Carrier Air Wing One

Carrier Air Wing One
CVW-1 Insignia
Active1 July 1938 – present
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
TypeCarrier air wing
Part ofNaval Air Forces Atlantic
Garrison/HQNAS Oceana
Motto(s)Primus et Principes (First and Foremost)
Tail CodeAB
EngagementsWorld War II
Vietnam War
Operation Formation Star
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Inherent Resolve
DecorationsPresidential Unit Citation (2)

Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, with most of its various squadrons also home based at NAS Oceana. Additional squadrons are based at Naval Station Norfolk/Chambers Field, Virginia; Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina; Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington; and Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.

Carrier Air Wing One is assigned to USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).

Mission

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To conduct carrier air warfare operations and assist in the planning, control, coordination and integration of seven air wing squadrons in support of carrier air warfare including; Interception and destruction of enemy aircraft and missiles in all-weather conditions to establish and maintain local air superiority. All-weather offensive air-to-surface attacks, Detection, localization, and destruction of enemy ships and submarines to establish and maintain local sea control. Aerial photographic, sighting, and electronic intelligence for naval and joint operations. Airborne early warning service to fleet forces and shore warning nets. Airborne electronic countermeasures. In-flight refueling operations to extend the range and the endurance of air wing aircraft and Search and rescue operations.

Subordinate units

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CVW-1 consists of eight squadrons and one detachment.[1]

Code Insignia Squadron Nickname Assigned Aircraft
VFA-11 Strike Fighter Squadron 11 Red Rippers F/A-18F Super Hornet
VFA-136 Strike Fighter Squadron 136 KnightHawks F/A-18E Super Hornet
VFA-143 Strike Fighter Squadron 143 Pukin Dogs F/A-18E Super Hornet
VFA-81 Strike Fighter Squadron 81 Sunliners F/A-18E Super Hornet
VAW-126 Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 126 Seahawks E-2D Hawkeye
VAQ-144 Electronic Attack Squadron 144 Main Battery EA-18G Growler
VRC-40 Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 Det. 2 Rawhides C-2A Greyhound
HSC-11 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 11 Dragon Slayers MH-60S Seahawk
HSM-72 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 72 Proud Warriors MH-60R Seahawk

History

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Carrier Air Wing One has been in existence longer than any other Navy carrier air wing except for Carrier Air Wing Three, both were established on 1 July 1938. Since its establishment on 1 July 1938, CVW-1 has served aboard twenty different aircraft carriers, made 42 major deployments, and had a majority of the East Coast squadrons as members of the Navy's "First and Foremost." CVW-1 was originally the "Ranger Air Group", serving aboard USS Ranger during the early years of carrier aviation. The air group also operated aboard the other three carriers in commission at that time and beyond – USS Langley, USS Lexington, USS Saratoga[2]

World War II

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After the commencement of World War II, and until 1943, The air wing participated in the North African campaign and operated in all parts of the Atlantic and Pacific. On 3 August 1943 the Ranger Air Group was redesignated Carrier Air Group Four (CVG-4) and CVG-1 was reformed aboard USS Bennington.[3] It saw action against Japan from the Philippines to Tokyo, earning two Presidential Unit Citations in addition to having nurtured many Naval Aviation heroes.[2]

Suez Crisis and Vietnam

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From 1946 to 1957, The Air Group was redesignated twice more. On 15 November in accordance with the Navy's new Air Group designation scheme it was redesignated CVAG-1, then on 1 September 1948 with another change in the Air Group designation scheme it became Carrier Air Group ONE (CVG-1) (it was the second use of the CVG-1 designation; the first Group designated CVG-1 existed during WWII from May 1943 to October 1945). The Air Group served aboard nine different carriers, including the first "Super Carrier", USS Forrestal, during the 1956-57 Suez Crisis. On 20 December 1963 all Carrier Air Groups were redesignated Carrier Air Wings and CVG-1 became Carrier Air Wing ONE (CVW-1). Between June 1966 and February 1967, CVW-1 conducted combat operations off the coast of Vietnam aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1975 on board USS John F. Kennedy, CVW-1 introduced the Navy's newest tactical aircraft, the F-14A Tomcat and the S-3A Viking, to the Mediterranean.[2]

1980s

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CVW-1 was assigned to USS America in mid-1982, forming a partnership which ended with the ship's decommissioning in August 1996. During that time, the USS America/CVW-1 team conducted combat operations during the attack on Libya in 1986.[2]

Gulf War

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The USS America/CVW-1 team was the only carrier battle group to launch strikes in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from both the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.[2]

With America's decommissioning in August 1996, the air wing joined the USS George Washington battle group. CVW-1 and USS George Washington returned on 3 April 1998 from their first deployment in their two-year association.[2]

Following its deployment with USS George Washington, CVW-1 returned to USS John F. Kennedy after a 24-year absence, and then deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf.[2]

21st century

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2006 deployment

During its 2006 deployment, Carrier Air Wing One delivered 65,000 pounds (29,483.50 kilograms) of ordnance, including 137 precision weapons, to provide air support of Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Its aircraft completed more than 8,300 sorties, of which 2,186 were combat missions, while flying more than 22,500 hours and making 6,916-day and night arrested landings. Carrier Air Wing One provided the first combat air support to Operation Enduring Freedom from an aircraft carrier in more than three years which also included Operation Medusa and Operation Mountain Fury.[4][5] Carrier Strike Group Twelve also conducted a two-month deployment with the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific which included training exercises with Carrier Strike Group Five.[6] This was the first time that an East Coast-based carrier air wing had operated in the western Pacific in 18 years.[5] Finally, during its 2006 deployment, Carrier Air Wing One was the first U.S. Navy carrier air wing to use the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS), a new computer system replacing the legacy mission planning computer system, Tactical Automated Mission Planning System (TAMPS).[7]

