Forward Deployed: Carrier Air Wing Five and the Japanese connection

[HeyJoe]

040904-N-5821P-064 Pacific Ocean (Sept. 4, 2004) - An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the "Diamondbacks" of Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Two (VFA-102), hurtles down the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) during the conclusion of the Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group (CSG) summer underway period. The Diamondbacks and the nine other squadrons and detachments that comprise Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) are conducting fly-offs from Kitty Hawk. Kitty Hawk is currently under way in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), demonstrating power projection and sea control as the U.S. Navy'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)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

040904-N-5781F-153 Pacific Ocean (Sept. 4, 2004) - A catapult shooter from the air department signals to an E/A-6B Prowler assigned to Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) to go to full power before launching from the conventionally powered aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Currently under way in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Kitty Hawk demonstrates power projection and sea control, as the U.S. Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, operating from Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Bo J. Flannigan (RELEASED)

The Gauntlets have some fine looking birds!

 

[Kickflip89]

Thanks, hj. I wouldn't mind going to 102 at all, I think it could be a very interesting experience.

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

I'd be willing to go TS for VAQ136; alas I'm too much of a geezer for that though.

 

[Pags]

If anyone has any gouge to a shooter job on the GW, drop me a line.

 

[a_m]

Those are some great pictures from the past and present! I'm sure there will be more released soon.

 

[lowflier03]

As is typical with Navy Photogs, I didn't see any pics of HS-14 of HSL-51... Kinda sad.

 

[HeyJoe]

As is typical with Navy Photogs, I didn't see any pics of HS-14 of HSL-51... Kinda sad.

Patience...in the meantime, there's nothing stopping you from posting them. They're just as available to you as to me. Not hard to find either except HS-14 hasn't sent anything in to CHINFO in more than 2 years...here's the most recent submission:

080603-N-7883G-199 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 3, 2008) An HH-60H Seahawk, left, piloted by Cmdr. Christopher A. Rodeman, commanding officer of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 14 and an SH-60F Seahawk, piloted by Cmdr. Manuel A. Picon, executive officer of HS-14, fly by the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) during a change of command ceremony. Picon relieved Rodeman. U.S. Navy photograph by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau (Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

Not a lot of recent images from HSL-51 either!

071114-N-2638R-002 MT. FUJI, Japan (Nov. 14, 2007) Blackbeard 1, an SH-60F helicopter from the "Warlords" of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light (HSL) 51 Det. 11, flies in front of Mt. Fuji. HSL-51, permanently forward-deployed to Atsugi, Japan, provides combat-ready armed anti-surface and anti-submarine helicopter detachments to ships deploying in the Korea, western Pacific and Persian Gulf regions, as well as executive transport for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Bryan Reckard (RELEASED)

 

[Flash]

The Diamondbacks upgraded their paint scheme after arrival in Japan with an oriental motif and garnered an overnight fan club among the locals

070919-N-5277R-001 NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan (Sept. 19, 2007) - Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 friends and family cheer on squadron members as they arrive during the homecoming celebration for Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 on board Naval Air Facility Atsugi. A majority of the CVW-5 pilots returned home after nearly four months deployed with USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Barry Riley (RELEASED)

We did an 'Air Wing Fallon' with them and CVWR-20, an interesting time to say the least. The one thing I remember about 102 was that they had their normal CO/XO/DH bunch but only 2 or 3 experienced LT's, the rest of the experienced JOPA had left during the F-14 transition. The new JOPA were right out of the RAG and all the reserve old-timers started calling them the Dawson's Creek crew.

 

[HeyJoe]

100724-N-7280V-143 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 24, 2010) Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Drew Iverson salutes the pilot as he launches an SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter from the U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Viramontes/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100723-N-3283P-153 SENDAI, Japan (July 23, 2010) Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force guided-missile destroyers JS Kongo (DDG 173) and JS Suzunami (DDG 114) are illuminated by friendship lights during a port visit to Sendai, Japan. Kongo and Suzunami are visiting Sendai, along with the guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) as part of the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the United States-Japan Mutual Treaty of Cooperation and Security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dominique Pineiro/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100723-N-3283P-054 SENDAI, Japan (July 23, 2010) Cmdr. Rodney Patton, commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59), greets a member of the Japan-America Society during a welcome ceremony at Takamatsu Pier. Russell is serving in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility and is visiting Sendai as part of the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the United States-Japan Mutual Treaty of Cooperation and Security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dominique Pineiro/Released)

 

[Rugger]

040904-N-5781F-153 Pacific Ocean (Sept. 4, 2004) - A catapult shooter from the air department signals to an E/A-6B Prowler assigned to Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) to go to full power before launching from the conventionally powered aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Currently under way in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Kitty Hawk demonstrates power projection and sea control, as the U.S. Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, operating from Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Bo J. Flannigan (RELEASED)

I love that the shooters and Air Boss on KITTY HAWK wore Hawaiian shirts for fly off day. I hope they still do that on GW.