VAW-113
Encyclopedia
VAW-113, known as "The World Famous Black Eagles", was commissioned as a squadron on April 29, 1967. One week later, VAW-113 deployed to the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) flying the E-2 Hawkeye
E-2 Hawkeye
The Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is an American all-weather, aircraft carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning aircraft. This twin-turboprop aircraft was designed and developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s by the Grumman Aircraft Company for the United States Navy as a replacement for the...

 aboard USS Constellation (CV-64)
USS Constellation (CV-64)
USS Constellation , a Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the "new constellation of stars" on the flag of the United States and the only naval vessel ever authorized to display red, white, and blue designation numbers...

. VAW-113 served in Vietnamese Operations every year from 1967 to 1975. The culmination of these efforts occurred in May 1975, when VAW-113 played a vital role in Operation Frequent Wind
Operation Frequent Wind
Operation Frequent Wind was the evacuation by helicopter of American civilians and 'at-risk' Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, on 29–30 April 1975 during the last days of the Vietnam War...

, the evacuation of American forces from South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...

.

Deployments

Since commissioning, the Black Eagles have made nineteen WESTPAC deployments. Tactical innovators, VAW-113 was the first E-2 squadron to operate with the F-14A and F-14D Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...

, and the F/A-18 Hornet
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...

, providing substantial input to the tactical development and utilization of these platforms in the Outer Air Battle, Medium Range Anti-Air and overland arenas.

1990s

During their western pacific (WESTPAC) '90 cruise, VAW-113 again deployed to the Gulf of Oman
Gulf of Oman
The Gulf of Oman or Sea of Oman is a strait that connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, which then runs to the Persian Gulf. It is generally included as a branch of the Persian Gulf, not as an arm of the Arabian Sea. On the north coast is Pakistan and Iran...

, providing both sea and air cover to Battle Group Delta and allied forces in the Persian Gulf as one of the first units deployed after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
Invasion of Kuwait
The Invasion of Kuwait, also known as the Iraq-Kuwait War, was a major conflict between the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait, which resulted in the seven-month long Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, which subsequently led to direct military intervention by United States-led forces in the Gulf...

 in August 1990. The Black Eagles spent over three months in the Gulf of Oman in support of Operation Desert Shield prior to their return to San Diego in December 1990.

In May 1992, the Black Eagles and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen
Carrier Air Wing Fourteen
Carrier Air Wing Fourteen , is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.-Mission:...

 (CVW-14) took part in Roving Sands, the largest integrated air defense exercise in the continental United States. This was the first operational employment and successful test of the then cutting edge technology incorporated in the E-2C Group II. Significant improvements in this aircraft over its predecessors are its APS-145 radar, Joint Tactical Information Distribution System
Joint Tactical Information Distribution System
The Joint Tactical Information Distribution System is an L band TDMA network radio system used by the United States armed forces and their allies to support data communications needs, principally in the air and missile defense community...

 (JTIDS), enhanced high speed processor (EHSP) computer, and Allison T56-A-427 engines.

In August 1994, VAW-113 again deployed to WESTPAC/Persian Gulf, serving as an integral part of CVW-14 and Battle Group Charlie on board USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
The USS Carl Vinson is the third United States Navy Nimitz class supercarrier and is named after Carl Vinson, a Congressman from Georgia. Carl Vinson's callsign is "Gold Eagle". It played host to the first NCAA basketball game on an aircraft carrier on 11/11/11 between the University of North...

. While in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...

, VAW-113 aircrews acted as Navy Command and Control liaison officers in Saudi Arabia to Joint Task Force Southwest Asia, U.S. Air Force E-3A
E-3 Sentry
The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system developed by Boeing as the prime contractor. Derived from the Boeing 707, it provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, and is used by the United States Air Force , NATO, Royal Air Force , French Air Force...

 AWACS and RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft. During the first operational deployment of the E-2C Group II "Hawkeye", the Black Eagles supported international relations by providing direct support and demonstration flights, in addition to static displays, for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
The , or JASDF, is the aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace and other aerospace operations. The JASDF carries out combat air patrols around Japan, while also maintaining an extensive network of ground and air early warning radar systems...

