 March2003. It resulted in an extended eight-month combat deployment aboard USS Nimitz with CVW-11 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the following months, the Mighty Shrikes flew 492 combat sorties, 1871.2 combat hours, and expended 60,000 pounds of ordnance on targets in Iraq.
On 7 May2005, the squadron again deployed aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68) to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the following months, the Mighty Shrikes achieved a 97 percent sortie completion rate, more then 2,900 mishap free flight hours, and over 1,400 carrier-arrested landings.
