| Carrier Air Wing Eight | |
|---|---|
 CVW-8 insignia | |
| Active | 9 April 1951 – present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Carrier air wing |
| Part of | United States Fleet Forces Command |
| Garrison/HQ | NAS Oceana USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) |
| Tail Code | AJ |
| Engagements | World War II Vietnam War Operation Eagle Claw Gulf of Sidra incident (1981) Multinational Force in Lebanon Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Operation Southern Watch Operation Provide Comfort Operation Deny Flight Operation Allied Force Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Inherent Resolve |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation Navy Unit Commendation |
Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), is aUnited States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based atNaval Air Station Oceana,Virginia. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrierUSS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)[1]
The mission of Carrier Air Wing Eight is:
"[T]o conduct offensive and defensive air operations against land and sea targets, as directed by higher authority, while also providing Carrier Strike Group defense. Currently assigned to Commander, Carrier Strike Group TWO, CVW-8 employs a mix of sophisticated aircraft to perform strike warfare, amphibious warfare, electronic warfare, airborne early warning, airborne command and control, sea control, air refueling, antisubmarine warfare and combat search and rescue missions."[2]
CVW-8 consists of eight squadrons.[3]
| Code | Insignia | Squadron | Nickname | Assigned aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VFA-31 |  | Strike Fighter Squadron 31 | Tomcatters | F/A-18E Super Hornet |
| VFA-37 |  | Strike Fighter Squadron 37 | Ragin Bulls | F/A-18E Super Hornet |
| VFA-87 |  | Strike Fighter Squadron 87 | Golden Warriors | F/A-18E Super Hornet |
| VFA-213 |  | Strike Fighter Squadron 213 | Black Lions | F/A-18F Super Hornet |
| VAW-124 |  | Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 124 | Bear Aces | E-2D Hawkeye |
| VAQ-142 |  | Electronic Attack Squadron 142 | Gray Wolves | EA-18G Growler |
| VRC-40 | _insignia%2c_1991.png) | Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 Det. 2 | Rawhides | C-2A Greyhound |
| HSC-9 |  | Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 9 | Tridents | MH-60S Seahawk |
| HSM-70 | _insignia_2016.png) | Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70 | Spartans | MH-60R Seahawk |
The first air group to carry the CVG-8 designation existed from June 1943 to November 1945.[1] Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8) moved to the newly commissioned aircraft carrierUSS Intrepid (CV-11) in Norfolk, Virginia in November 1943.[4] After exercises in the Caribbean and passing through the Panama Canal, CVG-8 left the carrier in January 1944 in Pearl Harbor. Here the carrierUSS Bunker Hill (CV-17) took over the squadron in March 1944.[5] From this carrier the squadron flew attacks on the Palau Islands, Yap, Ulithi Atoll and Woleai on 30 March and 1 April 1944. A month later attacks were flown on Truk, Satawan and Ponape as well as Hollandia Bay in New Guinea. Between 12 June and 10 August CVG-8 was deployed in the conquest of the Marianas and took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the naval and air battle in Leyte Gulf. In September, the squadron operated in the western Carolines, and in October and November it participated in raids on Okinawa, Luzon, and Formosa. For its operations on Bunker Hill, Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8) received a Presidential Unit Citation.
