VFA-22
| Strike Fighter Squadron 22 | |
|---|---|
 VFA-22 Insignia |
|
| Active | July 27, 1948 |
| 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 | Fighting Redcocks |
| Motto | "You Can't Beat A Redcock" (YCBAR) |
| Mascot | Rhode Island Red Rooster |
| Engagements | Korean War Vietnam War Operation Southern Watch Operation Desert Fox Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Commander "BUGS" Annestad |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | 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. Their tail code is AA and their radio callsign alternates between "Beef" and "Beef Eater".
Contents |
[edit] History
Strike Fighter Squadron 22 was originally commissioned as Fighter Squadron 63 at Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia in 1948, the squadron was re-designated as Attack Squadron 22 in July 1959 after the decommissioning of VF-22 in 1958. The first Redcock aviators flew the F8F Bearcat. Later, Redcocks flew the F4U Corsair, F9F Panther, F9F Cougar, FJ-4 Fury, A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, and the FA-18C Hornet. Today, the 220 enlisted men and women and 40 officers of VFA-22 are based in NAS Lemoore, California, and has completed the transition from the F/A-18E to the 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.
[edit] 1980s
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.
[edit] 1990s
In 1993, the Fighting Redcocks deployed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) to the Persian Gulf and participated in Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the United Nations Southern no-fly zone sanctions over Iraq. Before returning home from deployment, the squadron diverted to the coast of Somalia and provided air support during Operation Continue Hope.
In December 1998, VFA-22 led the only Carrier Air Wing 11 air strike of Operation Desert Fox.
[edit] 2000s
In October 2001, VFA-22 was the first on the scene with USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) to perform strikes against Taliban and Al Qaeda forces in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . In 2003, VFA-22 deployed with Carrier Air Wing 9 on board the "Carl Vinson" on an extended eight month Western Pacific deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. In July, 2004, VFA-22 transitioned to F/A-18 E Super Hornets, and in January, 2006, deployed with Carrier Air Wing 14 on board the USS Ronald Reagan for six months in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
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In early 2007, VFA-22, made a surge deployment with Carrier Air Wing 14 and USS Ronald Reagan to the Pacific Ocean with a mixed unit of F/A-18E and F/A-18F as the unit was in the middle of transitioning to the two seater.[1] By the end of 2007, VFA-22 had transitioned to the F/A-18F Super Hornet.[2]
On 18 May 2008, the carrier and its strike group departed Naval Air Station North Island for a scheduled deployment to an undisclosed location.[3]
On May 28, 2009, VFA-22 and Carrier Air Wing 14 deployed with USS RONALD REAGAN(CVN-76) on a deployment to the 7th and 5th Fleet Areas of Responsibility.[4]
[edit] 2010s
In 2010, The squadron re-located from Carrier Air Wing Fourteen to Carrier Air Wing Seventeen sporting the CVW-17 "AA" tailcode, and are now attached to the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).
[edit] See also
- History of the United States Navy
- List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
[edit] References
- ^ Plane captain Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Rodney Hunter, from Cleveland, Ohio, cleans the canopy and prepares an F/A-18F Super Hornet.
- ^ The aircrew of an F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the "Fighting Redcocks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22, wait to launch from Catapult 3 during night flight operations.
- ^ SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Military - Reagan strike group departs San Diego, May 19, 2008. Accessed September 30, 2008
- ^ USS Ronald Reagan Deploys.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Strike Fighter Squadron 22 (United States Navy) |
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