Carrier Air Wing One

Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65).^[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.

Subordinate units

CVW-1 consists of 8 Squadrons^[2]

History

Carrier Air Wing One has been in commission longer than any other Navy Air Wing. Since commissioning on 1 July 1938, CVW-1 has served aboard twenty different aircraft carriers, made 42 major deployments, and had a majority of the East Coast squadrons as members of the Navy’s "First and Foremost." CVW-1 was originally the "Ranger Air Group", serving aboard USS Ranger during the early years of carrier aviation. The air wing also operated aboard all three carriers in commission at that time - USS Langley, USS Lexington, and USS Saratoga.^[1]

World War II

After the commencement of World War II, and until 1943, The air wing participated in the North African Campaign and operated in all parts of the Atlantic and Pacific. The air wing saw action against Japan from the Philippines to Tokyo, earning two Presidential Unit Citations in addition to having nurtured many Naval Aviation heroes.^[1]

Suez Crisis & Vietnam

From 1946 and 1957, Air Wing ONE served aboard nine different carriers, including the first "Super Carrier", USS Forrestal, during the 1956-57 Suez Crisis. Between June 1966 and February 1967, CVW-1 conducted combat operations off the coast of Vietnam aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1975 onboard USS John F. Kennedy, CVW-1 introduced the Navy’s newest tactical aircraft, the F-14A Tomcat and the S-3A Viking, to the Mediterranean.^[1]

1980s

CVW-1 was assigned to USS America in mid-1982, forming a partnership which ended with the ship’s decommissioning in August 1996. During that time, the USS America/CVW-1 team conducted combat operations during the attack on Libya in 1986.^[1]

Gulf War

The USS America/CVW-1 team was the only carrier battle group to launch strikes in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from both the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.^[1]

With America’s decommissioning in August 1996, the air wing joined the USS George Washington battle group. CVW-1 and USS George Washington returned on 3 April 1998 from their first deployment in their 2-year association.^[1]

Following their deployment with USS George Washington, CVW-1 returned to USS John F. Kennedy after a 24 year absence, and then deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf.^[1]

Current force

Fixed-wing aircraft

• F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
• F/A-18 Hornet
• EA-6B Prowler
• E-2 Hawkeye

Rotary wing aircraft

• SH-60F Seahawk
• HH-60H Seahawk

See also

• History of the United States Navy
• List of United States Navy Carrier air wings

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} "Carrier Air Wing One (CVW 1)". Global Security.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/cvw1.htm. Retrieved 29 December 2006. 
2. ^ "Carrier Air Wing Composition". US Navy. Tailhook Association. http://www.tailhook.net/AirWingCompositionMarch07.pdf. Retrieved 4 April 2007.