The "GW" was commissioned on 04 July 1992 and has served the Atlantic Fleet during her tenure. She is named after the founding father and carries the nickname "The Spirit of Freedom". She saw the VA-34 Blue Blasters on their last deployment in 1996 and has since done a "quick turn" to accomodate CVW-17 which is home-based at NAS Oceana, VA. The Washington is home-ported at NAS Norfolk, VA

Although CVW-7 is currently unassigned, they will join the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) after her overhaul is complete. They are home-ported out of NAS Oceana, VA and are now attached to the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). This is the older version of their patch.

Although CVW-7 is currently unassigned, they will join the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) after her overhaul is complete. They are home-ported out of NAS Oceana, VA and are now attached to the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). This is the current version of their airwing patch.

Although CVW-7 is currently unassigned, they will join the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) after her overhaul is complete. They are home-ported out of NAS Oceana, VA and are now attached to the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). This is the color version of their airwing patch.

Although CVW-7 is currently unassigned, they will join the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) after her overhaul is complete. They are home-ported out of NAS Oceana, VA and are now attached to the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). This is the desert version of their airwing patch.

Although CVW-7 is currently unassigned, they will join the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) after her overhaul is complete. They are home-ported out of NAS Oceana, VA and are now attached to the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). This is the Junior Officer Protection Agency (JOPA) version of their airwing patch.

These nametags are worn by the Naval Aviators that are assigned to CVW-7 (Airwing 7) which is based at NAS Oceana, VA.

These nametags are worn by the Naval Flight Officers that are assigned to CVW-7 (Airwing 7) which is based at NAS Oceana, VA.

These nametags are the desert versions worn by the Naval Aviators that are assigned to CVW-7 (Airwing 7) which is based at NAS Oceana, VA.

These nametags are the desert versions worn by the Naval Flight Officers that are assigned to CVW-7 (Airwing 7) which is based at NAS Oceana, VA.

This is the "Top 5" NUGGET patch given out to the pilots of CVW-7.

This is the "Top 10" TAILHOOKER patch given out to the pilots of CVW-7.

This is the nametag for the pilots for VFA-11.

This is the nametag for the WSOs for VFA-11.

This is the desert version of the nametag for the pilots for VFA-11.

This is the desert version of the nametag for the WSOs for VFA-11.

Callsign "RIPPER", the VF-11 Red Rippers transitioned from the F-4Js to the F-14A Tomcat in 1980. They were originally designated as VF-43 in September 1950, then redesignated in February 1959. They adopted the squadron insignia of the original VF-11 which was decommissioned the day prior, but even though they carry on the tradition of the insignia, they do not carry the original VF-11 lineage which dates back to February 1927. They have recently transistioned to the F/A-18 Hornet and fly out of NAS Oceana, VA.

Callsign "RIPPER", the VF-11 Red Rippers transitioned from the F-4Js to the F-14A Tomcat in 1980. They were originally designated as VF-43 in September 1950, then redesignated in February 1959. They adopted the squadron insignia of the original VF-11 which was decommissioned the day prior, but even though they carry on the tradition of the insignia, they do not carry the original VF-11 lineage which dates back to February 1927. They have recently transistioned to the F/A-18 Hornet and fly out of NAS Oceana, VA. This is the desert version of their current squadron patch.

Callsign "RIPPER", the VFA-11 Red Rippers transitioned from the F-4Js to the F-14A Tomcat in 1980 to the F/A-18F in 2005. They were originally designated as VF-43 in September 1950, then redesignated in February 1959. They adopted the squadron insignia of the original VF-11 which was decommissioned the day prior, but even though they carry on the tradition of the insignia, they do not carry the original VF-11 lineage which dates back to February 1927. This is the brand new "rhombus"-shaped patch created for the transition to the F/A-18 Hornet.

Callsign "RIPPER", the VFA-11 Red Rippers transitioned from the F-4Js to the F-14A Tomcat in 1980 to the F/A-18F in 2005. They were originally designated as VF-43 in September 1950, then redesignated in February 1959. They adopted the squadron insignia of the original VF-11 which was decommissioned the day prior, but even though they carry on the tradition of the insignia, they do not carry the original VF-11 lineage which dates back to February 1927. This is the cruise patch from 2006 while attached to CVW-17.

Callsign "RIPPER", the VFA-11 Red Rippers transitioned from the F-4Js to the F-14A Tomcat in 1980 to the F/A-18F in 2005. They were originally designated as VF-43 in September 1950, then redesignated in February 1959. They adopted the squadron insignia of the original VF-11 which was decommissioned the day prior, but even though they carry on the tradition of the insignia, they do not carry the original VF-11 lineage which dates back to February 1927. This is the brand new "keyhole"-shaped patch created for the transition to the F/A-18 Hornet.

