Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (VFA-11) is a
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
strike fighter
In current military parlance, a strike fighter is a multirole combat aircraft designed to operate both as an attack aircraft and as an air superiority fighter. As a category, it is distinct from fighter-bombers. It is closely related to the c ...
squadron
Squadron may refer to:
* Squadron (army), a military unit of cavalry, tanks, or equivalent subdivided into troops or tank companies
* Squadron (aviation), a military unit that consists of three or four flights with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, ...
stationed at
Naval Air Station Oceana
Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana or NAS Oceana is a United States Navy Naval Air Station located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Nowadays, the station is located on 23.9 km2. It has total of 250 aircraft deployed and buildings valued at $800 mil ...
,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. The squadron was established in 1950 and is nicknamed "Red Rippers" (call sign "Ripper"). VFA-11 is equipped with the
Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet and currently assigned to
Carrier Air Wing One
Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, with most of its various squadrons also home based at NAS Oceana. Additional squadrons are based at Naval Station Norfolk ...
.
Insignia and nickname
The ''Red Ripper'' squadron insignia as described by an early member: "The boar's head is taken from the one that graces the label of the
Gordon's Gin
Gordon's is a brand of London dry gin first produced in 1769. The top markets for Gordon's are the United Kingdom, the United States and Greece. It is owned by the British spirits company Diageo. It is the world's best-selling London dry gin. G ...
bottle. The scroll effect under the head is a string of link sausage, a good line of bologna which all members of the squadron were to be adept at 'shooting.' The balls on the shield might be called balls of fire; actually, they were supposed to typify good, strong masculinity. The bolt of lightning was the bar sinister of bastardy. The whole theme was worked into a sort of toast or creed with which the squadron members were to begin and end all good drinking bouts. The official Ripper toast is, 'Here's to us, the RED RIPPERS – a damn bunch of gin drinking, bologna slinging, two-balled, he-man bastards'." In 2011, while on liberty in
Bahrain
Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an ...
, high ranking authorities declared the toast inappropriate and offensive; the toast was banned shortly thereafter. Slowly since, the toast has returned in more informal settings.
History
Three distinct squadrons have been designated VF-11, and two distinct squadrons have been known as the ''Red Rippers''. The
first VF-11 (never known as the ''Red Rippers'') was established in 1942, was redesignated VF-111 in 1948, and was disestablished in January 1959. The
second VF-11, known as the ''Red Rippers'' was established in 1927 and went through numerous redesignations before being disestablished in February 1959. The third distinct squadron was established as VF-43 in 1950, was eventually redesignated VFA-11, and is the primary subject of this article. Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation. Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons.
1950s
On 1 September 1950, Fighter Squadron 43 (VF-43), known as ''Rebel's Raiders'', was established at
NAS Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jacksonville) is a large naval air station located approximately eight miles (13 km) south of the central business district of Jacksonville, Florida, United States., effective 2007-10-25
Location
NAS Jack ...
, Florida. They moved to
NAS Cecil Field
Naval Air Station Cecil Field or NAS Cecil Field was a United States Navy air base, located in Duval County, Florida. Prior to October 1999, NAS Cecil Field was the largest military base in terms of acreage in the Jacksonville, Florida area.
NA ...
on 18 September 1950, and were initially outfitted with new
F4U-5N Corsair night-fighters. The squadron traded its night fighters for F4U-5s (day fighters) in October 1950. The squadron's first deployment was aboard to the Mediterranean from April–October 1951.
In February 1952, the squadron transitioned to the F4U-4 and deployed to the Med aboard .
In the mid-1950s, the squadron transitioned to the
F9F-8 Cougar, and later shifted to
F2H Banshees. In February 1958, the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean aboard with McDonnell F2H-4 Banshees. They provided air cover for the
landings in Lebanon and were sent through the Suez Canal to the Taiwan Straits during the
Quemoy-Matsu shelling by Communist Chinese. Upon returning to the states, they were stationed at
NAS Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jacksonville) is a large naval air station located approximately eight miles (13 km) south of the central business district of Jacksonville, Florida, United States., effective 2007-10-25
Location
NAS Jack ...
to be disestablished on 15 February 1959, however; instead, on 16 February 1959 (the day after the second VF-11 was disestablished), VF-43 was redesignated as VF-11 at NAS Cecil Field, flying
F-8 Crusaders. They adopted the traditions and insignia of the first ''Red Rippers'' (although they do not claim the lineage).
1960s
VF-11 deployed aboard , where during the unrest in the
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...
following the assassination of
Rafael Trujillo
Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina ( , ; 24 October 189130 May 1961), nicknamed ''El Jefe'' (, "The Chief" or "The Boss"), was a Dominican dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic from February 1930 until his assassination in May 1961. He ser ...
in 1961. VF-11 was the first operational squadron to receive the F8U-2NE, receiving its first aircraft on February 8, 1962.
