The Carrier Air Wing is comprised of a number of individual squadrons under the command of the Air Wing Commander (CAG). With the combined capabilities of these squadrons, the CAG can deploy aircraft to perform a wide range of missions, from power projections deep into enemy territory to engaging and destroying enemy contacts within the carrier’s area of operations. Aircraft perform patrols, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and rescue missions.

Commissioned on Navy Day, 1942, Carrier Air Wing 11 has recorded a significant number of “firsts” in attaining its place as one of the Navy’s top fighting organizations. In June 1943, its pilots conducted the first daylight raids during fighting in the Solomon and New Georgia operations of World War II. The air group also took part in the air strikes on Leyte Gulf, Indochina, Formosa and the China Mainland. For the above operations, Carrier Air Wing 11 received the Presidential Unit Citation for its extraordinary achievements against the enemy. During the Korean conflict, it was the first Naval Air Group to engage and down MIG jet fighters.

Following its declared mission to provide combat-ready strike fighter squadrons trained to conduct carrier-based, all-weather, attack, fighter and support missions as required by the fleet tactical commander, Carrier Air Wing Eleven deployed in May 2005 aboard USS Nimitz to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf, participating in combat operations in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and multinational exercises with Japan, Egypt, and India until November 2005. While in the Fifth Fleet area of operations aboard the Nimitz, the Air Wing launched more than 4,500 sorties, totaling more than 11,000 flight hours. More than 1,100 sorties and 6,000 flight hours were flown in direct support of the troops on the ground in Iraq.

Established: 1919 Homeport: NAS Lemoore, Calif. Personnel: 33 officers, 209 enlisted Aircraft: F/A-18E Hornet

With the motto “the oldest and the boldest” and stated mission “to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft in all weather conditons, establish and maintain air superiority and deliver ordnance on target, on time, first pass,” the Navy’s oldest active squadron began its record of continuous active service in September of 1919. Since its inception the squadron has flown twenty-three different type aircraft, had its designation changed fourteen times, operated from twenty different aircraft carriers, as well as several battleships.

Over the years the squadron has been assigned many different missions, including patrol and observation in its early years, and scouting, attack, fighter, bombing and forward air control missions when it became associated with carrier-based operations.

Courtesy of U.S. Navy A Tophatter F/A-18E Super Hornet displaying its NH tail sign.

Among the many awards held by the Tophatters are two Presidential Unit Citations, the Navy Unit Commendation, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, five Battle stars, four CNO Aviation Safety awards, and eight Comnavairlant Battle Efficiency “E” awards — the last one for 1999. They were also presented the most coveted trophy of excellence in the fighter community — the Admiral Joseph C. Clifton award — at the Association of Naval Aviation (ANA) convention in May 1998. This award was soon followed by an equally prestigious and exceptional honor — the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy, awarded annually to the most improved combat unit (ship, submarine, or squadron) in Commander in Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), a first for a F-14 squadron.

Complete and combat ready, VFA-14 returned to sea from May to November 2005 aboard the USS Nimitz. Once again, Fighting Fourteen found themselves over the skies of Iraq in support of coalition ground forces for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Flying over 2,100 sorties and logging over 4,300 hours while deployed, VFA-14 kept the operational tempo high.

Established: 1945 Homeport: NAS Lemoore, Calif. Personnel: 39 officers, 224 enlisted Aircraft: F/A-18F Hornet

With the motto “first to fight, first to strike,” the Black Aces are known for multiple historic combat accomplishments. The squadron was selected as the first naval fleet squadron to operate the F/A-18F Super Hornet.

Courtesy of U.S. Navy A Black Aces F/A-18F Super Hornet.

Fighting Forty One was established in September 1950 at NAS Oceana flying the F-4U Corsair. Forty One’s constant pursuit of excellence earned awards and citations including the Golden Tailhook Award, Clifton Trophy, Grand Slam, and several Battle E and Safety S. More recently, the Aces received the Fred D. Dillingham Tactical Reconnaissance Trophy, and is the first fighter squadron to receive the Wade McLusky Trophy for excellence in strike warfare.

The squadron has distinguished itself in Vietnam, over the Gulf of Sidra, the Persian Gulf, and Kosovo in addition to numerous other deployments. VFA-41 deployed aboard USS Nimitz in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Established: 1952 Homeport: NAS Lemoore, Calif. Personnel: 33 officers, 209 enlisted Aircraft: F/A-18C Hornet

Fighter Squadron 94 was commissioned at NAS Alameda, California in 1952. Nicknamed the Mighty Shrikes, the squadron was named after a small carnivorous bird of prey, the Loggerhead Shrike. It engages in aerial combat to strike its prey in the air and on the ground, and then impales its victim on a sharp thorn.