Callsign "RIPPER", the VF-11 Red Rippers transitioned from the F-4Js to the F-14A Tomcat in 1980. They were originally designated as VF-43 in September 1950, then redesignated in February 1959. They adopted the squadron insignia of the original VF-11 which was decommissioned the day prior, but even though they carry on the tradition of the insignia, they do not carry the original VF-11 lineage which dates back to February 1927. This is their "Warrior" patch that is also created from their heritage, and continues even to this day.

Callsign "RIPPER", the VFA-11 Red Rippers transitioned from the F-4Js to the F-14A Tomcat in 1980 to the F/A-18F in 2005. They were originally designated as VF-43 in September 1950, then redesignated in February 1959. They adopted the squadron insignia of the original VF-11 which was decommissioned the day prior, but even though they carry on the tradition of the insignia, they do not carry the original VF-11 lineage which dates back to February 1927.

These are the color version of the nametags for the pilots for VFA-143.

These are the color versions of the nametags for the WSOs for VFA-143.

These are the desert version of the nametags for the pilots for VFA-143.

These are the desert versions of the nametags for the WSOs for VFA-143.

The 'Pukin Dogs' of VF-143 began existance as VF-871, a Reserve squadron activated for the Korean War in July 1950. They flew F-4J Phantoms until 1974 when they transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat. They made their first Tomcat cruise aboard the USS America (CV-66) in April 1976. They transitioned to several carriers, but remained with the same battlegroup/CVW and was paired with VF-142 before their decommissioning. They have recently converted to the F/A-18 Hornet and fly out of NAS Oceana, VA. This is the small color version of their current squadron patch.

The 'Pukin Dogs' of VF-143 began existance as VF-871, a Reserve squadron activated for the Korean War in July 1950. They flew F-4J Phantoms until 1974 when they transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat. They made their first Tomcat cruise aboard the USS America (CV-66) in April 1976. They transitioned to several carriers, but remained with the same battlegroup/CVW and was paired with VF-142 before their decommissioning. They have recently converted to the F/A-18 Hornet and fly out of NAS Oceana, VA. This is the small desert version of their current squadron patch.

The 'Pukin Dogs' of VF-143 began existance as VF-871, a Reserve squadron activated for the Korean War in July 1950. They flew F-4J Phantoms until 1974 when they transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat. They made their first Tomcat cruise aboard the USS America (CV-66) in April 1976. They transitioned to several carriers, but remained with the same battlegroup/CVW and was paired with VF-142 before their decommissioning. They have recently converted to the F/A-18 Hornet and fly out of NAS Oceana, VA. This is the large color version of their current squadron patch.

The 'Pukin Dogs' of VFA-143 began existance as VF-871, a Reserve squadron activated for the Korean War in July 1950. They flew F-4J Phantoms until 1974 when they transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat, then transitioned to the F/A-18F in 2005. They made their first Tomcat cruise aboard the USS America (CV-66) in April 1976. This is their new black-bordered Hornet "transition from" Tomcat patch.

The 'Pukin Dogs' of VFA-143 began existance as VF-871, a Reserve squadron activated for the Korean War in July 1950. They flew F-4J Phantoms until 1974 when they transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat, then transitioned to the F/A-18F in 2005. They made their first Tomcat cruise aboard the USS America (CV-66) in April 1976. This is their new white-bordered Hornet "oval" patch.

The 'Pukin Dogs' of VFA-143 began existance as VF-871, a Reserve squadron activated for the Korean War in July 1950. They flew F-4J Phantoms until 1974 when they transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat, then transitioned to the F/A-18F in 2005. They made their first Tomcat cruise aboard the USS America (CV-66) in April 1976. This is their new black-bordered Hornet "oval" patch.

The 'Pukin Dogs' of VFA-143 began existance as VF-871, a Reserve squadron activated for the Korean War in July 1950. They flew F-4J Phantoms until 1974 when they transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat, then transitioned to the F/A-18F in 2005. They made their first Tomcat cruise aboard the USS America (CV-66) in April 1976. This is their new white-bordered Hornet aircraft diamond patch.

The 'Pukin Dogs' of VFA-143 began existance as VF-871, a Reserve squadron activated for the Korean War in July 1950. They flew F-4J Phantoms until 1974 when they transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat, then transitioned to the F/A-18F in 2005. They made their first Tomcat cruise aboard the USS America (CV-66) in April 1976. This is their new black-bordered Hornet aircraft diamond patch.