In the "Can you top this?" category (Mutha in space)

[HeyJoe]

This is the stuff that sets Naval Aviation apart from also rans...Ongoing email trail on the VFA-211 bid to win the coveted Mutha award for 2010 (shouldn't be too hard unless some can get their rep on station and steal it):

In the spirit of fleet support, and to help us maintain perspective
and motivation over the next couple of months/weeks, I offer the email trail
below for a great story. To frame your reading, the Mutha trophy is an
annual award given to the Fighter Squadron, originally Crusaders, then
Tomcats, and now Hornets/Rhinos (Strike Fighter Squadron) that displays the
best of those subjective qualities labeled as "fighter spirit." The central
figure of the MUTHA trophy is TANUKI; a legendary figure with a jug of sake
that is never empty and a coin sack that is always full. Tanuki wanders
through the country, taking part in impossible adventures, keeping company
with the fearless rogues and bold revelers who are, in turn, blessed and
honored by Tanuki's presence. Today, the trophy is carried in a wooden
display case and guarded by the squadron who is most worthy of this legacy.
Of note, the current holder of the Mutha is VFA-11, the Red Rippers, RDML
Vance's old squadron.

BLUF: the squadron below just smacked it out of the
"one-up-manship" park. I frickin' love this business....FLY NAVY!!

Very Respectfully,

Gordo

___________________________________________________________________

For the others - CAPT Al "Dex" Poindexter was a Checkmate from
1990-1993 at Miramar. He's the Mission Commander on STS-131 that launched
yesterday. Dex was our Jr. then Sr. LSO for the 1991 and 1993 NIMITZ/CVW-9
cruises and then went to NASA about mid-90's after TPS. Bill "High School"
Reynolds, now Booz Allen, was one of the Checkmate CO's in those days and I
had the pleasure of doing my DH tour there during that time.

VFA-211 stole the Mutha from VFA-11 last month and launched her into
space yesterday via the Checkmate connection. Great stuff...

R/Waldo

___________________________________________________________________

Strike Fighters of America,

Today is a great day for the Checkmates and all of Naval Aviation.
We know Mutha's been absent for far longer than she should have been, and we
thank the Rippers for the patience that they have shown in this matter. Her
location was a secret that we were unable to share due to the chance of any
type of sabotage. The Checkmates embarked on a mission of which legends are
made. And as of 0621 EDT that mission came to fruition. Mutha is currently
on her way to the International Space Station on the Space Shuttle Discovery
and has officially earned her Astronaut wings. Oh yeah, you heard right,
Mutha is currently on her first Space Mission of all time. Mutha and the
VFA-211 Fighting Checkmates drinking flag are currently orbiting in zero
gravity 122 NM above the atmosphere. On behalf of Mutha and the Fighting
Checkmates we would like to send our thank you to NASA and the crew aboard
the Discovery for their support and cooperation.



V/R,

CAPT Checkmate



"Checkmates for MUTHA 2010"

Checkmates with Mutha Trophy (Capt Checkmate can be seen atop aircraft on left)

 

[insanebikerboy]

I heard a bunch of the checkmates talking about this out in Fallon. Didn't realize they got their drinking flag up there too, that's pretty cool.

Still, only one squadron had their drinking flag up in the O-club while the airwing was there, one guess who's it was

 

[HokiePilot]

The way the Checkmates we talking when we were out in Fallon, a anonymous single seat squadron had stolen it from a NASA building and it had actually never made it into space.

 

[SynixMan]

The way the Checkmates we talking when we were out in Fallon, a anonymous single seat squadron had stolen it from a NASA building and it had actually never made it into space.

Trying to throw off the scent maybe?

Pretty awesome by the way. On these lines, anyone ever heard of GiGi the Golden Goddess? Supposedly similar to Mutha, but was a West Coast VA/VAH prized possession of the 60s. I could only find cursory knowledges of it on google. It was mentioned by an old timer here in PCola once.

 

[badger16]

Word is Tanuki is back and having drinks at the NAS Oceana Oclub on Wednesday. I think I may have to take a look for myself...