Carrier Air Wing Eleven
Carrier Air Wing Eleven | |
---|---|
Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation (2) Navy Unit Commendation (2) |
Commanders | |
Commander | CAPT Andrew "GRAND" Mariner |
Deputy Commander | CAPT Ross "JR" Drenning |
Command Master Chief | CMDCM. Cristopher Silva |
Insignia | |
Call sign | Barbwire |
Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) 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 Theodore Roosevelt.[1]
Mission
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.[2]
Subordinate units
CVW-11 consists of nine squadrons.[3]
Code | Insignia | Squadron | Nickname | Assigned Aircraft |
---|---|---|---|---|
VFA-25 | Strike Fighter Squadron 25 | Fist of the Fleet | F/A-18E Super Hornet
| |
VFA-34 | Strike Fighter Squadron 34 | Blue Blasters | F/A-18E Super Hornet
| |
VFA-211 | Strike Fighter Squadron 211
|
Fighting Checkmates | F/A-18E Super Hornet | |
VFA-154 | Strike Fighter Squadron 154 | Black Knights | F/A-18F Super Hornet
| |
VAQ-137 | Electronic Attack Squadron 137 | Rooks | EA-18G Growler
| |
VAW-115 | Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 115 | Liberty Bells | E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
| |
VRM-30 | Fleet Logistics Multi-Missions Squadron 30, Detachment 3 | Titans | CMV-22B Osprey | |
HSC-8 | Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 8 | Eightballers | MH-60S Seahawk
| |
HSM-75 | Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 75 | Wolfpack | MH-60R Seahawk
|
History
World War II
Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) was previously designated Carrier Air Group Eleven (CVG-11) and (CVAG-11).
On 10 October 1942 at Naval Air Station San Diego, four squadrons joined to form Carrier Air Group Eleven (CVG-11). Bombing Squadron Eleven (VB-11), Fighting Squadron Eleven (VF-11), Scouting Squadron Eleven (VS-11) and Torpedo Squadron Eleven (VT-11). In late October the entire air group was sent to Hawaii. VB-11, VS-11 and VT-11 were stationed at NAS Barbers Point on Oahu and VF-11 was sent to NAS Maui. While at Maui, the pilots of VF-11 trained and enjoyed the hospitality of the von Tempsky ranch. Boyd, Maria and Alexa von Tempsky made sure VF-11 had a place to relax when they were not flying.
In February 1943 the Air Group embarked on USS Altamaha and USS Long Island en route to Nandi in the Fijian Islands. CVG-11 continued to train and fly simulated combat missions. By the time CVG-11 arrived in the Pacific combat zone only one aircraft carrier was operational. This meant the entire air group would be land based at Guadalcanal.
On 25 April 1943 CVG-11 arrived at
On 8 June 1943 the Air Group suffered a great loss. The men of VT-11 were granted a leave to Australia. While leaving New Caledonia, one of the three transport planes crashed killing all 24 men on board. Included in the casualties were Air Group Commander Weldon L. Hamilton and 16 pilots and aircrew from VT-11.
On 16 June 1943 twenty eight pilots of VF-11 engaged an estimated 120 Japanese planes and shot down 31. On 1 August 1943 CVG-11 left Guadalcanal and boarded USS Chenango, USS St. Louis and USS Honolulu. They arrived back at NAS Alameda two weeks later. Upon return to the US, CVG-11 trained for their next assignment: carrier operations.
Three air groups flew into combat on board USS Hornet during World War II. Air Group Eleven replaced Air Group Two on 29 September 1944. While on board USS Hornet, CVG-11 attacked targets on Okinawa, Formosa, the Philippines, French Indo China and Hong Kong. The Air Group was tested daily by threat of kamikaze attacks against the ship, foul weather and intense anti-aircraft fire over the intended targets. The pilots of VF-11 were most proud of the fact that no VB-11 or VT-11 aircraft were lost to enemy fighter planes. Their top ace was Charles R. Stimpson with 16 victories. By the end of January 1945 the pilots and aircrews of Air Group Eleven claimed the following: 105 enemy planes shot down, 272 planes destroyed on the ground, over 100,000 tons of enemy shipping sunk, and over 100 Japanese ships damaged. These great accomplishments did not come without a price. In four months of flying. CVG-11 lost over 50 aircraft and had more than 60 men killed, missing-in-action or wounded. Air Group Eleven was replaced by Air Group Seventeen on 1 February 1945. They arrived back in Alameda on 24 February 1945. For these operations, CVG-11 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.[4]
An exhibit honoring Carrier Air Group Eleven (CVG-11) is on board the
In 2014 filmmaker George Retelas released the documentary Eleven which described the operation of CVG-11 via interviews with eleven of its surviving World War II veterans.[5]
After the war, the navy changed the designation scheme for its Carrier Air Groups designating Air Groups configured for the Essex-class carrier CVAGs, those configured for the larger Midway-class carrier CVBGs, those configured for the light carriers of the Independence and Saipan classes CVLGs and those configured for remaining World War II escort carriers CVEGs. CVG-11 became CVAG-11. On 1 September 1948 the designation scheme was again changed, and all CVAGs and CVBGs reverted to CVGs and CVEGs and CVLGs were disestablished. CVAG-11 became CVG-11 for the second time.
