The Red Rippers

11/10/2022

VFA-11 Cruise Video 2022

https://youtu.be/3w4VIcIMpcU

Red Ripper 2021-2022 Med Cruise

10/28/2022

Happy Friday! Last weekend, the Red Rippers provided a two ship flyover at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for the Navy vs. Houston football game. Thank you for having us, and good luck to Navy Football this weekend!

10/28/2022

Photos from last weekend’s F/A-18F demo flown by VFA-106.

10/24/2022

The Red Ripper 95th Anniversary Reunion was a resounding success! Thank you to everyone who attended. The countdown begins for the 100th!

Here’s to us!

10/06/2022

Turns out that the end of the rainbow is a 5-wet tanker.
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RSPVs for the Red Ripper 95th Reunion are now open! To receive RSVP information and confirm that you served as a Ripper, please contact:
[email protected]

09/27/2022

Shown is a photo of the 1,000th carrier landing on the USS Tarawa. Date taken: March 11th, 1946.

Come celebrate VFA-11 history this October 20th-22nd! RSVP now for the Red Ripper 95th Anniversary Reunion.

To receive RSVP information and confirm that you served as a Ripper, please contact:
[email protected]

09/26/2022

RSVP now for the Red Ripper 95th Anniversary Reunion being held on October 20th - 22nd.

To receive RSVP information and confirm that you served as a Ripper, please contact:
[email protected]

09/16/2022

The Oceana Air Show is here! Make sure you swing by our VFA-11 tent on 'Squadron Row' at the base of the ATC tower.

For more info, visit
www.oceanaairshow.com

09/15/2022

While deployed on the USS Harry S. Truman, VFA-11 held a "Smoke 'Em" to celebrate Gunner Hisle's promotion to Lieutenant Junior Grade. Congratulations Guns!
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RSPVs for the Red Ripper 95th Reunion are now open! To receive RSVP information and confirm that you served as a Ripper, please contact:
[email protected]

09/14/2022

VFA-11 is back from deployment and looking forward to the Red Ripper 95th Anniversary! The reunion will be held October 20th - 22nd and is open to all former Rippers and their families.

To receive RSVP information and confirm that you served as a Ripper, please contact:
[email protected]

08/28/2022

VFA-11 recently held a "Rippin' Chains" competition while onboard USS Harry S. Truman. This competition was a contest to determine which team of two would be the fastest to attach six flight deck chains to a F/A-18F. Thank you to our judges AE1 Pierce and AO1 Hooper for your work in the contest, and congratulations to our winners- AM3 Buot and AN Parks. Here's to you!

08/11/2022

The Red Rippers recently completed a detachment to Moron Air Base in the southern region of Spain. This detachment involved dissimilar air combat training (DACT) with the Spanish 111th Fighter Squadron flying the Eurofighter Typhoon. Thank you to our hosts for the outstanding training!

08/04/2022

Pencil into your calendars: The Red Ripper 95th Anniversary Reunion is this October! Here is a working schedule of the weekend:
October 20th: Squadron Open House
October 21st: Golf Tournament and Reception
October 22nd: Outing in Virginia Beach
Keep following this page for more updates as venues and times are finalized.

07/31/2022

The USS Harry S. Truman held a swim call this past week. Here are a few of our Rippers going for a dip in the Mediterranean. It turns out hogs can fly…and then swim.

07/19/2022

Congratulations to LCDR Thomas “Franz” Zimmerman on his selection to the Blue Angels! You will be missed by the Red Rippers, but the Blues could not have made a better choice. Here’s to you!

07/05/2022

Happy 4th of July from the Red Rippers! VFA-11 celebrated the holiday by participating in a Carrier Air Wing One “Air Power Demo” this weekend while underway on CVN-75

06/26/2022

Rippers conducting a flyby of the Fridtjof Nansen of the Royal Norwegian Navy. The Nansen deployed alongside the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group from December ’21 – May ’22.

06/19/2022

Happy Father's Day. In this image CDR Peter Booth (left) unfurls the VF-11 "Red Rippers" flag with his father, VADM Charles T. Booth, USN (Ret.), who commanded the same squadron during his service.

06/15/2022

Here are some photos from our most recent Awards Quarters. Congratulations to all awardees, and thank you for your hard work day in and day out!

