VS - 22 Sea Control Squadron 22 ( VS - 22 ) " Checkmates " was a carrier - based United States Navy squadron based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida . The squadron flew the Lockheed S - 3B " Viking " and their mission was mining , undersea and surface warfare , electronic reconnaissance and analysis , over the horizon targeting , and aerial refueling . The squadron was last attached to Carrier Air Wing Seventeen ( CVW - 17 ) and was the last squadron flying the " Viking " . VS - 22 was disestablished in a ceremony at NAS Jacksonville on January 29 , 2009 , and officially on March 31 , 2009 . History . Two distinct squadrons have been designated VS - 22 . The second of these is the main subject of this article . Officially , the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation . Often , the new squadron will assume the nickname , insignia , and traditions of the earlier squadrons . First VS - 22 , 1945 - 1956 . The original VS - 22 was established as torpedo squadron VT - 42 on 19 June 1945 at NAS Brunswick , Maine ( USA ) , also named " Checkmates " . It was equipped with the Grumman TBM - 3E / - 3W " Avenger " . It was redesignated attack squadron VA - 2E on 15 November 1946 at NAS Oceana , Virginia , and to composite squadron VC - 22 on 15 September 1948 . Finally the squadron became anti - submarine squadron VS - 22 on 20 April 1950 at NAS Norfolk , Virginia . In the early 1950s the squadron transitioned to the Grumman AF - 2S / - 2W " Guardian " and was identified by the tail code " SL " . The squadron served aboard the following carriers : USS " Block Island " , USS " Kula Gulf " , USS " Salerno Bay " , USS " Sicily " , USS " Palau " , and the USS " Wright " . The first VS - 22 was disestablished at NAS Quonset Point on 1 June 1956 . Second VS - 22 , 1960 - 2009 . A new anti - submarine squadron VS - 22 was established at NAS Quonset Point , Rhode Island ( USA ) , on 18 May 1960 . From 1960 to 1976 , the " Checkmates " flew the Grumman S - 2 " Tracker " , better known as " Stoof " from its pre - 1962 designation " S2F " . VS - 22 was assigned to " Carrier Anti - Submarine Air Group 54 ( CVSG - 54 ) " at NAS Quonset Point and operated from Essex - class anti - submarine carriers , mostly in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea : USS " Lake Champlain " , June 1960 - May 1965 ; USS " Essex " , June 1967 - August 1967 ; USS " Wasp " , March 1969 - November 1971 ; USS " Intrepid " , March 1972 ( as part of CVSG - 56 ) . Besides the typical submarine hunting role for which the aircraft was designed , the " Checkmates " held a significant role in the United States space program . Naval aviator Alan B . Shepard ' s Freedom 7 spacecraft , the United States ' first manned spacecraft , was tracked and located by VS - 22 on 5 May 1961 . In August 1965 , while embarked on USS " Lake Champlain " , VS - 22 recovered Gemini 5 astronauts Gordon Cooper and Pete Conrad . Finally , VS - 22 was engaged in the recovery of Apollo 7 astronauts while deployed aboard USS " Essex " . 1970s - 80s . Jet transitions started in the summer of 1974 with pilots training in Rockwell T - 2C " Buckeye " s and Douglas TA - 4J " Skyhawk " s at NAS Meridian , Mississippi , making VS - 22 the first east coast based S - 3A squadron . With the retirement of the anti - submarine carriers the anti - submarine squadrons were integrated into the former attack carrier air wings . From 1976 to 2001 VS - 22 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Three ( CVW - 3 ) . Between 1976 and 1980 VS - 22 made four deployments aboard the USS " Saratoga " . The squadron transitioned to the S - 3B in 1987 . 1990s . This was followed by seven cruises aboard USS " John F . Kennedy " , including participation in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1990 / 91 . Operation " Desert Storm " commenced on 17 January 1991 . VS - 22 aircrews flew over 1100 combat hours and 324 combat sorties in direct support of the coalition forces . Target information gleaned by VS - 22 aircraft played a major role in the suppression of enemy air defences during the first days of Desert Storm . From 22 January 1991 until the cease - fire on 28 February 1991 , the " Checkmates " flew in every CVW - 3 strike against Iraq . VS - 22 was also employed in support of CJTF - 4 counter narcotics operations during the last part of 1991 through the first part of 1992 earned the " Checkmates " the " Joint Meritorious Unit Award " for locating over 1500 contacts , confirming 50 as suspected offenders . After a long pre - deployment work - up schedule , VS - 22 embarked on the carrier USS " John F . Kennedy " in October 1992 . Concentrating on multi - national Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea exercises during the first half of deployment , VS - 22 provided initial in - flight refueling training for Egyptian Air Force Mirage 2000 pilots and practiced ASW skills while leading over 40 multi - national , integrated and air wing exercise strikes against NATO ships . Later VS - 22 participated in Operations Provide Comfort and Provide Promise , providing radar locating and command and control information . In February 1994 , VS - 22 joined " CVW - 3 " and USS " Dwight D . Eisenhower " . It was at this time that United States Congress passed laws permitting the embarkation of women in combat units . VS - 22 had the distinction of being the first S - 3B command to be assigned female sailors . On 16 April 1995 , VS - 22 returned from their Mediterranean deployment onboard " Dwight D . Eisenhower " . On 26 November 1996 , VS - 22 deployed onboard USS " Theodore Roosevelt " to the Mediterranean and the North Persian Gulf . VS - 22 participated in operations " Southern Watch " and " Decisive Endeavor " as well as numerous other joint exercises . On 21 April 1997 , in the Eastern Mediterranean , the Checkmates became the first S - 3B squadron to launch the AGM - 65F Infrared Maverick missile . VS - 22 next deployed onboard USS " Enterprise " . VS - 22 participated in various exercises such as Operation Desert Fox , " Juniper Stallion " and " Noble Anvil " , mostly providing electronic warfare support . 2000s . In November 2000 VS - 22 and " CVW - 3 " embarked on USS " Harry S . Truman " ' s maiden deployment . On 16 February 2001 , CVW - 3 participated in strikes against Iraq as a part of Operation Southern Watch . The " Checkmates " deployed for a second time with the " Truman " in December 2002 , this time participating in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom , launching missions from the Eastern Mediterranean . October 2004 saw VS - 22 deploying with CVW - 3 and " Harry S . Truman " for the last time . VS - 22 flew 1170 sorties and 3220 hours in support of " Operation Iraqi Freedom " , patrolling the oil infrastructure in the Persian Gulf during " Operation Sea Dragon II " missions . VS - 22 deployed in 2006 on USS " George Washington " , being assigned to CVW - 17 . VS - 22 last carrier embark was from 7 April to 27 May 2008 , aboard " George Washington " for the transit from Norfolk around South America to San Diego , California . Less than a week after returning from " GW " , VS - 22 was ordered to deploy to Iraq as a land based squadron . The squadron operated from Al Asad Air Base in Al Anbar Province until their return to NAS Jacksonville on 15 December 2008 . VS - 22 was the last squadron flying the " Viking " , and was disestablished on 29 January 2009 .