![F-4 Phantom II VF-11](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/F-4_Phantom_II_VF-11.jpg)
In January 1966 the squadron traded their F-8Es for F-8Ds. In the late 1966, they moved to
NAS Oceana
Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana or NAS Oceana is a United States Navy Naval Air Station located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Nowadays, the station is located on 23.9 km2. It has total of 250 aircraft deployed and buildings valued at $800 mill ...
and transitioned to the
F-4B Phantom.
The squadron saw its first combat on July 25, 1967 over
North Vietnam
North Vietnam, officially the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV; vi, Việt Nam Dân chủ Cộng hòa), was a socialist state supported by the Soviet Union (USSR) and the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Southeast Asia that existed f ...
operating from USS ''Forrestal''. The brief combat period on
Yankee Station
Yankee Station (officially Point Yankee) was a fixed coordinate off the coast of Vietnam where U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and support ships operated in open waters over a nine-year period during the Vietnam War. The location was used primar ...
was cut short when, on July 29, 1967, the
Forrestal fire occurred. VF-11 lost 47 men in the catastrophe.
1970s
The squadron made several Mediterranean cruises in the 1970s aboard ''Forrestal''. In 1972, they landed an F-4B aboard in a cross-deck exercise.
On 20 August 1973, the squadron received its first F-4J, beginning the transition from the F-4B.
1980s
![F-14A VF-11 Tu95D 1985](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/F-14A_VF-11_Tu95D_1985.jpeg)
The squadron transitioned to the
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is an American carrier-capable supersonic aircraft, supersonic, twinjet, twin-engine, two-seat, twin-tail, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experi ...
in 1980 and deployed two years later. The squadron's combat debut in the F-14 occurred in early December 1983 when VF-11 aircraft engaged eight
Syrian Air Force
)
, mascot =
, anniversaries = 16 October
, equipment =
, equipment_label =
, battles = * 1948 Arab-Israeli War
* Six-Day War
* Yom Kippur War
...
MiGs over
Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...
and were fired upon by Syrian
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-aircraft syst ...
s (SAM) and
anti-aircraft artillery
Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...
. On 4 December 1983 the squadron flew combat air patrols over a Navy strike force from the carrier , while
A-6E Intruders from the ''John F. Kennedy'' attacked Syrian positions in the
Bekaa Valley
The Beqaa Valley ( ar, links=no, وادي البقاع, ', Lebanese ), also transliterated as Bekaa, Biqâ, and Becaa and known in classical antiquity as Coele-Syria, is a fertile valley in eastern Lebanon. It is Lebanon's most important ...
. The strikes were in response to the Syrian SAM and AAA engagements. Two of the twenty-eight strong strike package were shot down, one
A-7 from and one A-6 from the ''John F. Kennedy''. The pilot of the A-6 crew died while the bombardier/navigator Lt
Bobby Goodman
Robert O. Goodman (born 30 November 1956) is a former United States Navy bombardier–navigator. He was shot down in his A-6 Intruder over Lebanon on 4 December 1983. Captured upon ejection from his stricken plane, he was held captive for 30 da ...
was held prisoner by the Syrians for 30 days before being released. While they were deployed for operations in Lebanon, one aircraft sustained damage from a suspected surface-to-air missile. VF-11 and three other squadrons from CVW-3 and the USS ''John F. Kennedy'' won Battle E's for 1983. VF-11 also won the Safety 'S'.
![F-14A of VF-11 on catapult of USS Forrestal (CV-59) in 1988](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/F-14A_of_VF-11_on_catapult_of_USS_Forrestal_%28CV-59%29_in_1988.jpeg/1200px-F-14A_of_VF-11_on_catapult_of_USS_Forrestal_%28CV-59%29_in_1988.jpeg)
After three cruises with
Carrier Air Wing Three
Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3), known as the "Battle Axe", is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The wing was created on 1 July 1938 and has seen service in World War II, the Korean War, th ...
and the ''Kennedy'' Battle Group, VF-11 and its sister squadron transferred to
Carrier Air Wing Six
Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing whose operational history spans from the middle of World War II to the end of the Cold War. Established in 1943 as Carrier Air Group Seventeen (CVG-17), it would be ...
and USS ''Forrestal''. In 1985 VF-11 won the Battle E award as the best fighter squadron in the Atlantic Fleet and the
Joseph C. Clifton award as the best fighter squadron in the Navy. They deployed again in 1986, and stayed with CVW-6/''Forrestal'' until its last cruise in 1991, making a total of five deployments.
