Checkmates celebrate success.

Spring 2005 has been an eventful season for the VFA-211 Checkmates. On 1 May, the squadron celebrated its 60th anniversary. To mark this historic occasion, the squadron hosted former Checkmate Phil Vampetella, a MiG killer in Vietnam, and his wife for a dining out, above. Having completed the transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet, the Checkmates checked out some new weaponry when, on 11 May, the squadron performed its first AGM-88 High-Speed Antiradiation Missile shoot, at the Pacific Missile Test Range off Point Mugu, Calif. On 7-8 June VFA-211 conducted a MISSILEX off the East Coast, during which the squadron logged its first AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile shot.