Forward Deployed: Carrier Air Wing Five and the Japanese connection

[HeyJoe]

030217-N-0120R-003 Central Command Area of Responsibility (Feb. 17, 2003) -- An MH-60S "Knighthawk" helicopter assigned to the “Providers” of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Five (HC-5) flies by the guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) during a refueling at sea (RAS) with the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). The Kitty Hawk and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) were recently ordered to the Central Command Area of Responsibility to join the coalition forces in that area. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class William H. Ramsey. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

030327-N-1810F-003 Arabian Gulf (Mar. 27, 2003) -- A CH-46 Sea Knight assigned to the “Gunbearers” of Helicopter Composite Squadron Eleven (HC-11) performs a vertical replenishment between the fast combat support ship USS Camden (AOE 2) and the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Kitty Hawk and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) are conducting combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

030322-N-7789S-001 The Arabian Gulf (Mar. 22, 2003) -- Various weapons line the hangar bay aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) ready for use by Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) aircraft conducting combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Kitty Hawk and CVW-5 are deployed with coalition forces in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 1st Class Dwayne S. Smith. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

030328-N-1810F-009 The Arabian Gulf (Mar. 28, 2003) -- Fully loaded with ordnance, F/A-18 Hornets stand ready for launch on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Kitty Hawk and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) are currently operating with coalition forces in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

030327-N-5781F-004 The Arabian Gulf (Mar. 27, 2003) -- Aviation ordnancemen move an AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) onto the flight deck from one of the ship’s weapons elevators aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). The Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) is a key program that will replace five types of the older air-to-ground weapons currently in the naval inventory. Kitty Hawk and her embarked CVW-5 are currently operating with coalition forces in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multinational coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Bo Flannigan. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

030408-N-5781F-007 The Arabian Gulf (Apr. 8, 2003) -- A CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter conducts a replenishment at sea (RAS) with USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). The nose of the Sea Knight is painted red, white, and blue, with the number "63" in honor of USS Kitty Hawk. Kitty Hawk and Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) are currently operating with coalition forces in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Bo Flannigan. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

In 2003, VF-154 would make their last cruise with the F-14, this time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This would be the first time CVW-5 would deploy to the Persian Gulf since 1999. The USS Kitty Hawk arrived on station on February 26 and CVW-5 was chosen to be the dedicated Close Air Support wing. VF-154 deployed with 12 F-14A’s and detached five F-14As and five air crews to the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar where these F-14’s and its crews would work closely with Royal Air Force Panavia Tornado’s, USAF F-15E’s, F-16CGs and F-16CJ’s and Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18As. CENTCOM had contacted CVW-5 and specifically asked for the air wing to deploy Forward Air Controller capable Tomcats and crews to support coalition land-based aircraft as well as Special Forces squads operating inside Iraq. The F-14s were usually paired with the aircraft already deployed to the airbase, dropping bomb themselves or guiding other aircraft bombs. The aircrews would fly daily missions and in one 48 hour period the Black Knights detachment flew 14 sorties totalling 100 hours of flight time. The crews at Al Udeid flew more than 300 combat hours and delivered 50 000 pounds of ordnance, (98 GBU-12s) during the 21 day stay at the airbase.

From Wikipedia

030403-N-1810F-003 The Arabian Gulf (Apr. 3, 2003) -- F-14A Tomcats fly in formation on final approach to USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group and Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) are deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

030413-N-9043G-002 Arabian Gulf (Apr. 13, 2003) -- USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and USS Constellation (CV 64), the Navy’s two remaining Kitty Hawk Class aircraft carriers, underway together in the Arabian Gulf. America’s oldest active warship, Kitty Hawk and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) are currently operating with Constellation and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) are conducting combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Adam Gomez. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

031205-N-5781F-001 At sea aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Dec. 5, 2003 -- Capt. Patrick Driscoll makes his last arrested landing as Commander, Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Driscoll handed over the reigns of the Navy's only permanently forward deployed Air Wing to Capt. Joseph Aucoin during a unique airborne change of command ceremony. U. S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Bo Flannigan. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

After their unique operating role in OIF, VF-154 returned to the United States to turn in their venerable F-14A Tomcats and transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet. VFA-102 was selected to take their place in CVW-5.

