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{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{About|United States Navy fighter squadron|the fictional fighters from ''Macross'' anime series|variable fighter}}

{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Strike Fighter Squadron 11
|image= VFA-11 Emblem 1.svg
|caption= 
|dates= 1 September 1950 – present
|country= {{USA}}
|allegiance= 
|branch= {{navy|USA}}
|type = Fighter/Attack
|role = [[Close air support]]<br>[[Air interdiction]]<br>[[Aerial reconnaissance]]
|size = 
|command_structure = {{nowrap|[[File:CVW-1 Emblem.svg|30px|]][[Carrier Air Wing One]]}}
|garrison = {{nowrap|[[File:NAS Oceana Emblem.svg|30px|]][[NAS Oceana]]}}
|current_commander= CDR Greg Valdez, USN
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname= "Red Rippers"
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=Red and White
|equipment= AB
|equipment_label= Tail Code
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=[[1958 Lebanon crisis]]<br />[[Second Taiwan Straits Crisis]]<br />[[Vietnam War]]<br />[[Multinational Force in Lebanon]]<br />[[Operation Southern Watch]]<br />[[1996 cruise missile strikes on Iraq|Operation Desert Strike]]<br />[[Operation Noble Eagle]]<br />[[Operation Enduring Freedom]]<br />[[Iraq War]]<br />[[Operation Inherent Resolve]]
|anniversaries=
<!--Aircraft -->
|aircraft_fighter=[[Vought F4U Corsair|F4U Corsair]]<br />[[Grumman F-9 Cougar|F9 Cougar]]<br />[[McDonnell F2H Banshee|F2H Banshee]]<br />[[Vought F-8 Crusader|F-8 Crusader]]<br />[[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4 Phantom]]<br />[[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14 Tomcat]]<br />[[F/A-18F Super Hornet]]

}}

'''Strike Fighter Squadron 11''' (VFA-11) is a [[United States Navy]] [[strike fighter]] [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] stationed at [[Naval Air Station Oceana]], [[Virginia]], [[United States]]. 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]].

==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]] 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. Slowly since, the toast has returned in more informal settings.

==History==
VFA-11 was established as fighter squadron VF-43 in 1950 and was eventually redesignated VF-11 ''Red Rippers'' prior to its current designation as a fighter/attack squadron.

Two other squadrons have previously been designated VF-11. The [[VF-111|first VF-11]] (never known as ''Red Rippers'') was established in 1942, was redesignated VF-111 in 1948, and was disestablished in January 1959. The [[VF-11|second VF-11]] (first to be named ''Red Rippers)'' was established as VF-5 in 1927 and went through numerous redesignations before being disestablished in February 1959.

Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq6-1.htm |title=Naval Aviation Squadron Lineages |access-date=2016-01-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106013203/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq6-1.htm |archive-date=2015-01-06 }}</ref> Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons.

===1950s===
[[File:Vought F8U-1 Crusader of VF-11 crashes aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42), 21 October 1961.jpg|thumb|right|VF-11 F-8 mishap aboard {{USS|Franklin D. Roosevelt|CV-42|6}}]]
On 1 September 1950, Fighter Squadron 43 (VF-43), known as ''Rebel's Raiders'', was established at [[NAS Jacksonville]], Florida.  They moved to [[NAS Cecil Field]] on 18 September 1950, and were initially outfitted with new [[Vought F4U Corsair|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|CV-34|6}} to the Mediterranean from April–October 1951.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/sqdhist/vfa/vfa-11/1950.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-09-29 |archive-date=2012-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026131144/http://www.history.navy.mil/sqdhist/vfa/vfa-11/1950.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In February 1952, the squadron transitioned to the F4U-4 and deployed to the Med aboard {{USS|Coral Sea|CVA-43|6}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/sqdhist/vfa/vfa-11/1952.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-09-29 |archive-date=2012-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026131157/http://www.history.navy.mil/sqdhist/vfa/vfa-11/1952.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the mid-1950s, the squadron transitioned to the [[Grumman F-9 Cougar|F9F-8 Cougar]], and later shifted to [[McDonnell F2H Banshee|F2H Banshees]]. In February 1958, the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean aboard {{USS|Essex|CV-9|6}} with McDonnell F2H-4 Banshees. They provided air cover for the [[1958 Lebanon crisis|landings in Lebanon]] and were sent through the Suez Canal to the Taiwan Straits during the [[Second Taiwan Strait Crisis|Quemoy-Matsu shelling]] by Communist Chinese. Upon returning to the states, they were stationed at [[NAS Jacksonville]] 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 [[Vought F-8 Crusader|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 {{USS|Franklin D. Roosevelt|CV-42|6}}, where during the unrest in the [[Dominican Republic]] following the assassination of [[Rafael Trujillo]] in 1961. VF-11 was the first operational squadron to receive the F8U-2NE, receiving its first aircraft on 8 February 1962.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/sqdhist/vfa/vfa-11/1959-1965.pdf?bcsi_scan_54F62DAEA9067ADF=0&bcsi_scan_filename=1959-1965.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-09-30 |archive-date=2012-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026131251/http://www.history.navy.mil/sqdhist/vfa/vfa-11/1959-1965.pdf?bcsi_scan_54F62DAEA9067ADF=0&bcsi_scan_filename=1959-1965.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:F-4 Phantom II VF-11.jpg|thumb|right|VF-11 [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4s]] launch from {{USS|Forrestal|CV-59|6}}]]

