VAW-117

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Carrier Airborne Command and Control Squadron One One Seven
Electronic
warfare
E-2D Hawkeye

Airborne Command & Control Squadron 117 (VAW-117) is an

Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) on board USS Abraham Lincoln
. [check quotation syntax]

History

1970s

Established at

NAS Miramar. On 15 October 1975, VAW-117 departed on its first deployment on board USS Independence as part of Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) to the Mediterranean Sea.[1] The squadron again deployed with the USS Independence from March to October 1977.[2] In 1978, the squadron was assigned to the operational control of Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) on board USS Ranger (CV-61), and in February 1979 began its first deployment to the Western Pacific (WESTPAC).[3]

1980s

An E-2B Hawkeye of VAW-117, in 1980.

VAW-117 again deployed in September 1980 with the USS Ranger and CVW-2,[4] returning home in May 1981. Then in October the squadron completed the five month transition from the E-2B to the E-2C.[5] In 1982, VAW-117 along with CVW-2 swapped to embarking aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and on 1 September 1980 departed on their first deployment with the E-2C.[6]

In 1988, on board

Operation Classic Resolve returning home in March 1990.[9]

1990s

From September to November 1990, VAW-117 was embarked on

Operation Restore Hope.[12]
In January 1994 VAW-117 transitioned to the E-2C Group II aircraft with the APS-145 radar.

Following a Congressional repeal of Title 10 USC 6015 (law barring women from combatant ships) in November 1993, the Wallbangers welcomed their first female Aviator and Officer on 8 March 1994, and first female enlisted service member on 23 July 1994.[13][14]

After a WESTPAC deployment between April and October 1995, VAW-117 and CVW-11 swapped to the

Operation Desert Fox. In 1999, VAW-117 was selected to provide operational testing for the Navy's newest AEW upgrade, the MCU/ACIS (Mission Computer Upgrade/ Advance Computer Information System).[3]

2000s

A VAW-117 E-2C conducts a flyover, 2007.

In July 2001, VAW-117 was the first squadron to deploy with the new MCU/ACIS system. WESTPAC 2001–02 on board USS Carl Vinson proved to be an active deployment. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, aircraft from VAW-117 and CVW-11 were among the first aircraft to lead the strikes on Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The extensive radar and communication equipment on board the E-2C Hawkeye allowed the squadron to continuously provided battle space management over Pakistan and southern Afghanistan, ensuring the safety of all airborne assets and clearance from commercial air routes. The squadron's Hawkeyes served as an information-clearing house, providing a communications relay between command authorities on the ground and tactical aircraft airborne. VAW-117 was the first fleet squadron to receive the HE-2K variant of the Hawkeye and also the first fleet Hawkeye squadron to receive the Cooperative Engagement Capability system (CEC).[3]

In May 2005, VAW-117 deployed on USS Nimitz (CVN-68) with CVW-11 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This was VAW-117's first deployment with the HE2K variant. During the deployment, VAW-117 flew into Karachi, Pakistan, and Goa, India, to display the E-2C to partner nations. The Nimitz while on deployment visited Hong Kong; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Guam; Manama, Bahrain; Dubai, UAE; Perth, Australia; and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, twice.[3]

In April 2007 VAW-117 deployed on WESTPAC 2007. The squadron flew 101 sorties and 227 hours in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Iraq War. It also took part in several exercises including Valiant Shield and

Malabar
.

In January 2008 the squadron deployed on a four-month surge to the Western Pacific, where it took part in Exercise Foal Eagle 08. During the course of the cruise, VAW-117 demonstrated its aviation skills, earning the CVW-11 Top Hook Award for the first time in nearly eight years.

In 2009, CDR Valerie Overstreet took command of VAW-117 and became the first female E-2 Hawkeye squadron Commanding Officer.[16]

CDR Overstreet conducts preflight inspections, October 2009.

2010s

NAS Point Mugu
in November 2012.

In April 2013 the squadron deployed with CVW-11 on board USS Nimitz in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. It ended up being an extended deployment of eight months and they returned on 10 December 2013. During the deployment, due to their outstanding landing grades earned them the coveted "Golden Hook" award for having the best overall landing performance of the fixed-wing squadrons.[17]

In January 2015 the squadron transferred to

Carrier Air Wing 7 (CVW-7) aboard USS Harry S. Truman
.

In 2016, VAW-117 was awarded the Battle Efficiency Award while on board USS John C. Stennis.[3]

2020s

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS) takes-off during a U.S. Air Force Weapons School (USAFWS)
Integration, November 2020.

On 1 January 2020, the squadron was redesignated from Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117 to Airborne Command and Control Squadron 117 along with the other 9 United States Navy E-2C/D squadrons to reflect the expanded role and responsibilities of the aircraft outside its original AEW focus.[18] Later in 2020, VAW-117 transitioned from the E-2C to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.[19]

A VAW-117 E-2D Hawkeye in flight with a F-35C of VMFA-314, January 2021.

See also

References

  1. ^ "VAW-117 Command History 1975" (PDF). History.Navy.Mil. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  2. ^ "VAW-117 Command History 1977" (PDF). History.Navy.Mil. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "CACCLW - VAW-117 Squadron". www.cacclw.navy.mil. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  4. ^ "VAW-117 Command History 1980" (PDF). History.Navy.Mil. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  5. ^ "VAW-117 Command History 1981" (PDF). History.Navy.Mil. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  6. ^ "VAW-117 Command History 1982" (PDF). History.Navy.Mil. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  7. ^ "The Air View: Operation Praying Mantis". U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  8. ^ a b "VAW-117 Command History 1988" (PDF). History.Navy.Mil. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  9. ^ "1989 Command History" (PDF). History.Navy.Mil. 24 April 1990. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  10. ^ "1990 Command History" (PDF). History.Navy.Mil. 28 February 1991. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Command History" (PDF). History.Navy.Mil. 31 March 1992. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  12. ^ "1993 Command History" (PDF). History.Navy.Mil. 14 March 1994. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Twenty-five Years of Women Aboard Combatant Vessels". History.Navy.Mil. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  14. ^ "1994 Command History" (PDF). History.Navy.Mil. 6 March 1995. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Command History" (PDF). History.Navy.Mil. 8 September 1997. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  16. ^ Hadley, Scott (6 February 2009). "Commander to be the Navy's first female leader of Hawkeye squadron". Ventura County Star. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  17. ^ Affairs, This story was written by Lt. Ryan Rankin, VAW-117 Public. "Wallbangers Return Home from 8-month Deployment". Retrieved 17 March 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Burgess, Richard (25 February 2020). "Navy E-2 Hawkeye Squadrons Renamed to Reflect Expanded Capabilities". Sea Power. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  19. ^ Seelbach, Ryan (16 May 2020). "VAW-117 carrier qualifies on Ford, transitions to E-2D Advanced Hawkeye". Aerotech News. Retrieved 8 April 2023.

External links

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