Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 123 (CARAEWRON 123) VAW-123 ‘Screwtops’
STATUS:		VAW-123 established on April 1, 1967 Homebase: NS Norfolk, Virginia Carrier Air Wing: CVW-3 Aircraft Carrier: USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) ACTIVE UNIT
AIRCRAFT:		Grumman E-2A Hawkeye (1967-69) Grumman E-2B Hawkeye (1969-73) Grumman E-2C Hawkeye (1973- )
DEPLOYMENTS:		June 6, 1967 - September 14, 1967 with CVW-17 aboard USS Forrestal (CVA 59) July 22, 1968 - April 29, 1969 with CVW-17 aboard USS Forrestal (CVA 59) June 17, 1970 - November 11, 1970 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) June 7, 1971 - October 31, 1971 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) April 11, 1972 - February 13, 1973 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) September 27, 1974 - March 19, 1975 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60) January 6, 1976 - July 28, 1976 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) July 11, 1977 - December 23, 1977 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) October 3, 1978 - April 5, 1979 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) March 10, 1980 - August 27, 1980 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) April 14, 1981 - November 12, 1981 with CVW-11 aboard USS America (CV 66) May 30, 1982 - July 8, 1982 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) August 22, 1982 - November 4, 1982 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) December 8, 1982 - June 2, 1983 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) April 24, 1984 - November 14, 1984 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) August 24, 1985 - October 9, 1985 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) March 10, 1986 - September 14, 1986 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) March 21, 1988 - May 8, 1988 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) February 8, 1989 - April 3, 1989 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) May 11, 1989 - November 10, 1989 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) December 28, 1990 - April 18, 1991 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) August 21, 1991 - October 11, 1991 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) December 2, 1991 - June 6, 1992 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) August 11, 1993 - February 5, 1994 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) August 28, 2995 - February 24, 1996 with CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV 66) October 3, 1997 - April 3, 1998 with CVW-1 aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) November 2, 1998 - December 17, 1998 with CVW-1 aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) September 22, 1999 - March 19, 2000 with CVW-1 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) September 19, 2001 - March 27, 2002 with CVW-1 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) August 28, 2003 - February 29, 2004 with CVW-1 aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) June 3, 2004 - July 23, 2004 with CVW-1 aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) May 2, 2006 - November 18, 2006 with CVW-1 aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) July 7, 2007 - December 19, 2007 with CVW-1 aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) January 13, 2011 - July 15, 2011 with CVW-1 aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) March 11, 2012 - November 4, 2012 with CVW-1 aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) ?? with CVW-3 aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)
images
E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-3) - embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - September 2015 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-3) - aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - September 2014 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-3) - aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - September 2014 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-3) - aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - September 2014 excerpt from above E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123) - Pensacola, Florida - May 2014 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - September 2013 E-2C Hawkeyes (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - October 2012 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - October 2012 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - September 2012 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - September 2012 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - August 2012 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - August 2012 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - August 2012 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - July 2012 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - July 2012 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - June 2012 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - June 2012 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - February 2012 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - July 2011 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - May 2010 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - December 2007 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - September 2006 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - October 2005 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - October 2005 E-2C+ Hawkeye (VAW-123) during tests aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - April 2005 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123) at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico - March 2005 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123) at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico - March 2005 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) at NAS Oceana, Virginia - September 2004 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - June 2004 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - June 2004 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - June 2004 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - June 2004 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - September 2003 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - March 2002 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - February 2002 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - January 2002 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - January 2002 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - January 2002 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - undated E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) at NAS Fallon, Nevada - undated E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) - undated E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) - undated E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - undated E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - off Lybia - April 1986 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - April 1984 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - May 1983 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - May 1983 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - May 1983 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - 1981 E-2C Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-1) embarked on USS America (CV 66) - undated E-2B Hawkeye (VAW-123 / CVW-3) embarked on USS Saratoga CVA 60) - 1973
history