2007 deployment

During its 2007 deployment to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, aircraft from Carrier Air Wing One flew more than 7,500 missions, which included 1,676 combat missions, and made more than 6,500 arrested landings for a total of 20,300 hours. Aircraft dropped 73 air-to-ground weapons and fired 4,149 rounds of 20-mm ammunition in support of ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.[8][9] Also during this deployment, Carrier Air Wing One was the second U.S. Navy carrier air wing to deploy with the new ASQ-228 Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) targeting system for its embarked F/A-18 strike fighters. This new system allows its pilots to use their weapon systems at higher altitude with greater accuracy and enhanced safety.[10] Finally, the 2007 deployment marked the final cruise for squadron VS-32 and its S-3 Viking aircraft.[11]

2011 deployment

During its 2011 deployment, aircraft from Carrier Air Wing One flew more than 1,450 sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation New Dawn in Iraq.[12]

2012 deployment

With the decommissioning of the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) on 1 December 2012, Carrier Air Wing One was reassigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), which was undergoing its mid-life Refueling and Complex Overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding.[13][14]

2015 deployment

On 11 March 2015, the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group departed Naval Station Norfolk for around the world tour with deployments to the U.S. 5th, 6th and 7th Fleets, before arriving in the carrier's new homeport of San Diego, California, on 23 November.[15]

2018 deployment

After Theodore Roosevelt's homeport change, CVW-1 was reassigned to USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), in 2016. Following the carrier's dockyard period ("Planned Incremental Availability") in 2016–2017, Carrier Strike Group 8 began its next scheduled deployment on 11 April 2018.[16]

2022 deployment
An F/A-18E of VFA-211 launches off Harry S. Truman, July 2022

The wing again deployed aboard the USS Harry S. Truman on 1 December 2021, and was originally headed to the Middle East; however in late December, the ship was held in the Mediterranean Sea due to rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine.[17][18]

In the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, CVW-1 aircraft participated in NATO's enhanced air policing efforts over Eastern Europe.[19]

On 8 July 2022, one of the wing's F/A-18E Super Hornets was lost when it was blown overboard the Harry S. Truman into the Mediterranean Sea. The carrier had encountered unexpected heavy weather while conducting a replenishment-at-sea. One sailor received minor injuries.[20] On 8 August 2022, the United States Sixth Fleet announced the aircraft had been recovered from a depth of 9,500 feet (2,900 m) using a remotely operated CURV-21 recovery vehicle.[21] The aircraft was loaded aboard Military Sealift Command roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Mendonca (T-AKR-303) at the Port of Augusta on 16 August 2022 to be transported back to the United States.[22]

Current force

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Fixed-wing aircraft

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Rotary wing aircraft

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Comnavairlant".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Carrier Air Wing One (CVW 1)". Global Security.org. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
  3. ^ Location of US Naval Aircraft – OP034R No.37/45 SC-A4-3-OZ. Annapolis: United States Navy. 7 September 1945. p. 2.
  4. ^ "Carrier Air Wing 1 Squadrons Return to Norfolk, Oceana". NNS061115-16. Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs. 15 November 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  5. ^ a b Alfred M. Biddlecomb (January–February 2007). "Enterprise and Iwo Jima Complete Afghanistan Ops" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. United States Navy. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  6. ^ "2006 operations". USS Enterprise CVN-65. UScarriers.net. 24 April 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  7. ^ "SSC San Diego Command History Calendar Year 2007" (PDF). Technical Document 3225. San Diego, California: Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific. March 2008. pp. 27–28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  8. ^ "2007 operations". USS Enterprise CVN-65. UScarriers.net. 24 April 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  9. ^ Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph R. Wax, USN (19 December 2007). "ENTSG Returns from Deployment". NNS071219-11. USS Enterprise Public Affairs. Retrieved 29 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph R. Wax, USN (10 November 2012). "ATFLIR: CVW-1 Gets New Targeting System". NNS071110-05. USS Enterprise Public Affairs/Fleet Public Affairs Center, Atlantic. Retrieved 1 June 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Smarr, USN (20 December 2012). "Maulers Make Final Homecoming". NNS071220-12. Fleet Public Affairs Center Det. Southeast. Retrieved 1 June 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Returns to Norfolk". NNS110715-03. USS Enterprise Public Affairs. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  13. ^ Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian G. Reynolds, USN (15 August 2012). "CVW-1 Conducts Aerial Change of Command". NNS120815-04. Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs. Retrieved 16 August 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Contracts: Navy". Release # 652-09. U.S. Department of Defense. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  15. ^ ALL HANDS update Headlines for Thursday, 12 March 2015.
  16. ^ "Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Departs on Deployment". NNS180411-19. USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  17. ^ "Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Departs on Deployment". United States Navy. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  18. ^ LaGrone, Sam; Mongilio, Heather (28 December 2021). "SECDEF Orders U.S. Carrier USS Harry S. Truman to Stay in Mediterranean to Reassure Allies". USNI News. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  19. ^ Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office (10 March 2022). "United States Navy's Harry S. Truman executes Air Policing activities and collective training with NATO Allies". ac.nato.int. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  20. ^ U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Public Affairs (10 July 2022). "F/A-18 Super Hornet assigned to USS Harry S. Truman blown overboard due to unexpected heavy weather". U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa / U.S. Sixth Fleet. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  21. ^ Bath, Alison (8 August 2022). "Navy Super Hornet that was blown off carrier deck recovered from Mediterranean". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  22. ^ Mesta, Bill (16 August 2022). "USNS Mendonca Transports Recovered Navy F/A-18E Aircraft to the United States". DVIDS. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
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