VFA-22
| Strike Fighter Squadron 22 | |
|---|---|
VFA-22 Insignia
|
|
| Active | 27 July 1948 - 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 17 |
| Garrison/HQ | NAS Lemoore |
| Nickname(s) | Fighting Redcocks |
| Motto(s) | "You Can't Beat A Redcock" (YCBAR) |
| Mascot(s) | Rhode Island Red Rooster |
| Engagements |
Korean War Vietnam War Operation Southern Watch Operation Desert Fox Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Inherent Resolve |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Commander Quinn |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter |
F8F Bearcat F4U Corsair F9F Panther F9F Cougar FJ-4 Fury A-4 Skyhawk A-7 Corsair II F/A-18C Hornet F/A-18F Super Hornet |
VFA-22, Strike Fighter Squadron 22, also known as the "Fighting Redcocks", are a United States Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. Their tail code is NA and their radio callsign alternates between "Beef" and "Beef Eater".
Strike Fighter Squadron 22 was originally commissioned as Fighter Squadron 63 (VF-63) at Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia on 28 July 1948, the squadron was re-designated as Attack Squadron 63 (VA-63) in March 1956, redesignated as Attack Squadron 22 (VA-22) on 1 July 1959 and redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 22 (VFA-22) on 4 May 1990.
The squadron originally flew the F8F Bearcat, then the F4U Corsair, F9F Panther, F9 Cougar, FJ-4 Fury, A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, and the F/A-18C Hornet. Today, the 220 enlisted men and women and 40 officers of VFA-22 are based at NAS Lemoore, California, and have completed the transition from the single seat F/A-18E Super Hornet to the twin-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet.
Over the years, the squadron completed three combat deployments during the Korean War and six combat deployments during the Vietnam War, where it participated in Operation Pocket Money.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, VA-22 embarked with Carrier Air Wing 15 aboard USS Kitty Hawk and deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. The Squadron won back to back Battle E awards during the 80 & 81 competitive cycles and was the co-west coast launch squadron for FLIR mounted A7E's. While deployed aboard the USS Enterprise in April 1988, while in the Persian Gulf, VA-22 aircraft participated in sinking the Iranian Frigate Sahand which fired missiles at two American A-6 Intruders.
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Wikipedia