VFA-211

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Strike Fighter Squadron 211
This is the insignia of the VF-211 "Fighting Checkmates," which depicts a character known as "Brutus" holding a rocket, from the original logo for VB-74. Eleven stars are arranged in groups of seven and four to mark the squadron’s numerical designation, 74. The shield recalls the squadron’s sixteen-year association with the F-8 Crusader.
Active	May 1, 1945
Country	United States
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	"Fighting Checkmates"
Engagements	World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Southern Watch Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom

The VFA-211 "Fighting Checkmates," a U.S. Navy strike fighter squadron, call NAS Oceana their home port. Their call sign is Nickel, tail code is AB, and they fly the F/A-18F Super Hornet.

Contents 1 History 1.1 1940s to the 1980s 1.2 1990s 1.3 2000s 2 Notes 3 External links

[edit] History

[edit] 1940s to the 1980s

On May 1, 1945, Bombing Squadron SEVENTY FOUR (VB-74) was established at NAAF Otis Field, Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. Their first aircraft was the SBW-4E Helldiver. The squadron soon moved to East Field, NAS Norfolk and deployed on USS Midway (CVE-63) on October 31, 1945. In 1946 the squadron became Attack Squadron 1B and began their transition to the AD-1 Skyraider and two years later the squadron transitioned to AD-2 Skyraider and became VA-24. Skyraider aircraft were soon grounded due too engine problems and VA-24 transitioned to the F4U Corsair six weeks before deploying with the USS Coral Sea (CV-43). After the deployment the squadron moved to NAS Oceana and on December 1, 1949 the VA-24 was redesignted Fighter Squadron TWO FOUR.

VF-24 moved to NAS Alameda and made two back-to-back deployment to Korea on USS Boxer (CV-21) and USS Valley Forge (CV-45). During the Korean War, VF-24 bombed enemy emplacements, railyards, bridges, warehouses and airfields. After the second deployment, VF-24 moved to NALF Santa Rosa and transitioned to the F9F-2 Panther, the squadrons first jet fighter. In February 1952, VF-24 deployed once again with USS Boxer and headed for Korea for their third combat tour which included a strike on Pyongyang on August 29. VF-24 soon returned home to the US moved and to NAS Alameda.

During the rest of the 1950’s, VF-24 flew a number of aircraft, including the FJ Fury, the FJ-3M, the F3H-2M Demon, the F-11F Tiger and the F-8 Crusader at NAS Moffett Field. In 1959, VF-24 traded air wings and designations and became VF-211 Checkmates. In 1961 the squadron moved to NAS Miramar which would be the Checkmates home for 35 years. VF-211 made seven deployments during the Vietnam War, and VF-211 had eight confirmed kills in the F-8, which earned them the reputation as “The MiG Killers”

In 1975, VF-211 transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat and the first cruise with the Tomcat (alongside VF-24 and Carrier Air Wing Nine) was in April 1977 on USS Constellation (CV-64). In 1980 VF-211 was selected to carry the TARPS pod. In 1983, VF-211 changed carriers to the USS Ranger (CV-61). In 1985 they deployed with USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) as USS Ranger was to be upgraded to handle F/A-18 Hornets. VF-211 would move to the Constellation again and then back to the Kitty Hawk in the following years, and then they deployed on board USS Nimitz (CVN-68) in the late 1980’s. In 1989, VF-211 and VF-24 would upgrade to the F-14B.

[edit] 1990s

In 1991 they deployed to support the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm, providing air superiority and aerial reconnaissance imagery to coalition forces. In 1992, both squadrons had to revert back to the F-14A due to the decision to have all F-14Bs with the Atlantic Fleet Squadrons. VF-211 would make regularly deployments to the Persian Gulf in the 1990’s. In 1996, VF-211 became the only F-14 squadron with CVW-9 as VF-24 was disestablished, at the same time, VF-211 moved to NAS Oceana as NAS Miramar was handed over to the US Marines. In 1996 the unit also received LANTIRN capable F-14s and went on cruise in September 1997 in support of Operation Southern Watch, spending four months in the Persian Gulf. VF-211 flew daily sorties over Iraq enforcing the United Nations imposed no-fly zone, providing valuable aerial reconnaissance imagery and was ready to conduct precision strikes if ordered.

[edit] 2000s

In 2000, VF-211 and the rest of CVW-9 joined the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) for a Millennium Cruise, spending four months in the Persian Gulf, enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq and conducted 16 precision strikes.

In 2001, VF-211 deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, flying combat missions over Afghanistan by Christmas and supporting the three week long battle named Operation Anaconda, they were the only F-14 squadron available, they flew day and night sorties to defend coalition special forces and to eliminate Al Qaeda resistance. Because of this, and innovation in strike warfare, VF-211 were given the VADM “Sweetpea” Allen Precision Strike Award for 2002. The squadron flew 1250 combat sorties, logging 4200 combat hours and dropped 100, 000 lbs of ordnance^[1]. On their return home to the US, they switched air wings and carriers again to Carrier Air Wing One onboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) as VF-102 had transitioned to the F/A-18F Super Hornet and switched to Carrier Air Wing 5 in Japan.

2002 also brought the additional achievements, the West Coast BATTLE “E” for battle efficiency by Commander Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet, the GRAND SLAM for excellence in Air-to-Air employment by the Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet, and the CLIFTON Award for the most outstanding overall performance in battle efficiency and employment by Commander Naval Air Forces.

In late 2003, VF-211 deployed for their final F-14 cruise in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, although they did not employ any weapons during this cruise (the F-14A could not use the JDAM, which was the preferred weapon by CENTCOM), they mostly flew reconnaissance missions, show of force or ground convoy patrols. On a few occasions, VF-211 provided GPS guidance for the three F/A-18C squadrons assigned to CVW-1 dropping JDAM weapons. VF-211 had flown 220 combat sorties by February 2004.

After their return home to NAS Oceana, VF-211 began their transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornets, being the final F-14A squadron in service and the first operational East Coast Super Hornet squadron. In 2006, VFA-211 deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism, flying missions in support of both Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. On September 8, 2006, VFA-211 F/A-18F Super Hornet expanded GBU-12 and GBU-38 bombs against Taliban extremists and Taliban fortifications west and northwest of Kandahar. This was the first time the unit was in combat with the Super Hornet. They also deployed for a WESTPAC-deployment conducting dual battle-group operations with USS Kitty Hawk for one month. The squadron returned home to NAS Oceana on November 18, 2006, after flying hundreds of combat sorties and expanding dozens of precision guided weapons in support of ground forces.

In June 2007, VFA-211 and it's airwing embarked on a new cruise onboard USS Enterprise, taking them to the Persian Gulf.^[2]

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• The Fighting Checkmates Web site
• Strikes Continue; ISAF Air Component Commander Visits Big E
• VF-211 History
• Tony Holmes (2005). US Navy F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Osprey Publishing Limited.