VFA - 211 Strike Fighter Squadron 211 ( VFA - 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 - 18F Super Hornet . Insignia and nickname . The squadron logo depicts a character known as " Brutus " holding a rocket , from the original logo for VB - 74 . Eleven stars are arranged in groups of seven and four to mark the squadron ’ s numerical designation , " SEVEN FOUR . " The shield recalls the squadron ’ s sixteen - year association with the F - 8 Crusader . By tradition , the " Brutus " mascot is painted on an aircraft whenever the Fighting Checkmates spend Christmas away from home . The squadron ' s call sign is " Nikel " . History . Three U . S . Navy squadrons have been designated VF - 211 . The first VF - 211 was established as VB - 74 in 1945 , eventually became VFA - 211 , and is the subject of this article . The second was established in 1948 and disestablished in 1949 . The third VF - 211 was established in 1955 and later redesignated VF - 24 in 1959 . 1940s . On May 1 , 1945 , Bombing Squadron SEVENTY FOUR ( VB - 74 ) was established at NAAF Otis Field , Camp Edwards , Massachusetts . Their first aircraft was the SBW - 4E Helldiver . The squadron soon moved to East Field , NAS Norfolk and deployed on on October 31 , 1945 . In 1946 the squadron became Attack Squadron 1B ( VA - 1B ) and began transition to the AD - 1 Skyraider . Two years later the squadron transitioned to AD - 2 Skyraider and became VA - 24 on 1 Sep 1948 . Skyraider aircraft were soon grounded due to engine problems and VA - 24 transitioned to the F4U Corsair six weeks before deploying with the . After the deployment the squadron moved to NAS Oceana and on December 1 , 1949 the VA - 24 was redesignated Fighter Squadron Twenty Four ( VF - 24 ) . 1950s . VF - 24 moved to NAS Alameda and made two back - to - back deployment in support of the Korean War aboard and . During the Korean War , VF - 24 bombed enemy emplacements , rail yards , bridges , warehouses and airfields . Following their second deployment , VF - 24 relocated to NALF Santa Rosa , California , and transitioned to the F9F - 2 Panther , the squadron ' s first jet fighter . In February 1952 , VF - 24 deployed once again with " Boxer " to Korea for their third combat tour , which included a strike on Pyongyang on August 29 . Upon their return home , VF - 24 moved to NAS Alameda . During the rest of the 1950s , VF - 24 flew a number of aircraft , including the FJ Fury , the FJ - 3M , the F3H - 2M Demon , the F - 11F Tiger and the F - 8 Crusader at NAS Moffett Field . On 9 March 1959 , VF - 24 traded air wings , insignia , and designations with the VF - 211 Checkmates . 1960s . In 1961 the squadron moved to NAS Miramar , which would be the Checkmates home for 35 years . VF - 211 made seven deployments during the Vietnam War , and VF - 211 had eight confirmed kills in the F - 8 Crusader , which earned them the reputation as “ The MiG Killers . ” 1970s . In 1975 , VF - 211 transitioned to the F - 14A Tomcat , deploying with Carrier Air Wing Nine in April 1977 aboard USS Constellation ( CV - 64 ) . The Checkmates completed numerous WESTPAC deployments aboard " Constellation " during the 1970s and 1980s . 1980s . In 1980 VF - 211 added the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System TARPS mission . In 1983 , VF - 211 changed carriers to the . In 1985 they deployed with as " Ranger " was upgraded to handle F / A - 18 Hornet s . VF - 211 would move to " Constellation " , " Kitty Hawk " and the in the following years . In 1986 VF - 211 took part in trials of experimental water based camouflage schemes , painting at least four aircraft in temporary schemes that consisted of browns and greys , three different shades of each colour being used . In April 1989 , VF - 211 upgraded to the F - 14A + ( later designated F - 14B ) . 1990s . In 1991 , VF - 211 deployed to support the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm , providing air superiority and aerial reconnaissance imagery to coalition forces . In 1992 , the squadron had to revert to the F - 14A due to the decision to move all F - 14Bs to Atlantic Fleet Squadrons . VF - 211 would make regular deployments to the Persian Gulf in the 1990s . In 1996 , VF - 211 became the only F - 14 squadron with CVW - 9 as VF - 24 was disestablished . At the same time , VF - 211 moved to NAS Oceana as NAS Miramar was handed over to the US Marines . In 1996 the unit also received LANTIRN capable F - 14s and went on cruise in September 1997 in support of Operation Southern Watch , spending four months in the Persian Gulf . VF - 211 flew daily sorties over Iraq , enforcing the United Nations imposed no - fly zone , providing aerial reconnaissance imagery and precision strike capability . 2000s . In 2000 , VF - 211 and the rest of CVW - 9 joined for a Millennium Cruise , spending four months in the Persian Gulf enforcing the no - fly zone over Iraq . After the terrorist attacks of September 11 , 2001 , the Checkmates deployed with Carrier Air Wing NINE , in support of Operation Enduring Freedom combat missions over Afghanistan . In early 2002 , the squadron directly supported the three - week - long battle Operation Anaconda . The squadron flew 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 . In 2002 the " Checkmates " 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 2005 , 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 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 June 2007 , VFA - 211 and CVW - 1 embarked aboard " Enterprise " to the Persian Gulf . In early 2008 , the squadron transitioned to Block II Super Hornets , equipped with AN / APG - 79 AESA radar . 2010s . In January 2011 , VFA - 211 joined CVW - 1 onboard USS Enterprise for a deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the U . S . 5th Fleet area of responsibility .