Korean War
During the
Vietnam War and the 1970s
CVG-11 deployed on board
CVW-11 set numerous records for the Vietnam War, including a 61-day line period, which was the longest for the war. Prior to the limited bombing announcement, CVW-11 bombed targets in North Vietnam, striking enemy power plants, rail yards and lines of transports and communications. CVW-11's sustained presence in the region was instrumental in the defense of Khe Sanh. CVW-11 broke all records for combat sorties flown and ordnance dropped during its sixth WESTPAC deployment during November 1970 and July 1971, although it was short lived as the air wing broke its own record during the following deployment in 1972 under command of CAPT Doug McCrimmon, as they were deployed due to the Communist offensive, where CVW-11 deployed 107 aircraft, the largest Air Wing ever under the new CV Air Wing concept, which included tactical aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft on the same carrier. The 1973–1974 deployment was highlighted by an air power demonstration for the Shah of Iran and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff while deployed to the Indian Ocean.
During the 1975 deployment, CVW-11 and Kitty Hawk deployed for their first non-combat cruise in nine years, which followed with two more deployments in 1975 and 1977. The 1977 cruise was the first with the
1980s
In 1982 the Air Wing deployed once more on board America before CVW-11 switched carriers once again and deployed four times with
During the 1988 cruise, CVW-11 saw action in the
The Air Wing made its final deployment with Enterprise from September 1989 to March 1990, which included several exercises with
1990s
The 1990s followed with major changes to the air wing. The
The 1993 deployment saw
CVW-11 supported
During the following three months, CVW-11 supported Operation Southern Watch, conducting 15 strikes during this period. On 5 January 1999, two F-14Ds launched two
2000s
In 2001 another deployment followed, which was planned to support OSW, but soon after 11 September 2001, Carl Vinson and CVW-11 departed for the Indian Ocean and aircraft from the air wing as among the first to launch strikes against Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
After returning home, CVW-11 was reassigned to Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five and
After its return, VFA-97 was replaced by
In 2007 CVW-11 deployed on board USS Nimitz for a WESTPAC cruise and participated in Operation Valiant Shield, a joint-force exercise in the vicinity of Guam.
On 18 January 2008, it was announced that CVW-11 would deploy on 24 January to the Pacific for a surge-deployment on board Nimitz.
On 19 May 2009 just before midnight, an HH-60H helicopter from the air wing crashed into the ocean 13 miles (21 km) south of San Diego and about 76 nautical miles (141 km) from Nimitz. As of 20 May, three crewmembers were confirmed dead with two more still missing.[13]
On 28 July it was announced that CVW-11 and the Nimitz Strike Group was to depart for a seven-month deployment on 31 July.[14]
Nimitz Strike Group, including CVW-11, departed the States for a scheduled Western Pacific deployment on 31 July 2009, and began to fly combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on 21 September.[15]
On 11 June 2012, during carrier qualifications, the air wing commander, Captain Greg Harris, completed his 1000th arrested landing when he flew his
CVW-11 made two additional deployments aboard Nimitz in 2013 and 2017, before being reassigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt in 2019. After participating in Exercise Northern Edge off Alaska in May 2019, CVW-11 was deployed aboard the Roosevelt in 2020, 2021 and 2024.[17]
Current force
Fixed-wing aircraft
- F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
- F-35C Lightning II
- EA-18G Growler
- E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
- CMV-22B Osprey
Rotary wing aircraft
- MH-60S Knighthawk
- MH-60R Seahawk
See also
- History of the United States Navy
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- List of United States Navy Carrier air wings
- Carrier Strike Group Eleven
References
- ^ Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW 11) - Global Security.org - Access Date 1 January 2007
- ^ Carrier Air Wing 11 Command History Archived 5 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine – CVW-11 – U.S. Navy – Access Date 1 January 2007
- ^ Squadrons - Carrier Air Wing Eleven Archived 10 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine – CVW-11 – U.S. Navy – Access Date 9 January 2023
- ^ CVW-11 Command History Archived 20 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine – CVW-11 – U.S. Navy
- ^ "Eleven". IMDb. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "VA-95 Green Lizards attack squadron ATKRON NINE FIVE - US Navy". Seaforces.org. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ According to a post from author Tom Cooper - Tomcat Sunset
- ^ a b c Rausa, Zeno. Vinson CVW-11 Report: - "Wings of Gold" - Association of Naval Aviation - (c/o FindArticles-BNET) - Summer 1999
- ^ "Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Set to Deploy" Archived 22 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine - U.S. Navy - (c/o Navy.mil) - 1/18/2008
- ^ "Russian bomber buzzes U.S. aircraft carrier" - CNN – 11 February 2008
- ^ "Nimitz CSG Ships Arrive in South Korea for Port Visits" - U.S. Navy - (c/o Navy.mil) - 2/29/2008
- ^ "Russian bomber again intercepted near U.S. Navy ship" - Reuters – 3 March 2008
- Military Times, 20 May 2009.
- ^ "Nimitz Strike Group Set To Deploy". Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
- ^ "USS Nimitz Launches First Sorties, Support Coalition Troops in Afghanistan". Archived from the original on 23 September 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Robert Winn, USN (19 June 2012). "CVW 11 Commander Reaches 1,000 Traps". NNS120619-01. USS Nimitz Public Affairs. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ gonavy.jp (3 February 2024). "CVW-11". gonavy.jp. gonavy.jp. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
External links
- CVW-11 Archived 16 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine - U.S. Navy (Navy.mil)
- Focus on Carrier Air Wing 11 - U.S. Navy (Navy.mil)
- Command History – Carrier Air Wing Eleven
- Carrier Air Wing Eleven by Rick Llinares - Naval Aviation News - January–February 2005