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US Navy - Fighter Squadron 11 (FITRON 11)
VF-11 'Red Rippers'
 (1948-1959)
 
vf-11 red rippers insignia crest patch badge fighter squadron banshee vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h banshee carrier air group cvg uss korean war 09x
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STATUS:  established as VF-5 on February 1, 1927
VF-5 redesignated VF-5S on July 1, 1927
VF-5S redesignated VF-5B in January 1928
VF-5B redesignated VF-1B on July 1, 1928
VF-1B redesignated VF-5B on July 1, 1930
VF-5B redesignated VF-5S in July 1932
VF-5S redesignated VF-5B in April 1933
VF-5B redesignated VF-4 on July 1, 1937
VF-4 redesignated VF-41 on March 15, 1941
VF-41 redesignated VF-4 on August 4, 1943
VF-4 redesignated VF-1A on November 15, 1946
VF-1A redesignated VF-11 on August 2, 1948
VF-11 disestablished on February 15, 1959
AIRCRAFT:  Grumman F8F Bearcat (1948-50)
McDonnell F2H Banshee (1950-59)
DEPLOYMENTS:  September 1948 - February 1949 with CVG-1 aboard USS Tarawa (CV 40)
September 1949 - October 1949 with CVG-1 aboard USS Philippine Sea (CV 47)
December 1949 with CVG-1 aboard USS Philippine Sea (CV 47)
February 1950 - March 1950 with CVG-1 aboard USS Philippine Sea (CV 47)
December 1950 - January 1951 with CVG-1 aboard USS Oriskany (CV 34)
March 1951 - October 1951 with CVG-1 aboard USS Coral Sea (CVB 43)
November 1951 - December 1951 with CVG-1 aboard USS Wasp (CV 18)
August 1952 - March 1953 with CVG-101 aboard USS Kearsarge (CV 33)
July 1954 - December 1954 with CVG-10 aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA 43)
July 1956 - February 1957 with CVG-10 aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA 43)
December 1957 with ATG-201 aboard USS Essex (CVA 9)
February 1958 - November 1958 with ATG-201 aboard USS Essex (CVA 9)
 
images

vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h-4 banshee air task group atg-201 uss essex cva-9 06
McDonnell F2H-4 Banshee (VF-11 / ATG-201) embarked on USS Essex (CVA 9) - 1958

vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h-4 banshee air task group atg-201 uss essex cva-9 10
Pilots of VF-11 Red Rippers in front of an F2H-4 Banshee aboard USS Essex (CVA 9) - 1958

vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h-4 banshee carrier air group cvg-10 uss coral sea cva-43 07
McDonnell F2H-4 Banshee (VF-11 / CVG-10) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) - circa 1956
The aircraft had obviously landed aboard USS Randolph (CVA-15), which was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea
from July 1956 to February 1957. It was common to "paint" visiting aircraft.

vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h-4 banshee carrier air group cvg-10 uss coral sea cva-43 08
McDonnell F2H-4 Banshee (VF-11 / CVG-10) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) - circa 1956

vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h-4 banshee carrier air group cvg-10 uss coral sea cva-43 12
McDonnell F2H-4 Banshee (VF-11 / CVG-10) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) - circa 1956

vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h-4 banshee carrier air group cvg-10 uss coral sea cva-43 02 refueling
McDonnell F2H-4 Banshee (VF-11 / CVG-10), being refueled by a North American AJ-2 Savage of VC-8 - circa 1955

vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h-2 banshee carrier air group cvg-101 uss kearsarge cv-33 03
 McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee (VF-11 / CVG-101) embarked on USS Kearsarge (CV 33) drops bombs over Korea - 1953

vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h-2 banshee carrier air group cvg-101 uss kearsarge cv-33 11
 McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee (VF-11 / CVG-101) embarked on USS Kearsarge (CV 33) over North Korea - 1953

vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h-2 banshee carrier air group cvg-101 uss kearsarge cv-33 09
 McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee (VF-11 / CVG-101) embarked on USS Kearsarge (CV 33) - October 1952

vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h-2 banshee carrier air group cvg-101 uss kearsarge cv-33 04 wonsan korean war
 McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee (VF-11 / CVG-101) embarked on USS Kearsarge (CV 33) over Wonsan, Korea - October 1952

vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h-2 banshee carrier air group cvg-101 uss kearsarge cv-33 04a korean war
colour variant

vf-11 red rippers fighter squadron us navy f2h-2 banshee carrier air group cvg-101 uss kearsarge cv-33 05 bomb drop korean war
 bomb-loaded McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee (VF-11 / CVG-101) embarked on USS Kearsarge (CV 33) over Korea - 1952-53
 