, the Republic of Singapore Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...

 and Air Force
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...

 and the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...

.

The year 1995 saw the Black Eagles making a two month detachment to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico supporting Joint Inter-Agency Task Force (JIATF) East's war against drugs. The Black Eagles also became the first E-2C squadron to graduate a Weapons Tactics Instructor from the Marine Air Weapons Tactics Squadron course. Lessons learned helped to integrate the E-2C platform into roles of Direct Air Support Center-Airborne (DASC(A)), Tactical Air Control-Airborne (TAC(A)), and Airborne Battlefield Command, Control and Communications (ABCCC) platform. The squadron also made their second appearance at Roving Sands 1995. Cruising with USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in August 1995, the squadron witnessed history while participating in the celebration of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 50th anniversary in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Fourteen WWII-era aircraft, including three B-25s, two F-4U
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...

s, and a TBF Avenger
TBF Avenger
The Grumman TBF Avenger was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world....

 were deck launched for the last time.

In May 1996, the Black Eagles made their fifteenth WESTPAC deployment, aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Operations Desert Strike
Operation Desert Strike
The 1996 cruise missile strikes on Iraq occurred in September 1996 during the Kurdish Civil War. On August 31, 1996, the Iraqi military launched its biggest offensive since 1991 against the city of Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. This attack stoked American fears that Saddam intended to launch a...

 and Southern Watch kept the Black Eagles busy during their time spent in the Persian Gulf. Port visits along the way included Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tasmania.

The Black Eagles again deployed on WESTPAC in June 1998, aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
USS Abraham Lincoln , is the fifth Nimitz-class supercarrier in the United States Navy. She is the second Navy ship named after former president Abraham Lincoln. Her home port is Everett, Washington.-Construction:...

. The squadron’s departure marked the end of its basing at NAS Miramar. While on station in the Persian Gulf, VAW-113 flew missions supporting Operation Southern Watch. Port visits during the highly successful cruise included Hong Kong, Singapore, Jebel Ali, Perth, Hobart, and Hawaii. At the end of cruise, the Black Eagles launched from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), flying into their new home at NAS Point Mugu, CA. VAW-113’s tactical prowess throughout the year was recognized by the Battle Efficiency "E" award for 1998.

2000s

The squadron began WESTPAC 2000-01 on August 20, 2000 aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
USS Abraham Lincoln , is the fifth Nimitz-class supercarrier in the United States Navy. She is the second Navy ship named after former president Abraham Lincoln. Her home port is Everett, Washington.-Construction:...

. The main focus of the deployment was to conduct Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...

 (OSW) and to maintain economic sanctions against Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

. The squadron received their fifth Battle Efficiency “E” for its outstanding work during the year 2000. In addition, the squadron earned the CNO Aviation Safety Award for E-2 squadrons. Finally, the Black Eagles received the Rear Admiral Frank Akers award for Airborne Early Warning excellence as the outstanding E-2 squadron in the entire Navy. In 2003, VAW-113 found themselves on the way back to the Persian Gulf to support, for a second time, Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...

. On the way home, the ship was turned around in Australia and sent back to the Gulf. The middle of March saw the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the Black Eagles at the tip of the spear. In April, the mission of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Group was complete and the Black Eagles were finally on their way home.

In May 2004, the Black Eagles of VAW-113 deployed on board the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)
USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)
USS John C. Stennis is the seventh Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the United States Navy, named for Senator John C. Stennis of Mississippi. She was commissioned on 9 December 1995...

. The USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) headed north and the Black Eagles were tasked with conducting the business of airborne command and control in the frigid waters of the Gulf of Alaska. Here the Black Eagles participated in Operation Northern Edge. Operating jointly with Air Force and Navy assets, the Strike Group practiced Maritime Interdiction and Defensive Counter Air missions.