Courtesy of U.S. Navy A Mighty Shrikes F/A-18C Hornet.

VFA-94’s stated mission is “to intercept and destroy all enemy aircraft in all weather conditions. They are to establish and maintain air superiority and deliver ordnance on target, on time, first pass.”

In January 1982, the Mighty Shrikes joined Carrier Air Wing 11. A Navy milestone was set in April 1983 when VA-94 became the first single engine tactical aircraft squadron to fly across the Pacific Ocean from the Philippines to the United States. In 1986, aboard USS Enterprise, VA-94 made history as part of the first nuclear aircraft carrier to transit the Suez Canal. In 1988, during their 19th deployment, the Mighty Shrikes again made history by striking the naval forces of Iran, the first major U.S. naval battle since World War II.

On 7 May 2005, the squadron deployed aboard USS Nimitz to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the following months, the Mighty Shrikes achieved a 97 percent sortie completion rate, more then 2,900 mishap free flight hours, and over 1,400 carrier-arrested landings.

The squadron has been awarded two Joint Meritorious Unit Awards, five Navy Unit Commendations, five Meritorious Unit Commendations, five Battle Efficiency Awards, two Navy Expeditionary Medals, three Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Established: 1925 Homeport: MCAS Miramar, Calif. Personnel: 22 officers, 1 Navy; 195 enlisted, 12 Navy Aircraft: F/A-18C Hornet

The history of the Marine Corps’ oldest and most decorated active fighter attack squadron began on Sept. 1, 1925, at Naval Air Station San Diego, California.

Courtesy of U.S. Navy A Red Devils F/A-18C Hornet.

As Operation Iraqi Freedom began, the Red Devils were among the first to fly in the combat zone. From March to May 2003, VMFA-232 flew over 800 combat sorties, the most in MAG-11, totaling 1700 hours, while dropping over 640,000 pounds of ordnance on enemy positions. By doing so, the Red Devils significantly contributed to the destruction of eight Iraqi divisions, allowing I MEF to advance toward Baghdad with significantly reduced resistance. In 2004, the Red Devils became the first Marine Hornet squadron to begin the Department of the Navy’s Tactical Aircraft Integration plan.

From May to November 2005 the Red Devils deployed aboard an aircraft carrier for the first time in forty-six years. While deployed, the squadron operated out of the Arabian Gulf and flew over 200 combat sorties totaling 1200 hours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In the Red Devils’ illustrious history, the squadron has received the Presidential Unit Citation with three bronze stars, the Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with two bronze stars, the Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with four bronze stars, two Marine Corps Aviation Association Hanson Awards, the MCAA Commandant’s Aviation Trophy, and nine Chief of Naval Operations Safety Awards.

Established: 1969 Homeport: NAS Pt. Mugu, Calif. Personnel: 31 officers, 209 enlisted Aircraft: EA-6B Prowler

With the stated mission “to provide fully operational EA-6B aircraft to perform electronic attack as needed throughout the world”, the Black Ravens were established May 15, 1969. They provide a variety of missions, including electronic support measures, area surveillance and electronic support and supression for at sea strikes along with electronic warfare and aerial refueling support to carrier air wings.

VAQ-135 deploys the Prowler, a four-person, tactical jet which conducts all-weather, carrier-based electronic warfare missions in support of the Carrier Air Wing. The Prowler can detect and analyze enemy radars and communications. The three Electronic Countermeasures Officers (ECMOs) process this information and determine which portion of the enemy’s command, communications, and control network to attack.

Courtesy of U.S. Navy A Black Ravens Prowler over the Nimitz.

The EA-6B employs the USQ-113 Comm Jammer to disrupt communications and the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System to counter enemy radars in a wide range of frequency bands.

If the mission requires the destruction of the radar installation, the crew of the Prowler can employ the AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). This combined ability to disrupt or destroy an adversary’s air defense network makes the EA-6B the premiere tactical electronic warfare platform in the world.

While deployed on the Nimitz, the squadron received the CVW-11/CVN 68 TEAMWORK Award twice, initially for the first line period and again at the end of deployment. Additionally, VAQ-135 received the CVW-11 Golden Wrench Award for deployment, as the finest Maintenance Department in CVW-11.