031113-N-9849W-002 Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan (Nov 13, 2003) -- A plane captain assigned to the “Diamondbacks” of Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Two (VFA-102) goes through the shutdown procedures prior to the pilot exiting an F/A-18F Super Hornet at Naval Air Facility Atsugi Japan. VFA-102, newly assigned to Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), is the first Super Hornet squadron permanently forward deployed outside the United States. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class John E. Woods. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

Arrival of the Diamondbacks was big news in Japan

031113-N-2560Y-001 Naval Air Facility Atusgi, Japan (Nov. 13, 2003) -- Rear Adm. James Kelly, commander Carrier Group Five, right, Capt. Joe Aucion, deputy commander Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), left, and Cmdr. Michael Vizcarra, commanding officer Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Two (VFA-102), center, brief reporters during a press conference for the arrival of VFA-102 to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. The squadron is the first Super Hornet squadron permanently forward deployed outside the United States. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class John D. Yoder. (RELEASED)

031113-N-3503M-001 Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan (Nov 13, 2003) -- An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the “Diamondbacks” of Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Two (VFA-102), taxis toward a hanger at Naval Air Facility Atsugi Japan. VFA-102, newly assigned to Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), is the first Super Hornet squadron permanently forward deployed outside the United States. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Joshua C. Millage. (RELEASED)

031113-N-1450G-001 Naval Air Facility Atusgi, Japan (Nov. 13, 2003) -- An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the “Diamondbacks” of Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Two (VFA-102), lands at Naval Air Facility Atsugi Japan. VFA-102, newly assigned to Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), is the first Super Hornet squadron permanently forward deployed outside the United States. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Jon Gesch. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

Another perk envied by all other Air Wings is frequent visits to Australia

040422-O-9999S-023 Fremantle Harbour, Australia (Apr. 22, 2004) - USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and embarked Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) pull into Fremantle Harbour, Australia, where the crew will enjoy a five-day port call. This was Kitty Hawk's fifth visit to Fremantle and the ninth for CVW-5. Kitty Hawk is one of two remaining conventionally powered aircraft carriers in the U.S. Navy, and is currently homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. Photo by Gary Sheehan. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

040228-N-5821P-010 Pacific Ocean (Feb. 28, 2004) - A F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the “Diamondbacks” of Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Two (VFA-102), launches from one of four steam powered catapults aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). The “Diamondbacks” are a new addition to Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) embarked aboard Kitty Hawk, replacing the F-14A Tomcats of Fighter Squadron One Five Four (VF-154). Currently under way in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Kitty Hawk is the United State’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, operating from Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Jason T. Poplin. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

You've come a long way, baby! CAPT "Joey" Aucoin's first fleet assignment was with VF-33 in 1982, sister squadron and archrivals to the Diamondbacks in CVW-1 aboard USS America (CV-66).

040219-N-5464G-001 Pacific Ocean (Feb. 19, 2004) – An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the “Diamondbacks” of Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Two (VFA-102) catches the Number three arresting wire becoming the first Super Hornet to land aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Higuera, with Capt. Joey Aucoin, Commander, Carrier Air Wing 5, in the rear seat, piloted the notable achievement. The Super Hornet is replacing the F-14 Tomcat on carrier decks throughout the Navy. Currently under way in the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR), the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk is the World's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, operating from Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Theron Godbold. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

021025-N-2613R-005 Yokosuka, Japan (Nov. 25, 2002) -- U.S. Navy awardees with their Japanese Self Defense Force counterparts are congratulated on being awarded the Japan American Navy Friendship Association Award (JANAFA). This award is presented to those Naval personnel who help strengthen the bonds between the U.S and Japan by promoting friendship and mutual understanding between the United States Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. Representing the U.S. Navy are Chief Electronics Technician Richard Harlow Jr. from Yokosuka, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Richard Sweet from Yokosuka, Storekeeper 1st Class Leandro Orbita from Atsugi, and Yeoman 1st Class Billy Reynolds from Sasebo. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Erich Ryland. (RELEASED)