Carrier Air Wing Eleven

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Carrier Air Wing Eleven
CVW-11 Insignia
Active	27 October 1942 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	US Navy
Type	Carrier Air Wing
Part of	United States Pacific Fleet
Garrison/HQ	NAS Lemoore USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
Nickname	"Barbwire"
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Operation Southern Watch Operation Restore Hope Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation (2) Navy Unit Commendation (2)

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 Nimitz (CVN-68).^[1]

1 Mission
2 Subordinate units
3 History
4 Current force
- 4.1 Fixed wing aircraft
- 4.2 Rotary wing aircraft
5 See also
6 References

[edit] 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]

[edit] Subordinate units

CVW-11 consists of 8 Squadrons^[3]

Strike Fighter Squadron 14
Strike Fighter Squadron 41
Strike Fighter Squadron 81
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232
VAW-117 Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117
Carrier Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 135
VRC-30 Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 Det. 3
HS-6 Helicopter Anit-submarine Squadron 6

[edit] History

[edit] World War II

Commissioned on Navy Day, 1942, the Air Wing has recorded a significant number of “Firsts” in attaining its place as one of the Navy’s top fighting organizations. In June 1943, the pilots of Air Group Eleven conducted the first daylight raids during fighting in the Solomon and New Georgia operations of World War II. They also took part in the Air Strikes on Leyte Gulf, Indochina, Formosa and the China Mainland. For the above operations, the Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to the Air Group for its extraordinary achievements against the enemy.^[1]

[edit] Korean War

During the Korean conflict, Carrier Air Group Eleven was the first Naval Air Group to engage and down MIG jet fighters. The Air Group was instrumental in keeping the Pusan Perimeter from collapsing in the early phases of the conflict, and participated in other significant actions such as the Inchon Invasion, the Wonson Landing and the highly successful movement from the Chosin Reservoir. With the addition of the RA-5C Vigilante, A-6A Intruder and E-2 Hawkeye, Air Group Eleven deployed onboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) to the Seventh Fleet on October 1965 with the most modern, complex strike group ever assembled and evaluated under wartime conditions.^[1]

[edit] Vietnam War

During the period of December 1965 to May 1966, the Air Wing conducted Air Strikes against targets in North and South Vietnam and delivered more ordnance than any other Strike group. The Navy Unit Commendation was awarded to the USS Kitty Hawk and Air Wing Eleven in November 1966 for their superior performance. In August 1967, Air Wing Eleven and USS Kitty Hawk were again awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for their efforts in the Vietnam Conflict from December 1966 to May 1967. The Attack Carrier and Air Wing Eleven became the first Ship/Air Wing to receive the Presidential Unit Commendation for performance during the Vietnam Conflict. The Citation for USS Kitty Hawk/Air Wing Eleven was approved for operations conducted from December 1976 through June 1968 as part of the United States Seventh Fleet. Carrier Air Wing Eleven set numerous records for the Vietnam Conflict, foremost of which was a 61 day line period, longest for a war. Prior to the limited bombing announcement, Air Wing Eleven ranged the length of North Vietnam striking enemy power plants, rail yards, and lines of transportation and communications and were instrumental in the defense of Khe Sanh.^[1]

During Attack Carrier Air Wing Eleven’s sixth WESTPAC deployment (November 70-July 71) she again broke all previous records for combat sorties flown and ordnance delivered. This record was short lived, however, for during her seventh deployment she again broke all records. Deployed early due to the 1972 Communist offensive, USS Kitty Hawk and Air Wing Eleven deployed with 107 aircraft to form the world’s largest Air Wing under the new CV concept.^[1]

[edit] 1990's

Air Wing Eleven underwent major changes during the 1990. A-7E’s were replaced the F/-18 Hornets, SH-3’s were replaced with SH-60 Seahawks, two of which are specially configured for combat search and rescue. Other aircraft underwent major upgrades which include the E-2C and the A-6E SWIP. The Air Wing deployed on the Navy’s newest carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on its maiden voyage around South America enroute to its new home base in Alameda, California. Highlights of this voyage include interactive exercises with the Military forces of Argentina and Chile.^[1]

[edit] Gulf War

The outbreak of Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf, required the Air Wing/Lincoln training schedule to be greatly compressed for an early deployment. In May 1991, Carrier Air Wing Eleven deployed to the Persian Gulf. Prior to reaching the Gulf, the Air Wing/Lincoln team was instrumental in supporting Operation Fiery Vigil, the evacuation of U.S. dependents from Subic Bay during the Mt. Pinatubo eruptions in the Philippines.^[1]

Battle Group Foxtrot became the first carrier battle group to operate in the Gulf during the summer months, enduring the extreme heat of the region coupled with the reduced visibility due to Kuwait oil fires. During the postwar period, the air wing established bonds of friendship and military interoperability with the Gulf Coast nations and multinational coalition which will stabilize this critical region and benefit the United States interest for years to come.^[1]

Carrier Air Wing Eleven, in cooperation with USS Abraham Lincoln, completed two Persian Gulf Deployments (July 1993 and October 1995) and flew thousands of missions into Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch. Upon the Air Wing Eleven departure from the Persian Gulf, it conducted a 24-hour notice high speed transit to the coast of Somalia and provided air support to the United Nations during Operation Restore Hope, and remained on station until November 1993.^[1]

Upon completion of their cruise with USS Lincoln, Carrier Air Wing Eleven was reunited with her first carrier the USS Kitty Hawk and made an intense one year turnaround training cycle before embarking on another six month deployment to the Western Pacific/Persian Gulf. During the deployment, Air Wing Eleven/Kitty Hawk team provided three months of support to Operation Southern Watch supported United Nations Security Council Resolution 986 – Oil for Food – and also conducted bilateral operations with Kuwait and Pakistan.^[1]

On 9 November 1998, the Carrier Air Wing Eleven team embarked USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) for another six month deployment. During this WESTPAC cruise, the air wing completed 8698 sorties and 17,398.3 flight hours with a 94.7 percent completion rate. Carrier Air Wing Eleven/USS Carl Vinson team was highly successful in support of Operations Desert Fox and Southern Watch protecting the interests of the United States and enforcing United Nations resolutions. Carrier Air Wing Eleven completed a highly successful WESTPAC with all personnel and aircraft returning safely home in May 1999.^[1]