Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron OWE ONE TWO The "Golden Hawks" Squadron 112 (VAW-112) 1998, from MCAS Miramar, Carrier Airborne Early Warning ived at NAS Point Mugu, July VAW-112 was establishe April 20, 1967. At that time, VAW-1:L2 was assigned to Car ier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) and made three deployments operating the E-2A in the western Pacific in support of the Vietnam conflict aboard USS Enterprise, CVAN 65. 1 :In May 1970, squadron was temporarily disestablished and a 'stand down" status until activated again VAW-112, flying E-2Bfs, was assigned to three Western Pacific/Indian Ocean Ranger, CV 61, before Nimitz, CVN 68, for a In May 1979, the transitioned to the E-2C and again became part of February 1981. As part of CVW-9, VAW-112 made Pacific/Indian Ocean deplo!ments aboard CV 64, USS Ranger, CV-61,, and USS Kitty Hawk, 63. During this period, VAW- 112 awarded for 1979 and 1985. During 1989, VAW-112 t deployed aboard USS Nimitz for NORPA(3 89, and in August 1989, they became the first West Coast s~quadron to transi ion to the latest E-2C Plus aircraft. 1 In February and March f 1990, VAW-112 deployed aboard the U'SS Constellation, CV 64 'Around the Horn" of South America to Norfolk, Virgin's. Then in September 1990, the squad~con deployed to Howar Air Force Base, Panama, for a JTF-4 project. VAW-112 fi ished the year and entered 1991 with the CVW-9 workup sched le aboard USS Nimitz. In March l991 the sladron departed for the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, Northern Arabian Gulf cruise in support of Operations Deser Shield/Desert Storm aboard USS Nimi t z. 3 In December 1991, VAW- 12 deployed again to Howard Air Force Base, Panama for a J F-4 counter narcotics operation. VAW-1:L2 participated in j int and combined exercises in
1992 to include JADO/JEZ ih March and Roving Sands in May :Cn February 1993, VAW L12 deployed aboard USS Nimitz to the Pcrabian Gulf in supp rt of Operation Southern Watch, flying dnore than 1,000 hc Lrs. Upon returning, VAW-112 transiti~oned to the E-2C 3roup 11, a quantum leap in Carrier Airborne Early Warr ng. In November 1993, VAW-112 deployed to Naval Station GI lntanamo Bay, Cuba. The year of 1994 was for VAW-112, due to the USS included Red Air and Red JADO/;JEZ trials in March; Cold Lake, Alberta, Canad counter narcotics operation Following a rigorous squadron departed San Diego Nimi t i~ in December. After remaining on st departed the Gulf to suppo off the coast of Taiwan., squadron then headed for counter narcotics operation! Following a work up p deployed aboard USS John C Western Pacific/Indian Oce n year of numerous detachments Nimitzl dry dock period. These lag exercises during February;.oving Sands and Maple Flag in in June; and another JTF-4 Letachrnent in August. work-up cycle in 1995, the for the Arabian Gulf aboard USS tion for three months, VAW-112 t United States foreign policy :ter returning home in May, the Puerto Rico in mid July for at NAVSTA Roosevelt Roads. Iluring a 1997 work-up :ycle for an 'Around the World" DeplojpneDt in late July, he squadron participated in a Pacific Fleet Surge Exer ise. The squadron provided unparalleled battle space I rnagement support to the battle group for more than 96 cc tinuous hours. It was during this time that VAW-112 alsc surpassed a safety milestone - 27 years and more than 57 000 mishaps-free flight hours. They departed San Diego.n September 1997 on another "Around the World" deploymc lt. In 1997, the Golden Hawks were presented the Battle EM, the CNO Safety 'S" Award, and the Airborne Early Warn: ~g Excellence Award. The Golden Hawks depl lyed in July 1998 for a short detachment to Hawaii aboar the USS Kitty Hawk and later transferred the newest E- 3 Group I1 ~avigation Upgrade aircraft to VAW-115 home ba, 2s at NAF ~tsugi, Japan. riod in 1999, the Golden Hawks Stennis in January 2000 for a n cruise that included flight
