VFA-11
| Strike Fighter Squadron 11 | |
|---|---|
VFA-11 Insignia
|
|
| Active | 1 September 1950 – present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Fighter/Attack |
| Role |
Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance |
| Part of | Carrier Air Wing One |
| Garrison/HQ | NAS Oceana |
| Nickname(s) | "Red Rippers" |
| Colors | Red and White |
| Engagements |
Vietnam War Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War Operation Inherent Resolve |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter |
F4U Corsair F9 Cougar F2H Banshee F-8 Crusader F-4 Phantom F-14 Tomcat F/A-18F Super Hornet |
Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (VFA-11), also known as the "Red Rippers", are a United States Navy fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA. Their call sign is Ripper, tail code is AB, and they fly the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
The squadron's original nickname was the Rebel's Raiders; their insignia (used from inception in 1950 to 1959) is unknown. In 1959, the squadron changed designations and adopted the name and insignia of another, recently disestablished, squadron.
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 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, high ranking authorities declared the toast inappropriate and offensive; the toast was banned shortly thereafter.
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.
On 1 September 1950, Fighter Squadron 43 (VF-43), known as Rebel's Raiders, was commissioned at NAS Jacksonville, Florida. They moved to NAS Cecil Field 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 USS Oriskany to the Mediterranean from April–October 1951.
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