Coral Sea (CV 43) - Naval Cruise Book

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Adolphson, K.V Bleckburn, Bokesch, W. Bowen, R.K. Braden, R. Cleveland, R.H Compton, B. Dixon, Everhart, SE. Fuller, M.H.

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-f VA W- 113 'P-. SUV fa tg 4 .l Olsen, D.H. CO Schroeder, AJ. XO CARRIER AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING SQUADRON ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron ONE HUNDRED THIR- TEEN had its early beginning at the end of World War II as a research project to explore the feasibility of the first airborne early warning concept. In 1948, the Navy formed the first airborne early warning squadron, VAW-11, homeported at NAS North Island. VAW-11 contin- ued to work in developing the AEW concept and in 1950 deployed detachments which provided both ASW CAnti-Submarinej and AEW CAirborne Early Warningj protection throughout the Korean Conflict. The mission of the squadron was clearly defined to provide all weather early warning services to the fleet and shore warning nets. On April 20, 1967, VAW-11 was divided into seven individual squad- rons. On April 29, 1967, VAW-113 deployed to the Western Pacific flying E-2A aircraft aboard USS CONSTELLATION as a member of Attack Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN. The Black Eagles of VAW-113 have made seven deployments to the Western Pacific aboard USS CONSTELLATION and USS ENTER- PRISE. The squadron has beeen awarded two Battle Efficiency E s, the Aviation Safety Award, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Citation and Meritorious Unit Citation. World Famous Black Eagles crews participated in Vietnamese operations every year since 1967, climax- ing in May of 1975 with Operation Frequent Wind , the evauation of South Vietnam. During the 1975 deployment aboard USS ENTERPRISE, VAW-113 became the Navy's first E-2B squadron to operate with the F-14A Tomcats . As such the squadron was instrumental in developing tactics which best utilize the Hawkeye with the expanded capabilities of the Navy's newest fighter. Additional squadron projects continue to develop integrated tactics for the E-2, F-14, EA-6B, A-6E, and S-3A weapons systems. Injuly of 1975, VAW-113 changed homeports from NAS North Island to NAS Miramar. A year later VAW-113 deployed aboard USS ENTER- PRISE to the Western Pacific and took part in the multi-nation exercise KANGAROO II, followed by an excursion to Tasmania via the Indian Ocean. In September of 1976, VAW-113 was awarded the First Annual CNO AEW Excellance Award designating the Black Eagles as the best AEW squadron in the Navy. The World Famous Black Eagles returned to their new homeport of Miramar for the first time in March 1977 and following a year of workups, deployed once more to the Western Pacific aboard the Big E . The 1978 deployment included the massive RIMPAC '78 exercise and multi- lateral exercises with Australia and Singapore before their return to San Diego in October of 1978. The Black Eagles once again deployed, this time with the USS CORAL SEA In November of 1979.

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i Stoehr, D. Goen, L. Gresham, A. Herriott, R. Hess, H.L. Hoden, jones-bey, H. McKinnon, W. Miller, S. Mooney, D. Osborn, W. Ryan, T. Schram, T. Simmons, W. Tye, JM. i 3 BLACK EAGLES 1 , W F N J p4 Y H NM 232 gr-Q.