VF-211 Fighting Checkmates' Aircraft Tail Design, 1996-1998

From the time we began flying Tomcats in 1975, the Fighting Checkmates painted our aircraft tails with checkerboard rudders, horizontal stripes at top and bottom of rudders, and the air wing letters, NG. Around the canopy we painted a dark anti-glare panel, known as a "bandit stripe." Several people have asked about recently seen changes, so I offer the following comments.

Photo taken in Key West, Sep 1996

In July 1996, outgoing Commanding Officer CDR Gerry Beaman announced at his change of command that he was adding a "check-mark" to the center of the tail. This served two purposes:

Honored the soon-to-decommission Fighting Renegades of VF-24, long-time sister squadron of VF-211. Many VF-24 personnel joined VF-211 to complete their prescribed sea duty. VF-24 decommissioned in August 1996.

Recalled one of the tail designs VF-211 had used while flying F-8 Crusaders in the 1960s.

Each squadron was allowed to paint 2 aircraft in color. On these aircraft the check-mark was red, outlined in dark blue; the horizontal stripes were red, white, and dark blue; rudder checkerboards were red and white. The bandit stripe was dark blue. On the remainder of our aircraft, the markings were dark gray. We painted NG100 and NG101 in color; some photos show other side numbers in color, since side numbers occasionally changed as aircraft were transferred in or out of the squadron.

The next C.O., CDR J. D. Oliver, did not change the tail design during his tour as C.O.