VAW-11

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 11
Active 6 July 1948 - 1976
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
Type airborne early warning
Nickname "Early Elevens"
A Grumman E-1B Tracer of VAW-11, circa 1964.

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 11 (VAW-11), was an aviation unit of the United States Navy in service from 1948 to 1976.

VAW-11, nicknamed the Early Elevens, was a airborne early warning squadron, whose mission was to provide services to fleet forces and shore warning networks, under all weather conditions. The squadron was also responsible for combat air patrol and ASW missions. It was based at NAS North Island in San Diego, California, but had detachments serving aboard 13 attack carriers and antisubmarine carriers in the Pacific Fleet.[1]

Operational History

In 1948, the squadron was commissioned as VAW-1, then redesignated Fleet Composite Squadron 11 (VC-11) one month later. the squadron was first equipped with the Grumman TBM-3W Avenger. VC-11 worked on developing the airborne early warning (AEW) concept, and in 1950 deployed detachments that provided ASW and AEW protection throughout the Korean War, flying the Douglas AD-3W/4W Skyraider. These were later replaced by the AD-5W. In 1958, the squadron received AD-5Q variant and Grumman TF-1Q Trader variant aircraft, which jointly added electronic warfare to its capabilities. Both aircraft were later employed by VAW-13, which was trained by VAW-11 and commissioned in 1961. In 1959 the squadron received Grumman WF-2 Tracer, commonly known as "Willy Fudds" or "Stoof with a Roof" (as it was developed from the Grumman S2F "Stoof"). In July 1960, it deployed its first Grumman Tracer detachment to the Western Pacific.[2]

In 1962, the AD-5W was redesignated EA-1E and the WF-2 became the E-1B. In early 1964, the squadron began receiving Grumman E-2A Hawkeye. This aircraft required very extensive ground support, particularly for its complex avionics system, causing the squadron to grow significantly in maintenance inventory and headcount. By 1966, VAW-11 had become the U.S. Navy's largest carrier-based squadron, providing E-2A detachments to large attack carriers and E-1B detachments to smaller Essex-class aircraft carriers. To increase efficiency and combat readiness, all E-2A detachments were commissioned as individual squadrons on 20 April 1967, and VAW-11 was redesignated as VAW-111 "Hunters".[2] The squadron was renamed "Grey Berets" in 1974 and decommissioned in 1976.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Squadron Insignia, VAW-11" (PDF). Naval Aviation News: 41. 2006-03-01. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Command History, VAW-11 & VAW-112" (PDF). Naval History & Heritage Command. 1969-09-05. Retrieved 2014-02-02.