VAW-123 was originally commissioned in 1964 as a detachment of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron TWELVE (VAW-12), flying the E-2A Hawkeye. Through reorganization, VAW-12 Detachment 59 was commissioned VAW-123 in April 1967, under the command of CDR W. L. Hill. Initially attached to Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN (CVW 17) aboard the USS FORRESTAL (CV 59), the squadron later became part of Carrier Air Wing THREE and sailed aboard USS SAROTOGA (CV 60), USS AMERICA (CV 66), USS KENNEDY (CV 67), USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) and USS WASHINGTON (CVN 73). Today VAW-123 is assigned to Carrier Air Wing ONE. The squadron throughout the years has made deployments to the Caribbean Sea, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, Pacific Ocean, and the North Atlantic. The SCREWTOPS were key participants in the 1986 Gulf of Sidra operations off the coast of Libya and were directly involved in the first combat use of the HARM (High speed Anti-Radiation Missile) and Harpoon anti-ship weapon systems. During Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, VAW-123 was the only E-2 squadron to operate in both the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, as well as operating a two-aircraft expeditionary detachment out of Kuwait. In support of national goals, the squadron executed countless flights for Operations DENY FLIGHT and DELIBERATE FORCE over Bosnia-Herzegovina and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH over Iraq. Deploying eight days after September 11, the SCREWTOPS were critical participants in the War on Terror, acting as airborne command and control for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in the skies over Pakistan and Afghanistan. Deploying in August 2003 with USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65), VAW-123 opened a new chapter in carrier aviation by being the first carrier-based Navy squadron to operate an expeditionary detachment in support of special warfare units. Under combat conditions with hostile fire in Northern Afghanistan, the squadron provided airborne command control to coalition aircraft and time sensitive targeting coordination to special operations forces for Operation MOUNTAIN RESOLVE. In that same deployment VAW-123 became the squadron of choice for conventional units as well as special operations forces deployed to Iraq in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. In March 2006 VAW-123 once again deployed with Carrier Air Wing ONE and ENTERPRISE in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. In 2007, the SCREWTOPS were called upon once again to provide expert command and control services to these operations on board ENTERPRISE. In 2011, the SCREWTOPS deployed with Carrier Air Wing ONE on a six month deployment in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and NEW DAWN. After an eight month turnaround, the SCREWTOPS deployed once again in March 2012 for eight months with Carrier Air Wing ONE on board ENTERPRISE in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, flying 562 sorties and 1,935 mishap-free flight hours. Since their return from deployment in November 2012, VAW-123 expertly provided airborne command and control to both fleet and joint assets, greatly contributing to air wing readiness while enhancing warfighting interoperability. Throughout the course of the last year, the squadron participated in a variety of high profile exercises with US Air Force, British Air Force, and Air National Guard units including WESTERN ZEPHYR, RAZOR TALON, and SUDDEN DRAGON. In 2013 VAW-123 received the Airborne Command Control and Logistics Wing “TOP HOOK” Award for having the best aircraft carrier landing grades of all East Coast E-2 squadrons. source: VAW-123 (2015) - - - another history: The history of VAW-123 begins in 1945 with the commissioning of VC-12, officially known as Composite Squadron Twelve. VC-12 was redesignated VAW-12, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron Twelve, in 1956. During its history, the organization of VAW-123 changed internally many times. The last change resulted in the establishment of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Wing Twelve (CAEWW-12) and the commissioning of all E-2A detachments as independent squadrons. As a result of this reorganization, CAEWW-12, Detachment 59 was commissioned VAW-123 on April 1, 1967, at NAS Norfolk, Va. under the command of CDR Lucio W. Hill. The commissioning date of April 1, 1967 makes VAW-123 one of the oldest VAW Squadron in the United States Navy. In June 1967 VAW-123 set sail aboard USS Forrestal for Viet Nam, thus becoming the first East Coast VAW squadron to go to war. On July 29, 1967 while serving in the Gulf of Tonkin, Forrestal suffered a huge fire with the loss of 134 crew members, many crew members injured, many aircraft destroyed and millions of dollars in damage to the ship. Forrestal could not continue to serve in the condition the fire left her. She returned to Norfolk with VAW-123 and the rest of the ship's crew and Airwing. VAW-123 had no loss of any personnel or have any personnel injured in the fire aboard Forrestal. Some of the squadrons E-2A aircraft had very minor damage from the fire and explosions aboard the ship. Initially attached to CVW-17 aboard the USS Forrestal (CVA-59), the squadron became an integral part of CVW-3 aboard the USS Saratoga (CVA-60) and remained there throughout the 1970s. In 1972 VAW-123 again made an extended cruise to Vietnam waters in the Tonkin Gulf returning to Norfolk in 1973. In October 1980, the squadron transferred to CVW-11 aboard the USS America (CVA-66). Following a 1981 Indian Ocean deployment, VAW-123 transferred to CVW-1 on 12 November 1981. Since that time, the Screwtops have made several extended Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic deployments as an integral part of the CVW-1/CVA-66 team, until the decommissioning of the USS America in the Spring of 1997. Throughout the years, VAW-123 has consistently been at the forefront of the Airborne Early Warning community. In addition to being recipients of many awards, including eleven Battle "E's" and nine "Safety S's," the eleventh Battle "E" being awarded for 1999. Highlights of the command's history include the successful employment of the E-2C in 1973 and the first operational deployment of the E-2C ARPS (Advanced Radar Processing System) in 1978. In March 1996, the Screwtops became the first E-2 squadron on the East Coast to transition to the E-2C Group II aircraft, with its significantly upgraded avionics and engines. In November 1998, the Screwtops again led the way by becoming the first operational squadron on the East Coast to accept delivery of the Navigation Upgrade E-2C Group II's. The Screwtops have successfully met many challenging assignments and maintained a watchful eye on world events, ever ready to support national policy. The Screwtops were key participants in the 1986 Gulf of Sidra operations off the coast of Libya, and were directly involved in the first combat use of the HARM (High speed Anti-Radiation Missile) and Harpoon weapon systems. The Screwtops supported Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and were the only E-2 squadron to operate in both the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. The Screwtops have also flown in support of Operations Deny Flight and Deliberate Force over Bosnia-Herzegovina and Operation Southern Watch over Iraq. The Screwtops, along with the rest of Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1), attached to the USS George Washington (CVN-73) for one deployment cycle, returning home on 2 April 1998. On 18 May 1998, Carrier Air Wing One transferred off the USS George Washington, bringing the Screwtops to their a home aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67). During July and August 1998, VAW-123 detached to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, in support of the United States' ongoing efforts to stem the flow of narcotics through the Caribbean. In November and December 1998, the Screwtops detached to the newly commissioned USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75) in support of her shakedown cruise and Orange Air operations against the USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group. The Screwtops were deployed aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) prior to its inactivation in 2013. In July 2014, the Screwtops were transferred to Carrier Air Wing 3, attached to Carrier Strike Group 10. source: wikipedia (2015)
patches
| seaforces.org | US Navy Air Units start page |