1990s
In January 1992, VF-11 and
VF-31
VFA-31 or Strike Fighter Squadron 31 is known as the ''Tomcatters'', callsign "Felix", a United States Navy strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana flying the F/A-18E Super Hornet. The Tomcatters are the second oldest Navy Fig ...
moved to
NAS Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar) , formerly Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Miramar and Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar, is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the avi ...
and transitioned to the F-14D Tomcat. VF-11's F-14As were transferred to
VF-24
Fighter Squadron 24 (VF-24), called the ''Fighting Renegades'' was a fighter squadron of the United States Navy. Originally established as Fighter Squadron 211 in June 1955, it was redesignated VF-24 on 9 March 1959 and disestablished on 31 August ...
and
VF-211.
In February 1994, VF-11 and
CVW-14
Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14), was a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.
Mission
To conduct carrier air warfare operations and assist in the planning, control, coordination and integr ...
deployed aboard , in support of
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an air-centric military operation conducted by the United States Department of Defense from Summer 1992 to Spring 2003.
United States Central Command's Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) had the mission of mon ...
, returning to NAS Miramar on August 15.
In late 1994, VF-11 acquired
Night vision goggles
A night-vision device (NVD), also known as a night optical/observation device (NOD), night-vision goggle (NVG), is an optoelectronic device that allows visualization of images in low levels of light, improving the user's night vision. The dev ...
requiring substantial changes to the F-14's internal and instrument lighting.
In 1995, VF-11 received upgrades to their mission computers, providing air-to-ground ordnance capability. VF-11 sent their first aircrews to
Forward Air Controller
Forward air control is the provision of guidance to close air support (CAS) aircraft intended to ensure that their attack hits the intended target and does not injure friendly troops. This task is carried out by a forward air controller (FAC).
...
school in September 1995. Also in 1995, VF-11 was aboard ''Carl Vinson'' when she visited Hawaii for the 50th anniversary of
Victory over Japan Day
Victory over Japan Day (also known as V-J Day, Victory in the Pacific Day, or V-P Day) is the day on which Imperial Japan surrendered in World War II, in effect bringing the war to an end. The term has been applied to both of the days on ...
In May 1996, CVW-14 deployed with ''Carl Vinson'' in support of Operation Southern Watch. On 31 August, the Iraqi army attacked the town or
Irbil
Erbil, also called Hawler (, ar, أربيل, Arbīl; syr, ܐܲܪܒܹܝܠ, Arbel), is the capital and most populated city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It lies in the Erbil Governorate. It has an estimated population of around 1,600,000.
H ...
in northern Iraq and several SAM missiles were launched against U.S. aircraft. The United States responded with
Operation Desert Strike by attacking targets in the southern no-fly zone with
cruise missiles
A cruise missile is a guided missile used against terrestrial or naval targets that remains in the atmosphere and flies the major portion of its flight path at approximately constant speed. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead ...
launched from
B-52s escorted by VF-11 Tomcats. USS ''Carl Vinson'' left the Gulf on 1 October.
![F-14B VF-11 at Al Jaber AB 1998](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/F-14B_VF-11_at_Al_Jaber_AB_1998.JPEG)
Upon return from deployment, VF-11 moved to
NAS Oceana
Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana or NAS Oceana is a United States Navy Naval Air Station located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Nowadays, the station is located on 23.9 km2. It has total of 250 aircraft deployed and buildings valued at $800 mill ...
as the
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
took over Miramar. At the same time, VF-11 transitioned to the F-14B and changed air wings to
Carrier Air Wing Seven
Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. At the moment, CVW-7 is assigned to the USS George H. W. Bush. The tail code of aircraft assigned to CVW-7 is AG.
Mis ...
.
In 1997, VF-11 was awarded the
Battle E The Battle Effectiveness Award (formerly the Battle Efficiency Award, commonly known as the Battle "E"), is awarded annually to the small number of United States Navy ships, submarines, aviation, and other units that win their battle effectiveness c ...
and Clifton Awards as the squadron celebrated their 70th Anniversary. Also that year, VF-11 received the
LANTIRN
LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) is a combined navigation and targeting pod system for use on the United States Air Force fighter aircraft—the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon (Block 40/42 C & D mo ...
infrared
Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...
targeting pod and dropped their first
GBU-16
The GBU-16 Paveway II is an American Paveway-series laser-guided bomb, based on the Mark 83 bomb, Mk 83 general-purpose general-purpose bomb, bomb, but with Laser guidance, laser seeker and wings for Guidance system, guidance. The GBU-16 was i ...
laser-guided bomb.
In February 1998, the squadron deployed from Norfolk with
CVW-7
Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. At the moment, CVW-7 is assigned to the USS George H. W. Bush. The tail code of aircraft assigned to CVW-7 is AG.
Mis ...
aboard on its maiden voyage/world deployment. They supported Operation Southern Watch, travelled to
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and Pearl Harbor before the carrier arrived at its new home,
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado (N ...