 
The Red Rippers were commissioned in 1927 as VF-5S in the earliest days of Naval Aviation and are proud to be the Navy’s oldest continuously active fighter squadron. The Rippers began their distinguished heritage in Hampton Roads, Virginia flying the Curtis F6C-3 HAWK. They served in both theaters of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and in Operations PROVIDE COMFORT, SOUTHERN WATCH, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. From the decks of the USS LANGLEY (CV-1), America's first carrier, to the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75), the Red Rippers have been indelibly written into the history of Naval Aviation.

Prior to WWII, the Rippers flew a number of propeller aircraft including the Boeing F3B-1 and F4B-1, and the Grumman FF-1 and F3F-1, and held the following squadron designations: VF-5S, VB-1B, VF-5, and VF-4.

During WWII, the Rippers (then known as VF-41) supported the allied invasion of North Africa, downing sixteen enemy aircraft in the Grumman F4F-3 WILDCAT. They also conducted the first air strikes against German forces in Norway in September 1943. The Red Rippers (re-designated VF-A) transferred to the Pacific theater in 1944, operating from USS BUNKER HILL and USS ESSEX. The squadron additionally flew the first air strikes against Tokyo in the Grumman F6F HELLCAT.

In 1948, the Rippers became Fighter Squadron ELEVEN (VF-11), and leapt into the jet age flying the McDonnell F2-1 BANSHEE. They flew the BANSHEE during the Korean War from USS KEARSARGE.


The second Red Rippers:
(from wikipedia)

VF-5 was established on 1 February 1927 at Hampton Roads, Virginia flying the Curtis F6C-3 Hawk. From 1927 to World War II, the squadron flew various aircraft including the Boeing F3B-1 and F4B-1, the Grumman FF-1 and F3F-1 and also held the following designations (designations tended to change based on the mission; e.g., "S" for scout, "B" for bomber): VF-5S, VF-5B, VB-1B, and VF-4.

During World War II, VF-41 deployed on USS Ranger supported the Allied invasion of Northwest Africa, downing 14 Vichy French aircraft in the Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat on 8/9 November 1942. The squadron lost 7 F4Fs in action over the same period.
In October and November 1943 while operating from USS Ranger, VF-41 attacked targets in German-occupied Norway.

The squadron transferred to the Pacific Theatre. VF-4 deployed aboard USS Bunker Hill losing 5 F6Fs in operations off the Philippines in November 1944.

VF-4 deployed aboard USS Essex and participated in the Battle of Mindoro, attacks on Japanese bases on Formosa and the Battle of Okinawa, losing 28 F6Fs between November 1944 and March 1945. For the fighter-bomber mission the Hellcat was fitted with wingroot pylons, each of which could carry a 1,000 -Ib bomb or a 'Tiny Tim' rocket. Smaller rockets were carried on three zero-length launchers on each wing.

VF-11 operating the F8F-1 Bearcat was assigned to Carrier Air Group One (CVG-1) embarked on USS Tarawa on a cruise from the U.S. West Coast to the U.S. East Coast from 1 October 1948 to 21 February 1949.


VF-11 flew the F2H-2 Banshee during the Korean War as part of Carrier Air Group 101 (CVG-101) deployed on USS Kearsarge from 11 August 1952 to 17 March 1953. During this deployment VF-11 lost 2 F2H-2s and their pilots to enemy fire.

VF-11 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 10 (CVG-10) aboard USS Coral Sea for a Mediterranean from 13 August 1956 to 11 February 1957.

VF-11 operating the F2H-4 was assigned to Air Task Group 201 (ATG-201) aboard USS Essex for a deployment to the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific from 2 February to 17 November 1958. In the Mediterranean, USS Essex supported the US Marines landed in Lebanon.

In 1959, VF-11 moved to NAS Jacksonville and was disestablished on 15 February 1959, their men and equipment being distributed to other squadrons and activities. The 3rd VF-11, redesignated from VF-43 on 16 February 1959 adopted the insignia and nickname of the disestablished second VF-11.
 
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vf-11 red rippers crest insignia patch badge fighter squadron us navy f2h banshee 
 
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