Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (VFA-11), also known as the "Red Rippers", are a United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana

Naval Air Station Oceana

Naval Air Station Oceana or NAS Oceana is a military airport located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is a United States Navy Master Jet Base. It is also known as Apollo Soucek Field, named after Lieutenant Apollo Soucek, a Navy Test Pilot who set the global altitude record in 1930 by flying a...

, Virginia Beach, VA. Their call sign is Ripper, tail code is AB, and they fly the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
The squadron's original nickname was the Rebel's Raiders; their insignia (used from inception in 1950 to 1959) is unknown. In 1959, the squadron changed designations and adopted the name and insignia of another, recently disestablished, squadron.

The Red Ripper squadron insignia as described by an early member: "The boars head is taken from the one that graces the label of the Gordon's Gin

Gordon's Gin

Gordon's is a brand of London Dry gin produced in the United Kingdom and under licence in New Zealand, Canada and several other former British territories. The top markets for Gordon's are the UK, US, Greece and Africa...

 bottle.