In January 1966 the squadron traded their F-8Es for F-8Ds. In the late 1966, they moved to [[NAS Oceana]] and transitioned to the [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4B Phantom]].

The squadron saw its first combat on 25 July 1967 over [[North Vietnam]] operating from USS ''Forrestal''.  The brief combat period on [[Yankee Station]] was cut short when, on 29 July 1967, the [[1967 USS Forrestal fire|Forrestal fire]] occurred. VF-11 lost 47 men in the catastrophe.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/sqdhist/vfa/vfa-11/1967.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-09-30 |archive-date=2012-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026131335/http://www.history.navy.mil/sqdhist/vfa/vfa-11/1967.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===1970s===
The squadron made several Mediterranean cruises in the 1970s aboard ''Forrestal''. In 1972, they landed an F-4B aboard {{HMS|Ark Royal|R09|6}} in a cross-deck exercise.

On 20 August 1973, the squadron received its first F-4J, beginning the transition from the F-4B.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/sqdhist/vfa/vfa-11/1973.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-09-30 |archive-date=2012-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026131346/http://www.history.navy.mil/sqdhist/vfa/vfa-11/1973.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===1980s===
[[File:F-14A VF-11 Tu95D 1985.jpeg|thumb|right|VF-11 [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14A]] intercepting a Soviet [[Tupolev Tu-95|Tu-95]] in 1985]]

The squadron transitioned to the [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14 Tomcat]] in 1980 and deployed in 1982 to the Indian ocean through the Suez canal returning on 14 July. 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]] MiGs over [[Lebanon]] and were fired upon by Syrian [[Surface-to-air missile]]s (SAM) and [[anti-aircraft artillery]]. On 4 December 1983 the squadron flew combat air patrols over a Navy strike force from the carrier {{USS|John F. Kennedy|CV-67|6}}, while [[Grumman A-6 Intruder|A-6E Intruders]] from the ''John F. Kennedy'' attacked Syrian positions in the [[Bekaa Valley]]. 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 Corsair II|A-7]] from {{USS|Independence|CV-62|6}} and one A-6 from the ''John F. Kennedy''. The pilot of the A-6 crew died while the bombardier/navigator Lt [[Bobby Goodman]] 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'.

[[File:F-14A of VF-11 on catapult of USS Forrestal (CV-59) in 1988.jpeg|thumb|right|VF-11 F-14 aboard the {{USS|Forrestal|CV-59|6}}, 1988]]
After three cruises with [[Carrier Air Wing Three]] and the ''Kennedy'' Battle Group, VF-11 and its sister squadron transferred to [[Carrier Air Wing Six]] 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#Joseph C. Clifton Award|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]] moved to [[NAS Miramar]] and transitioned to the F-14D Tomcat. VF-11's F-14As were transferred to [[VF-24]] and [[VF-211]].

In February 1994, VF-11 and [[CVW-14]] deployed aboard {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70|6}}, in support of [[Operation Southern Watch]], returning to NAS Miramar on 15 August.

In late 1994, VF-11 acquired [[Night vision goggles]] 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]] 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]]

In May 1996, CVW-14 deployed with ''Carl Vinson'' in support of Operation Southern Watch.  On 31 August, the Iraqi army attacked the town of [[Erbil]] 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]] launched from [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|B-52s]] escorted by VF-11 Tomcats. USS ''Carl Vinson'' left the Gulf on 1 October.

[[File:F-14B VF-11 at Al Jaber AB 1998.JPEG|thumb|F-14B of VF-11 at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of operation Southern Watch on 19 March 1998]]
Upon return from deployment, VF-11 moved to [[NAS Oceana]] as the [[United States Marine Corps]] took over Miramar. At the same time, VF-11 transitioned to the F-14B and changed air wings to [[Carrier Air Wing Seven]].