.
2000s
VF-11 made a deployment in 2000 aboard , in support of Operation Southern Watch.
Seven hours after the
September 11 attacks
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercia ...
, VF-11 emergency sortied all squadron aircraft aboard to support
Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) is the United States and Canadian military operation related to homeland security and support to federal, state, and local agencies. The operation began 11 September 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks..
...
.
They deployed in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used synonymously by the U.S. government for both the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 at ...
in early February 2002, and employed the first
JDAM
The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs, or "dumb bombs", into all-weather precision-guided munitions. JDAM-equipped bombs are guided by an integrated inertial guidance system coupled to a Global Pos ...
bombs from F-14s in combat on 11 March 2002.
In 2004 VF-11 deployed for the last time with the F-14 aboard in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During that cruise, VF-11 F-14s participated in the bombing of
Fallujah
Fallujah ( ar, ٱلْفَلُّوجَة, al-Fallūjah, Iraqi pronunciation: ) is a city in the Iraqi province of Al Anbar, located roughly west of Baghdad on the Euphrates. Fallujah dates from Babylonian times and was host to important Jew ...
during a 48-hour period between 28 and 29 April.
![F-14B and FA-18EF VF-VFA-11 Parked 2 - 2005](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/F-14B_and_FA-18EF_VF-VFA-11_Parked_2_-_2005.jpg)
On 20 April 2005, VF-11 delivered the last of their F-14s to the “
boneyard
Boneyard may refer to:
* Cemetery or graveyard
Comics
* A character in the Malibu/Marvel Comics publication ''Mantra''
* ''Boneyard'' (comics), a horror-themed comic book series by Richard Moore
Film and television
* ''Boneyard'' (TV series ...
” at
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in
Tucson
, "(at the) base of the black ill
, nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town"
, image_map =
, mapsize = 260px
, map_caption = Interactive map ...
,
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
.
The squadron reported to
VFA-106
Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA-106), also known as the "Gladiators", is a United States Navy F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
Mission
As the East Coast Flee ...
for
F/A-18 Super Hornet
The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft variants based on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The F/A-18E single-seat and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more a ...
transition training, completing on 5 November 2005.
In May 2006, VFA-11 deployed to the
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea ( es, Mar Caribe; french: Mer des Caraïbes; ht, Lanmè Karayib; jam, Kiaribiyan Sii; nl, Caraïbische Zee; pap, Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico ...
supporting the Partnership of the Americas for two months as part of
Carrier Air Wing Seventeen
Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17), is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier .
Mission
To conduct carrier air warfare operations and assi ...
.
VFA-11 transferred to
Carrier Air Wing Three
Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3), known as the "Battle Axe", is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The wing was created on 1 July 1938 and has seen service in World War II, the Korean War, th ...
and deployed with in November 2007 to the Persian Gulf. VFA-11 and the rest of CVW-3 returned home on 4 June 2008.
2010s
![F-18Fs of VFA-11 in flight over the Red Sea in 2012](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/F-18Fs_of_VFA-11_in_flight_over_the_Red_Sea_in_2012.jpg)
In January 2011, VFA-11 joined CVW-1 on board for a deployment supporting
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used synonymously by the U.S. government for both the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 at ...
in the
U.S. 5th Fleet
The Fifth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy. It has been responsible for naval forces in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean since 1995 after a 48-year hiatus. It shares a commander and headq ...
area of responsibility. Following the retirement of USS ''Enterprise'' in December 2012, CVW-1 was reassigned to .
On 11 March 2015, the ''Theodore Roosevelt'' Carrier Strike Group departed Naval Station Norfolk for around the world tour with deployments to the U.S. 5th,
6th and
7th
7 (seven) is the natural number following 6 and preceding 8. It is the only prime number preceding a cube (algebra), cube.
As an early prime number in the series of positive integers, the number seven has greatly symbolic associations in religion ...
Fleets, before arriving in their new homeport of San Diego, California.
ALL HANDS update
Headlines for Thursday, 12 March 2015.
See also
*Naval aviation
Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases.
Naval aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier-based a ...
*List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
This is a list of active United States Navy aircraft squadrons. ''Deactivated'' or ''disestablished'' squadrons are listed in the List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons.
Navy aircraft squadron (aviation), squadrons are composed of ...
*List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
There are hundreds of US Navy aircraft squadrons which are not currently active dating back to before World War II (the U.S. Navy operated aircraft prior to World War I, but it did not organize them in squadrons until after that war). To be mo ...
References
VF-11 History
Squadron History VF-11 Red Rippers
VFA-11 Red Rippers Web Page
*Tony Holmes (2005). ''US Navy F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom'', Osprey Publishing Limited.
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vfa-11
Strike fighter squadrons of the United States Navy