Carrier Air Wing 6 (CARAIRWING SIX) CVW-6
		Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - July 1964
STATUS:		established December 20, 1963 (redesignated from CVG-6) disestablished April 1, 1992 tailcode: AE
Squadrons
history
Deployments: USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) / February 1964 - October 1964 (Mediterranean & World Cruise) USS America (CVA 66) / May 1965 - July 1965 (shakedown cruise - Atlantic) USS America (CVA 66) / November 1965 - July 1966 (Mediterranean) USS America (CVA 66) / January 1967 - September 1967 (Mediterranean) USS America (CVA 66) / April 1968 - December 1968 (Vietnam War) USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) / January 1970 - July 1970 (Mediterranean) USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) / January 1971 - July 1971 (Mediterranean) USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) / February 1972 - December 1972 (Mediterranean) USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) / September 1973 - March 1974 (Mediterranean) USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) / January 1975 - July 1975 (Mediterranean) USS America (CV 66) / April 1976 - October 1976 (Mediterranean) USS America (CV 66) / June 1977 - July 1977 (Atlantic) USS America (CV 66) / September 1977 - April 1978 (Mediterranean) USS Independence (CV 62) / June 1979 - December 1979 (Mediterranean) USS Independence (CV 62) / November 1980 - June 1981 (Mediterranean / Indian Ocean) USS Independence (CV 62) / June 1982 - December 1982 (Mediterranean) USS Independence (CV 62) / October 1983 - April 1984 (Mediterranean) USS Independence (CV 62) / October 1984 - February 1985 (Mediterranean / Indian Ocean) USS Forrestal (CV 59) / July 1985 - August 1985 (Caribbean) USS Forrestal (CV 59) / June 1986 - November 1986 (Mediterranean) USS Forrestal (CV 59) / August 1987 - October 1987 (Atlantic) USS Forrestal (CV 59) / April 1988 - October 1988 (Mediterranean / Indian Ocean) USS Forrestal (CV 59) / November 1989 - April 1990 (Mediterranean) USS Forrestal (CV 59) / May 1991 - December 1991 (Mediterranean)
Carrier Air Group Six was re-designated Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6) on 20 December 1963. The air wing participated in Operation Sea Orbit, the first around-the-world voyage made by nuclear-powered surface ships, in 1964. CVW-6 embarked on the new supercarrier USS America (CVA-66) for its 1965 shakedown cruise, and during that ship's second deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, CVW-6 was operating with the U.S. Sixth Fleet when the Six Day War broke out between Israel and its Arab neighbors on 5 June 1967. America's escorting destroyers detected an unknown submarine contact on 7 June, and a Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King from Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS-9) assisted in tracking this contact. CVW-6 aircraft provided air cover for the stricken USS Liberty (AGTR-5), which had been attacked by Israeli military forces, and it also dispatched two helicopters to evacuate the seriously injured to the America. Carrier Air Wing Six made its first combat deployment in 1968 upon the America. During this deployment, CVW-6 spent a total of 112 days at Yankee Station, attacking roads, waterways, trucks, bridges, as well as lighters, barges, and other logistical support watercraft. They also attacked petroleum storage areas, truck parks, and cave storage areas to impede the flow of men and war materials to the south during the Tet Offensive. On 10 July 1968, Lt. Roy Cash, Jr. (pilot) and Lt. (j.g.) Joseph E. Kain, Jr. (radar intercept officer), flying in an F-4J Phantom from Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33), downed a MiG-21 about 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Vinh, North Vietnam. This was the first MiG "kill" in the Vietnam War for CVW-6. America and Carrier Air Wing Six were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for this deployment. CVW-6 then left the America for another carrier, the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42). This carrier, along with USS Independence (CV-62) and USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7), stood by to execute the possible evacuation of foreign civilians during the Yom Kippur War in October 1973. CVW-6 provided air cover during the 1983 invasion of Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury) while embarked onboard the USS Independence (CV-62). During that ship's subsequent deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, CVW-6 conducted air strikes against Syrian positions that were attacking U.S. Marine positions in Lebanon. Carrier Air Group Six received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Operation Urgent Fury. Beginning in 1986, Carrier Air Wing Six embarked onboard the USS Forrestal (CV-59). It participated in a joint U.S.-Egyptian training exercise (Operation Sea Wind) and Display Determination '86, which featured low-level coordinated strikes and air combat maneuvering training over Turkey. CVW-6 subsequently participated in Ocean Safari '87, a six-week cruise in the North Atlantic which was highlighted by operations with NATO forces posing as aggressors lurking in Norwegian fjords. A year later, the air wing participated in Ocean Venture ’88 in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea, and then provided air support for Operation Earnest Will. During its final overseas deployment, CVW-6 participated in three multi-lateral exercises (Harmonie Sud Est, Iles D’Or, and Display Determination ‘91), and also provided air support for Operation Provide Comfort. Carrier Air Group Six received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Provide Comfort. Carrier Air Wing Six shifted to the USS Forrestal (CV-59) when the USS Independence (CV-62) underwent its Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) overhaul at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1986. Following the completion of its SLEP, the Independence sailed to its new homeport at the San Diego Naval Base with Carrier Air Wing 5. With the shifting of the Forrestal to a naval aviation training role as AVT-59, plus post-Cold War budget cutbacks, Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6) was decommissioned on 1 April 1992.
images
aircraft of CVW-6 aboard USS Forrestal (CV 59) - September 1988 CVW-6 aboard USS Forrestal (CV 59) - Mayport, Florida - April 1988 CVW-6 aboard USS Forrestal (CV 59) - 1987 aircraft of CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62) - Mediterranean Sea - December 1983 aircraft of CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62) - Mediterranean Sea - December 1983 A-7 “Corsair II” from various squadrons of CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62) - Mediterranean Sea - December 1983 aircraft of CVW-6 - April 15, 1983 CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62) - Mediterranean Sea - December 1979 CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62) - Malaga, Spain - November 1979 CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62) - Toulon, France - November 1979 aircraft of CVW-6 fly over USS Independence (CV 62) - October 1979 aircraft of CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62) - September 1979 aircraft of CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62) - Athens, Greece - September 1979 3 A-7E “Corsair II” of VA-15 “Valions”, assigned to CVW-6 operating over the Med - June 1976 aircraft of CVW-6 aboard USS America (CV 66) - October 1, 1976 aircraft of CVW-6 aboard USS America (CV 66) - October 1968 aircraft of CVW-6 aboard USS America (CV 66) - October 1967
patches
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