In 1997, VF-11 was awarded the [[Battle E]] and Clifton Awards as the squadron celebrated their 70th Anniversary. Also that year, VF-11 received the [[LANTIRN]] [[infrared]] targeting pod and dropped their first [[GBU-16]] laser-guided bomb.

In February 1998, the squadron deployed from Norfolk with [[CVW-7]] aboard {{USS|John C. Stennis|CVN-74|6}} on its maiden voyage/world deployment.  They supported Operation Southern Watch, travelled to [[Australia]] and Pearl Harbor before the carrier arrived at its new home, [[Naval Air Station North Island]].

===2000s===
VF-11 made a deployment in 2000 aboard {{USS|Dwight D. Eisenhower|CVN-69|6}}, in support of Operation Southern Watch.

Seven hours after the [[September 11 attacks]], VF-11 emergency sortied all squadron aircraft aboard {{USS|John F. Kennedy|CV-67|6}} to support [[Operation Noble Eagle]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/noble-eagle.htm|title=Operation Noble Eagle}}</ref>

They deployed in support of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] in early February 2002, and employed the first [[JDAM]] bombs from F-14s in combat on 11 March 2002.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3834/is_200210/ai_n9102713 Red Rippers, The - Wings of Gold Fall 2002]</ref>

In 2004 VF-11 deployed for the last time with the F-14 aboard {{USS|George Washington|CVN-73|6}} in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  During that cruise, VF-11 F-14s participated in the bombing of [[Fallujah]] during a 48-hour period between 28 and 29 April.

[[File:F-14B and FA-18EF VF-VFA-11 Parked 2 - 2005.jpg|thumb|An F-14B and F/A-18F from VFA-11 (formerly VF-11) Red Rippers. The squadron transitioned to Super Hornets in 2005]]
On 20 April 2005, VF-11 delivered the last of their F-14s to the "[[309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group|boneyard]]" at [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]] in [[Tucson]], [[Arizona]].

The squadron reported to [[VFA-106]] for [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18 Super Hornet]] transition training, completing on 5 November 2005.

In May 2006, VFA-11 deployed to the [[Caribbean Sea]] supporting the Partnership of the Americas for two months as part of [[Carrier Air Wing Seventeen]].

VFA-11 transferred to [[Carrier Air Wing Three]] and deployed with {{USS|Harry S. Truman|CVN-75|6}} in November 2007 to the Persian Gulf.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=33089 |title=- Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Deploys |access-date=2007-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215100042/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=33089 |archive-date=2007-12-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  VFA-11 and the rest of CVW-3 returned home on 4 June 2008.

===2010s===
[[File:F-18Fs of VFA-11 in flight over the Red Sea in 2012.jpg|thumb|right|VFA-11 [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18Fs]] over the Red Sea in 2012]]

In January 2011, VFA-11 joined CVW-1 on board {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}} for a deployment supporting [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] in the [[United States Fifth Fleet|U.S. 5th Fleet]] area of responsibility.<ref>Lessig, Hugh, "Enterprise Carrier Group To Deploy Next Week", ''[[Newport News Daily Press]]''</ref> Following the retirement of USS ''Enterprise'' in December 2012, CVW-1 was reassigned to {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71}}.

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, [[United States Sixth Fleet|6th]] and [[United States Seventh Fleet|7th]] Fleets, before arriving in their new homeport of San Diego, California.<ref>[http://www.navy.mil/viewVideo.asp?id=20272 ALL HANDS update] Headlines for Thursday, 12 March 2015.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Naval aviation]]
*[[List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons]]
*[[List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons]]
{{clear}}

{{commons category|Fighter Squadron 11 (United States Navy)}}

==References==
*[http://www.tomcatalley.com/squadron/vf11hist.htm VF-11 History]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060523144401/http://www.whileyouweredeployed.com/squadron_histories_vfa_11.php?osCsid=4a2ecbd50567ffb30ad21a57c385110c Squadron History VF-11 Red Rippers]
*[http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-history-combat.htm#lebanon Lebanon: VF-11 and VF-31 in Lebanon]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/usmnf.htm US Multinational Force (USMNF) Lebanon]
*[http://www.vfa11.navy.mil/ VFA-11 Red Rippers Web Page]
*Tony Holmes (2005). ''US Navy F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom'', Osprey Publishing Limited.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

{{US Navy navbox}}
{{United States Navy Aircraft Squadrons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vfa-11}}
[[Category:Strike fighter squadrons of the United States Navy]]