The second air group to carry the CVG-8 designation was created 9 April 1951 and has been in continuous operation since that date.[1] CVG-8 was established on 9 April 1951 as Carrier Air Group Eight (CVG-8) Most of the wing's squadrons were Naval Reserve squadrons. CVG-8 made its first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea aboardUSS Tarawa in 1951–52. Up to 1957, CVG-8 made three deployments aboard theaircraft carriersUSS Coral Sea,USS Lake Champlain, andUSS Intrepid, followed by theshakedown cruise aboard the newlycommissionedUSS Ranger in late 1957. The following year, CVG-8 was assigned toUSS Forrestal.(it was the second air group to carry the CVG-8 designation; the first CVG-8 existed from June 1943 to November 1945) and has been in continuous operation since that date.[1]
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Carrier Air Group 8 was assigned toForrestal until mid-1966, making five deployments to the Mediterranean Sea. On 20 December 1963, CVG-8 was redesignatedCarrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8). The air wing was reassigned to the much smallerEssex-class aircraft carrierUSS Shangri-La in 1966, which necessitated the replacement of theF-4B Phantom II fighter withF-8D Crusaders. CVW-8 made three deployments to the Mediterranean Sea aboardShangri-La.[6]
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From 5 March to 17 December 1970, CVW-8 made its first combat deployment toVietnam. This was to be the last deployment ofShangri-La which wasdecommissioned in 1971. The air wing was reassigned to theUSS America in 1971. All of its squadrons were replaced and received the latest models of the F-4 Phantom II,A-7 Corsair II andA-6 Intruder. In 1971America went to the Mediterranean Sea, again, before being deployed to Vietnam from 5 June 1972 to 24 March 1973. The wing returned to the Mediterranean aboardAmerica in 1975, before being reassigned to thenuclear-poweredUSS Nimitz in 1975.[7]
Between June 1976 and May 1980, CVW-8 embarked on boardNimitz for three Mediterranean deployments. CVW-8 made a special appearance in the 1980 movieThe Final Countdown. During their third Mediterranean deployment and in response to theIranian hostage crisis and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan,Nimitz with CVW-8 embarked leftNaples, Italy in January 1980 and sailed around theCape of Good Hope into the Indian Ocean. Established at "Gonzo Station," the air wing supported the Iranian hostage rescue attempt,Operation Eagle Claw, while remaining at-sea for more than 140 consecutive days. Returning to the United States in May 1980, CVW-8 embarked once again in USSNimitz for the North AtlanticNATO exercise "Teamwork 80" from August to November 1980.[1]
CVW-8 embarked onNimitz again in April 1981 for Caribbean operations, followed by another Sixth Fleet Mediterranean deployment. It was during this deployment that two CVW-8 F-14s fromFighter Squadron 41 engaged and destroyed two LibyanSukhoi Su-22 aircraft following anunprovoked air-to-air missile attack over the international waters of theGulf of Sidra.[1]
Returning toNorfolk, Virginia, CVW-8 embarked in the Navy's newest carrier,USS Carl Vinson for her maiden voyage in March 1982. CVW-8 squadrons returned toNimitz later in 1982 for Carrier Refresher Training followed by Caribbean operations and an extended Mediterranean deployment from November 1982 to May 1983 which included air operations in support of the multi-national force inBeirut, Lebanon.[1]
In March 1985, CVW-8 embarked again on USSNimitz for a Mediterranean deployment which included participation in several exercises including Distant Hammer, Poop Deck, and Bright Star. During this deployment, USSNimitz and CVW-8 were stationed off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon for 69 consecutive days during the terroristhijacking of a TWA airliner. The prompt response and threat of contingency strike operations by USSNimitz and CVW-8 helped coerce the Iranian-backed terrorists into releasing their hostages.[1]
In December 1986, CVW-8 embarked on USSNimitz for the last time and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. At the end of this deployment USSNimitz team sailed around the tip of South America as the carrier changed its homeport fromNorfolk, Virginia toEverett, Washington. In June 1987, CVW-8 aircraft launched for the last time from USSNimitz while off the coast of San Diego, California to return to their respective homeports.[1]
The air wing embarked inUSS Theodore Roosevelt in August 1988 for Teamwork 88, the largest multi-national exercise of the decade and operated in the North Atlantic with a port call inWilhelmshaven, West Germany. In December 1988, CVW-8 embarked onTheodore Roosevelt for a Mediterranean deployment where they participated in ten NATO exercises. The air wing distinguished itself during this deployment by flying over 22,000 flight hours and 10,000 sorties without a mishap.[1]
Following the August 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi armor and infantry forces, CVW-8 rapidly prepared for possible combat operations. In four short months, intense training enabledTheodore Roosevelt and CVW-8 to deploy on 28 December to join five other U.S.Carrier Battle Groups in the largest display of sea power since World War II forOperation Desert Storm.[1]
