page_title: VFA-211 (U.S. Navy)
section_title: 2000s
hierarchical_section_title: VFA-211 (U.S. Navy) / History / 2000s
caption_attribution_description: ARABIAN SEA (Oct. 4, 2012) Two F/A-18 Super Hornets fly above the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Enterprise is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom. America's Sailors are Warfighters, a fast and flexible force deployed worldwide. Join the conversation on social media using #warfighting. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Josh Hammond/Released) 121004-N-ZZ999-016 Join the conversation www.facebook.com/USNavy www.twitter.com/USNavy navylive.dodlive.mil
context_page_description: Strike Fighter Squadron 211, nicknamed the "Fighting Checkmates", is an aviation unit of the United States Navy established in 1945. The squadron is based at Naval Air Station Oceana and is equipped with the F/A-18E Super Hornet.
context_section_description: In 2000, VF-211 and the rest of CVW-9 joined USS John C. Stennis for a Millennium Cruise, spending four months in the Persian Gulf enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq.
  After the September 11 attacks, the squadron deployed with CVW-9, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom combat missions over Afghanistan. In early 2002, the squadron directly supported the three-week-long battle Operation Anaconda, flying 1250 combat sorties, logging 4200 combat hours and dropped 100, 000 lbs of ordnance and was awarded the VADM "Sweetpea" Allen Precision Strike Award for 2002. On their return home to the US, they transitioned to Carrier Air Wing One aboard USS Enterprise.
  In 2002 the squadron received the Commander Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet, BATTLE "E" for battle efficiency, the Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet GRAND SLAM Award for excellence in Air-to-Air employment, and the Clifton Award for the most outstanding overall performance in battle efficiency and employment. In late 2003, VF-211 deployed for their final F-14 cruise in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying mostly reconnaissance, "show of force" and ground support missions.
  After their return to NAS Oceana in 2004, VF-211 began transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet and was redesignated VFA-211, becoming the first operational East Coast Super Hornet squadron. In 2006, VFA-211 deployed in support of both Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. On September 8, 2006, VFA-211 F/A-18F Super Hornets expended GBU-12 and GBU-38 bombs against Taliban targets near Kandahar. The squadron returned to NAS Oceana on November 18, 2006, after flying hundreds of combat sorties and expending dozens of precision guided weapons in support of ground forces.
  In early 2008, the squadron transitioned to Block II Super Hornets, equipped with AN/APG-79 AESA radar.
caption: VFA-211 F/A-18F over USS Enterprise in 2012
exif: {"Image ImageDescription": "121004-N-ZZ999-016 ARABIAN SEA (Oct. 4, 2012) Two F/A-18 Super Hornets fly above aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Enterprise is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Josh Hammond/Released)", "Image Make": "OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.", "Image Model": "E-420", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "240", "Image YResolution": "240", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 Macintosh", "Image DateTime": "2012:10:04 17:48:00", "Image ExifOffset": "260", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "822", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "5415", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/320", "EXIF FNumber": "71/10", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Creative", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "100", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0221", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2012:10:04 13:46:06", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2012:10:04 17:48:00", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "1040241/125000", "EXIF ApertureValue": "2827819/500000", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MaxApertureValue": "925/256", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF LightSource": "Unknown", "EXIF Flash": "Flash did not fire, auto mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "14", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "3648", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "2736", "EXIF FileSource": "Digital Camera", "EXIF CVAPattern": "[2, 0, 2, 0, 0, 1, 1, 2]", "EXIF CustomRendered": "Normal", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF DigitalZoomRatio": "1", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF GainControl": "None", "EXIF Contrast": "Normal", "EXIF Saturation": "Normal", "EXIF Sharpness": "Normal"}