I operat:io~s in support of Operation Southern Watch over Iraq. The Squadron wrappe up 2000 with counter narcotics operatzions in Puerto Ric in September and a carrier qualification detachment to Mazatlan, Mexico in December. TTAW-112 demonstrated Airborne Early Warning is done in 2001 with successf control detachments at NA.S Key West, Florida; Virginia; and NAS Fallon, Nevada. While sti their workup cycle leading to a 2002 Golden Hawks also particip~ated in Fleet India, providing air control services participating in the highest profile I :Cn July of 2001, the Golden Hawks left for Tailored Ships Ttaining Availabili y (TSTA). This was the first underway workups since the previous cruise. VAW-112 pulled in Seattle for 4 days an left again for Comprehensive Trainiing Unit Exercise (C MPTUEX). VAW-112 was called to defend the country after th September llth terrorist act on the World Trade Center in York City and on the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Around clock, the Golden Hawks stood alerts and flew the air defense of the entire western coast in support of Operation Noble Eagle. p Imediately followi g their actions in operation Noble Eagle, the Golden Ha ks left for Air Wing Fallon in Fallo~i, Nevada. VAW-112 inished an accelerated training schedule and deployed two m nths early in mid-november 2001 along with the rest of Carr'er Air Wing Nine (CW-9) aboard the USS John C. Stennis, VN 74. After a swift transit across the pacific, includ ng port calls in Hong Kong and Singapore, the squadron c mmenced combat operations over Afghanistan in mid-decembe. The squadron accumulated over 2,095 hours, 500 sorties, a d logging 666 arrested landings in support of Operation End ring Freedom. The Golden Hawks returned home to Naval Bas Ventura County at Pt. Mugu at the end of May, 2002, en oying port calls in Perth and Hobart, Australia during th transit home. 1Jpan returning trans:^ tion to the Controller Indicator version of the featured new controllers completed training to Upgrade and Advanced (MCUACIS) Navigation Upgrade of the Hawkeye for aircraft a new, more
powerful mission computer. In addition, the new version's navigation system is significantly more reliable. lifter four short upon again to ready deployment. In a compressed Fallori, the span of three weeks. at home, VAW-112 was called the possibility of an early the Golden Hawks commenced cycle and left for Fighter Advance Fallon Det in The Golden Hawks returned home Following the 2003 the and Hong Kong. Following the West VAW-112 finally got some wellearned time at home. g this time, various exercises contirlued to keep the skills sharpened. In January 2004, the once more on the USS Carl Vinson Ships Training Availability in June 2004 and served as When not at home at point Mugu, the Golden Hawks are attached to CVW-9 USS Carl Vinson CVN 70. CDR F. D. GOETSCHIUS, USN CDR H. H. BOWERS, USN CDR J. C. WINSLETT, USN CDR M. W. PARSONS, USN CDR R. L. HARSHBERGER, US? CDR R. W. THOMAS, USN CDR W. R. SOLMS, USN CDR A. J. ROCHELLS, USN CDR W. T. HOOD, USN CDR T. E. MORGAN, USN CDR F. A. MILEY, USN CDR W. F. DUFRENSNE, USN APR 67 - SEP 68 SEP 68 - AUG 69 AUG 69 - MAY 70 JUL 73 -JUN 74 JUN 74-MAY 75 MAY 75 - JUL 76 JUL 76 - SEP 77 SEP 77 - JAN 79 JAN 79 - APR 80 APR80-JUL81 JUL 81-0CT 82 OCT 82 - APR 84
CDR S. P. HANNIFIN, USN CDR R. F. BRADEN, USN CDR T. E. MAGEE, USN CDR G. W. DUNDAS, USN CDR C. V. VOSS, USN CDR D. B. SUMMERALL, USN CDR N. L. LILLY, USN CDR R. W. BANNISTER, USN CDR B. M. ROBY, USN CDR R. A. YOUNG, USN CDR J. D. FELLOWS, USN CDR M. J. BECKNELL, USN CDR C. M. SKIDMORE, USN CDR P. G. O'CONNOR, USN CDR H. A. ORTIZMARTY, USN CDR J. L. TRENT, USN CDR P. D. HAYNES, USN APR 84 - AUG 85 AUG 85 -JAN 87 JAN 87 - AUG 88 AUG 88 - JAN 90 JAN90-APR91 APR 91 - JUN 92 JUN 92 - SEP 93 SEP 93 - OCT 94 OCT 94 - FEB 96 FEB 96 - MAY 97 MAY 97 - JUN 98 JUN 98 - SEP 99 SEP 99 - JAN 01 JAN01 -APR02 APR 02 - MAY 03 MAY 03 - AUG 04 AUG 04 -