After participating in combat operations in Iraq in support ofOperations Desert Storm andProvide Comfort, CVW-8 returned home on 28 June 1991 for a brief standdown. During the winter of 1992, CVW-8 provided opposition forces fromRoosevelt Roads,Puerto Rico in support of Carrier Battle Group training. In July 1992, the air wing was the first Air Wing to receive and incorporate a Marine Corps FA-18C squadron, the "Checkerboards" ofMarine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 (VMFA-312). In December 1992, USSTheodore Roosevelt and CVW-8 operated for the very first time in Naval Aviation history as a Special Marine Air / Ground Task Force.[1]
Carrier Air Wing Eight embarked aboardTheodore Roosevelt in March 1993 and participated inOperation Provide Comfort andDeny Flight in support of NATO sanctions in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In June 1993, the team passed through theSuez Canal forRed Sea duty in support of Operation Southern Watch over Iraq. CVW-8 returned to the Adriatic Sea in July 1993 to continue NATO operational tasking until returning to Norfolk, Virginia in September 1993.[1]
CVW-8 embarked again aboardTheodore Roosevelt in March 1995 and operated in the Mediterranean Sea, North Red Sea,Persian Gulf andAdriatic Sea. CVW-8 responded to threats from Iraq by conducting joint operations with the Royal Jordanian Air Force and also enforced No-Fly Zones over Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of Operation Deny Flight. On 29 August 1995, CVW-8 commenced air-to-ground offensive operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina duringOperation Deliberate Force to include the first ever Navy combat use of the GBU-24 2,000-pound (910 kg) laser-guided penetrator bomb and the first combat use of theF-14 "Tomcat" to deliver air-to-ground ordnance. USSTheodore Roosevelt and CVW-8 team returned home on 22 September 1995 and on 1 November 1995, CVW-8 was reassigned under the operational control of theJohn F. Kennedy Battle Group, forming the team ofUSS John F. Kennedy and CVW-8.[1]
The air wing embarked inUSS John C. Stennis in February 1996, for a Joint Fleet Exercise. This was followed by deployed operations to the North Atlantic while embarked in USSJohn F. Kennedy with port calls to Dublin, Ireland and Portsmouth, England.[1]
In April 1997, CVW-8 embarked in USSJohn F. Kennedy for a Mediterranean Sea / Persian Gulf deployment. During this deployment, CVW-8 participated in numerous exercises and detachments including Infinite Acclaim, Beacon Flash and Invitex. During Invitex the Air Wing completed over 350 sorties including 203 sorties in a single day of surge operations. This deployment also included operations over Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Deliberate Guard and over Iraq in support ofOperation Southern Watch.[1]
In January 1999 CVW-8 deployed onTheodore Roosevelt and participated inOperation Allied Force during 55 consecutive days of combat, flying 4,300 sorties, logging 10,000 flight hours and dropped 800 tons of ordnance. The Air Wing came up with new tactics utilizing cooperative targeting between F-14s and F/A-18s. CVW-8 was also the first Air Wing to expend weapons in two theaters as they headed for the Persian Gulf to support Operation Southern Watch after the war in the Balkans had ended. They flew over 2,600 missions over Iraq.
In 2001, CVW-8 embarked aboard theUSS Enterprise and completed a six and one half-month deployment culminating in the initial strikes ofOperation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The deployment began with detachments in Tunisia, Corsica, and Israel, as well as half-dozen port-visits throughout the Mediterranean. During the second half of the deployment, the Air Wing flew in support ofOperation Southern Watch expending over 29,000 lb of ordnance against Iraqi targets. USSEnterprise and CVW-8 were wrapping up operations in theFifth Fleet area of operations on 11 September 2001, remained on station and eventually flew 16 days of combat operations over Afghanistan to include 680 sorties that delivered over 770,000 lb of precision guided munitions during the initial stages ofOperation Enduring Freedom.[1]
On 19 February 2002, the Air Wing was reassigned back to theTheodore Roosevelt Battle Group. CVW-8 made some changes asVF-14 andVF-41 had begun transitioning to the F/A-18 Super Hornet and moved toCVW-11,VF-213 (formerly CVW-11) became part of CVW-8 instead. In July 2002, CVW-8 began accelerated work-up operations leading to a combat deployment in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom. In October 2002 CVW-8 integrated Strike Fighter Squadron Two Zero One (VFA-201), a reserve Navy FA-18A+ squadron, and embarked on USSTheodore Roosevelt in January 2003 for Caribbean training operations.Theodore Roosevelt and CVW-8 deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in January 2003 at the conclusion of Caribbean training operations and participated in combat operations in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom flying over 1,000 sorties and 5,000 hours that delivered over 1,000,000 pounds of precision-guided weapons. USSTheodore Roosevelt and CVW-8 returned from deployment in May 2003 and was chosen as the test platform for theChief of Naval OperationsFleet Response Plan initiative.[1]
In 2005, CVW-8 became the last carrier air wing to deploy with the F-14 Tomcat when it departed for the Persian Gulf with VF-31 and VF-213. Captain William Sizemore, Commander Carrier Air Wing Eight, landed the last F-14D Super Tomcat to participate in a combat mission when the lastOIFline period concluded in February 2006. CVW-8 flew 16,000 sorties, logged 38,980 flight hours with a 97.3% sortie completion rate and dropped 61,000 pounds of ordnance.