Established: 1974 Homeport: NAS Pt. Mugu, Calif. Personnel: 31 officers, 149 enlisted Aircraft: E-2C Hawkeye

Known as “The World Famous Wallbangers”, VAW-117’s stated mission is “to execute the Commander’ intent by providing on-scene, carrier airborne command and control of Joint and Combined Forces in the battle space.”

The squadron was established at NAS North Island, CA on July 1, 1974 as part of Fighter Airborne Early Warning Wing, U. S. Pacific Fleet, and received its first E-2B aircraft in October 1974.

Courtesy of U.S. Navy A Wallbangers E-2CE Hawkeye.

Their abilities include correlating data from on and off-board sensors, the Wallbangers consistently positively identified exercise hostile aircraft and successfully controlled U.S. and Allied fighters achieving hostile aircraft kills well outside threat ranges.

In the course of exercises, the Wallbangers further tested the world’s newest command and control aircraft, E-2C MCU/ACIS, in the robust data link architecture provided by this large Joint Forces exercise. VAW-117 again proved to U.S. and Allied Forces the tremendous tactical acumen of squadron aircrews and the unmatched capabilities of the E-2C MCU/ACIS aircraft.

The squadron flew nearly 500 total sorties with 194 sorties and 728 hours flown in direct support of Operation Sea Dragon III, a component of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Established: 1957 Homeport: NAS North Island Personnel: 27 officers, 182 enlisted Aircraft: SH-60F Seahawk

With the motto “one team ... one scream”, HS-6 is a Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron employing the SH-60 “Sea Hawk” Rotary Wing Helicopter. Their primary missions include anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, combat search and rescue, and the insertion/extraction of Special Forces personnel.

Courtesy of U.S. Navy An Indians Seahawk.

HS-6 was commissioned on June 1, 1956 aboard the USS Princeton midway between Formosa and Okinawa. Initially, the squadron flew the HO4S, but two years later transitioned to the new SH-34 and gained a new mission, anti-submarine warfare.

The unit participated in the recovery of Mercury Program astronauts Wally Schirra in 1962, and Gordon Cooper in 1963. In 1966, in support of American strikes into Vietnam, the Indians rescued 16 downed aviators. In 1971, the Indians recovered the crew of Apollo 14 returning from the moon. In 1974, the squadron began to deploy on aircraft carriers, joining Carrier Air Wing 11 in 1981. In 1989, HS-6 won the first ever DESRON 21 “Order of the Pummeled Dolphin” for excellence in anti-submarine warfare.

Established: 1943 Homeport: NAS North Island, Calif. Personnel: 7 officers, 41 enlisted Aircraft: C-2A Greyhound

With the motto “we deliver,” VRC-30’s stated mission is “a command which must provide robust service to the fleet in a safe and expeditious manner. The movement of high priority cargo, mail and passengers to and from Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers on time and with seamless transfer is our goal. Responsive service to the fleet will be a good measure of our reputation, recognition, operational excellence and will ultimately result in appropriate resources. We can never lose sight of our customer’s needs. ”

Courtesy of U.S. Navy A Providers C-2A Greyhound

VRC-30’s focus is to provide detachments manned and ready to deploy in support of the joint combatant commanders, to deliver high priority logistics support to local aircraft carriers, to train pilots, aircrew and maintainers in order to deploy, to conduct DV missions and to support Naval Special Warfare. With their Greyhound, known as Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD), the squadron can provide rapid airlift of high-priority part, personnel, medical emergencies, cargo and mail the entire strike group. The COD can carry up to 26 passengers or 10,000 pounds of cargo at a distance of about 1,000 nautical miles. The C-2A has also been utilized for search and surveillance of surface ships and is a proven para-drop platform.

VRC-30 traces its ancestry to Air Transport Squadron FIVE (VR-5) which was commissioned 24 June 1943 at Naval Air Station Seattle.

VRC-30 was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award for the years, 1979, 1983-1985, 1990 and 1991. The squadron was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for exemplary service from October 1993 to September 1994. The Providers’ exceptional safety record was extended on 31 December 1999 to over 24 years and 149,600 flight hours without a mishap. Despite a reduction in personnel by 40%, the command broke the previous record for embarked sorties by 17%. The command carried more passengers, mail and cargo to carriers at sea over any previous year.

Source material from the U.S. Navy.