During the last three weeks of July, the Black Eagles were able to enjoy the warmer climate of the Hawaiian Operating Area and participate in “Rim of the Pacific” Exercise. This multinational exercise reaffirmed U.S. alliances throughout the Pacific. Following this exercise, the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) joined up with the for a Joint Air and Sea Exercise (JASEX). This second annual joint exercise sprawled across the Pacific from the Sea of Japan to the South China Sea. The Carrier Strike Groups focused on the arduous duties of round the clock flight operations and battle space management. At times the JASEX had to be halted so each CSG could maneuver away from oncoming typhoons. In the end, the CSGs had to maneuver around seven storms and typhoons. In the final days of October 2004, the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Carrier Strike Group returned to its homeport in San Diego, California.

In January 2006, the Black Eagles, along with the CVW-14 and CSG-7 team, joined the on its maiden voyage out of San Diego, CA. The Carrier Strike Group transited the Western Pacific to relieve the Carrier Strike Group Two
Carrier Strike Group Two
Carrier Strike Group Two, abbreviated CSG-2 or CARSTRKGRU 2, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned the United States Fleet Forces Command. U.S...

, led by the carrier , in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...

. In support of Operation Sea Dragon III, the Black Eagles paved the way for the future of the Hawkeye community as the first squadron to employ the new ALQ-217 ESM system. In addition, VAW-113 flew over 100 sorties, with a 99% combat sortie completion rate, in support of convoys on the ground during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 99% sortie completion rate was only made possible by the outstanding young men of the World Famous Airframe shop. These highly motivated and hard working sailors were the finest the Navy had to offer. On the way home, the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) met up with the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Strike Groups for the first ever Operation Valiant Shield.

In January 2007, the Black Eagles again deployed with the CVW-14 and CSG-7 team, on board the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
USS Ronald Reagan is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class, she is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989...

 on a Surge/Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment in which they took part in exercise Foal Eagle
Foal Eagle
Foal Eagle is an annual combined Field Training Exercise conducted between the Republic of Korea and United States armed forces under the auspices of Combined Forces Command within the Korean Theater of Operations . It is one of the largest military exercises conducted annually in the world...

. The Black Eagles returned home in April 2007.

In May 2008, the Black Eagles, along with CVW-14 and CSG-7 embarked on board the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
USS Ronald Reagan is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class, she is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989...

 for a Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment. This was a very successful deployment for the Black Eagles. During the WESTPAC, the Black Eagles provided support for Operation Enduring Freedom and following a typhoon, took part in humanitarian efforts for the Philippine Islands. In addition, VAW-113 flew over 400 sorties with a 98% completion rate, won the CVW-14 Golden Wrench award for maintenance excellence and earned yet another Battle Efficiency “E” award for outstanding work.

In May 2009, the Black Eagles, along with CVW-14 and CSG-7 embarked on board the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
USS Ronald Reagan is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class, she is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989...

 for the SURGE 09 deployment. This deployment was a very successful deployment for the Black Eagles, who posted a 99.6% mission completion rate and became back-to-back Battle Efficiency "E" award winners by winning the FY 09 award, as well as another CVW-14 Golden Wrench award for maintenance excellence.

Squadron awards

The Black Eagles have now surpassed forty-two years and 84,000 hours of mishap free aviation. They have been awarded:
  • The Joint Meritorious Unit Award
    Joint Meritorious Unit Award
    The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982...

  • Three Meritorious Unit Commendation
    Meritorious Unit Commendation
    The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....

     Medals
  • Nine Battle Efficiency "E" Awards (Back-to-Back '08 and '09 winners)
  • Two Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Naval Aviation Safety Awards
  • The Presidential Unit Citation
  • The Navy Expeditionary Medal
    Navy Expeditionary Medal
    The Navy Expeditionary Medal is an award of the United States Navy which was first created in August 1936 by General Orders of the Department of the Navy...

  • Two South West Asia Service Medals
  • Four Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
    The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy...

    s

External links

  • US Navy Patrol Squadrons
  • Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 113 (VAW-113) command histories – Naval History & Heritage Command

See also

  • History of the United States Navy
    History of the United States Navy
    The history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was also notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy", the result of a modernization effort that began in the...

  • List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
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