CVW-8 andTheodore Roosevelt participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 08-4 Operation Brimstone off the coast ofNorth Carolina between 21 and 31 July 2008. The British carrierHMS Ark Royal, the amphibious assault shipIwo Jima with associated units and theBrazilian Navy frigateGreenhalgh and the French submarineAméthyste also participated in the event.[8]
On 8 September 2008, CVW-8 deployed on board USSTheodore Roosevelt on a regularly scheduled deployment.[9] On 4 October, theTheodore Roosevelt Carrier Group arrived inCape Town, South Africa, the first visit by an American aircraft carrier since 1967 and three days later the carrier left Cape Town.[10] CVW-8 andTheodore Roosevelt supported Operation Enduring Freedom and flew more than 3,100 sorties and dropped more than 59,500 pounds of ordnance while providingClose Air Support forISAF-forces in Afghanistan. On 21 March 2009Theodore Roosevelt was relieved byUSS Dwight D. Eisenhower.[11]
On 29 August 2009Theodore Roosevelt entered Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding at Newport News, Virginia, to begin a Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) which is scheduled to last until February 2013. CVW-8 was assigned toUSS George H.W. Bush.[12]
On 11 May 2011, the squadrons of CVW-8 embarked on USSGeorge H.W. Bush's maiden deployment, scheduled to conduct operations in the US 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations.[13]During this deployment, CVW-8 commander Captain Jeff Davis completed his 1,000 flight deck landing ("trap") when he flew on board the carrierGeorge H.W. Bush on 1 August 2011.[14] CVW-8 deputy commander Captain Daniel W. Dwyer made his 1,000 trap on 18 July 2011.[15]
Following the 2012-2013 deployment ofCarrier Strike Group Three, the electronic-warfare squadronVAQ-131 was reassigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight based aboard the carrierGeorge H.W. Bush. This reassign was originally slated to occur in January 2014 but changing operational requirements accelerated this reassignment until immediately after the end of the 2012-2013 deployment. Finally, the squadron transitioned from theEA-6B Prowler to theEA-18G Growler electronic-warfare aircraft.[16]
CVW-8 made its next scheduled deployment aboardGeorge H.W. Bush in the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility from 23 January to 21 August 2017.[17] On 18 June 2017, a F/A-18E shot down a Syrian Air Force Su-22 in the Tabqa region.
In 2022, CVW-8 was assigned to the aircraft carrierUSS Gerald R. Ford.Ford'sCarrier Strike Group 12 leftNaval Station Norfolk for her maiden deployment on 4 October 2022 to conduct operations and training exercises alongsideNATO allies and partners throughout theAtlantic Ocean.[18]
The first Carrier Air Group Eight was established on 1 June 1943 atNaval Air Station Norfolk,Virginia and was initially assigned to theUSS Intrepid. During World War II, CVW-8 distinguished itself in combat in the Pacific, winning fiveBattle Stars and thePresidential Unit Citation for heroic combat action while embarked inUSS Bunker Hill.[1] The air group was disestablished on 23 November 1945 followingWorld War II. The United States Navy regards this air group as a distinct unit and therefore it is not considered part of Carrier Air Wing Eight's official lineage.[19]
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