📸 AME2 Garcia

05/31/2022

VFA-11 would like to congratulate our very own Commander Enos on his 1,000th carrier arrested landing. CDR Enos joins an elite group of less than 360 pilots and 120 flight officers who have logged 1,000 traps. Here’s to you, Skipper!

05/21/2022

The Red Rippers recently participated in a Carrier Air Wing ONE detachment to Landivisiau Naval Air Base. This detachment involved working alongside the French 17th Fighter Squadron who fly the Dassault Rafale. This provided a fantastic opportunity to train with allies in close air support, dissimilar air combat training, and long range strike missions.
Here's to us!!

04/01/2022

Yesterday two Rippers re-enlisted, and got the chance to do it airborne. It is always inspiring seeing the Ripper family’s continued dedication to service.

(Photo credit: AME2(AW/SW) Ronnie Garcia / VFA-11)

02/27/2022

Night check keeping our jets full up and ready to go, and a recent Ripper reenlistment!

(Photo credit: AME2(AW/SW) Ronnie Garcia / VFA-11)

02/06/2022

It’s been a busy few weeks for the Rippers! VFA-11 and the rest of Carrier Strike Group Eight (CSG-8) got the chance to integrate with multiple NATO partners during Neptune Strike 2022. Also pictured are Ripper maintainers taking part in flight deck drills on board USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75).
(Photo Credit: AME2(AW/SW) Ronnie Garcia / VFA-11)

02/01/2022

95 years ago today, The Red Rippers were established in Hampton Roads, VA beginning a long tradition of aviation excellence. To all of our Rippers, both past and present, we thank you for your dedication and sacrifice patrolling the seas and sky in defense of this great nation. We will never forget that we stand on the shoulders of giants and we strive to make you proud as we stand the watch. Here’s to you and HERE’S TO US!!!!

01/25/2022

VFA-11 recently had the opportunity to recognize some of its outstanding sailors!

01/24/2022

Rippers on the flight deck!
(Photo credit: AM2(AW/SW) Ronnie Garcia / VFA-11)

01/21/2022

The Rippers have been hard at work on deployment. Still found time for a flight deck 5k though!
(Photo credit: AME2(AW/SW) Ronnie Garcia / VFA-11)

01/17/2022

For every hour spent airborne, a Super Hornet requires multiple hours of maintenance. VFA-11's skilled maintainers have been hard at work this deployment keeping Ripper jets airworthy!
(Photo credit: AME2(AW/SW) Ronnie Garcia / VFA-11)

01/01/2022

VFA-11 wishes a happy New Year to Red Ripper friends and family around the world!

12/18/2021

Several weeks ago, the VFA-11 Red Rippers left Virginia for a scheduled deployment on board the USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN-75). After an arduous year-plus of workup training, the squadron is well prepared to answer whatever it is called upon to do in the upcoming months.

(Photo credit: AME2(AW) Ronnie Garcia / VFA-11)

12/16/2021

Today, VFA-11 conducted a change of command aboard USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN-75). CDR Matthew Enos relieved CDR John McGee as Commanding Officer. Below is a farewell message to the Red Ripper family from CDR McGee, the 83rd Ripper Skipper.

11/24/2021

The Red Ripper family was grateful to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving together a day early in our Oceana hangar. The squadron was able to enjoy a hearty meal of turkey, pulled pork, and all the classic fixin’s, raffle off some awesome prizes, and recognize several of our outstanding sailors. VFA-11 would like to extend warm wishes to all this Thanksgiving. Here’s to us!

11/16/2021

VFA-11 has been busy the past several months. The Rippers spent the month of August in Fallon, NV with the rest of Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) taking part in Air Wing Fallon. Following a month back home during which the squadron was able to recognize numerous sailors for their achievements, the Rippers and CVW-1 participated in COMPTUEX on board USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75) throughout October. While often challenging, the training we’ve received has been invaluable and leaves us well prepared for whatever may confront us down the road.

11/11/2021

The Red Rippers would like to take this Veterans Day to express gratitude to all who have served in our Armed Forces, and those who continue to serve. Here’s to you!

06/08/2021

Always a good day when we get to recognize our exceptional sailors.

03/02/2021

The Red Rippers had the opportunity to take up some exceptional sailors on flights while in Fallon. Here’s AN Kurtz, AE2 Whitaker and AM2 Sharp on some of their first flights in the Super Hornet!

02/09/2021

Off to TOPGUN for these two Rippers. Get some Tumbles and Co***ne Rob 🤙🏻

01/29/2021