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".

History

A VA-22 Det. R A-4B from the USS Kearsarge in 1963

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.[1]

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.

1980s

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.

1990s

In 1993, the squadron deployed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln to the Persian Gulf and participated in Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the United Nations Southern no-fly zone over Iraq. Before returning home from deployment, the squadron diverted to the coast of Somalia and provided air support during Operation Continue Hope.

A-7E of VA-22 stationed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in 1981

In December 1998, VFA-22 led the only Carrier Air Wing 11 air strike of Operation Desert Fox.

2000s

In October 2001, VFA-22 operating from USS Carl Vinson performed 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. n July, 2004, VFA-22 transitioned to F/A-18E 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.

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.[2] By the end of 2007, VFA-22 had transitioned to the F/A-18F Super Hornet.[3]

A VFA-22 F/A-18F prepares to launch from USS Ronald Reagan in 2007.

On May 28, 2009, VFA-22 and Carrier Air Wing 14 deployed with USS Ronald Reagan on a deployment to the 7th and 5th Fleet Areas of Responsibility.[4]

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.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fighter Squadron Lineage". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  2. ↑ Plane captain Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Rodney Hunter, from Cleveland, Ohio, cleans the canopy and prepares an F/A-18F Super Hornet.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ USS Ronald Reagan Deploys.
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