Enterprise (CVN 65) - Naval Cruise Book

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CARRIER AIR WING ELEVEN Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN has an impressive record dating back to October 1942. It has a distinguished combat history and a capability which places it high among the fighting units of the United States Navy. Commissioned on Navy Day, 1942, the Air Wing has recorded a significant number of firsts in attaining its place as one of the Navy ' s top fighting organizations. In June 1943, the pilots of Air Group ELEVEN conducted the first daylight raids during fighting in the Solomon and New Georgia operations of WW II. They also took part in air strikes on Leyte Gulf, Indochina, Formosa, and the China Mainland. For the above operations, the Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to the Air Group for its extraordinary achievements against the enemy. During the Korean conflict. Carrier Air Group ELEVEN was the first Naval Air Group to engage and down a MIG jet fighter. The Air Group was instrumental in keeping the Pusan Perimeter from collapsing in the early phases of the conflict, and participated in other significant actions such as the Inchon Invasion, the Wonson landing, and the highly successful movement from the Chosin Reservoir. With the addition of the RA5C Vigilante, A6A Intruder, and E-2A Hawkeye, Air Wing ELEVEN deployed on board the USS KITTY HAWK to the Seventh Fleet in October 1965 with the most modern, complex strike group ever assembled and evaluated under wartime conditions. During the period December 1965 - May 1966, the Air Wing conducted air strikes against targets in North and South Vietnam, and delivered more ordnance than any other strike group. The Navy Unit Citation was awarded to the USS KITTY HAWK and Air Wing ELEVEN in November 1966 for their superior performance. In August 1967, Air Wing ELEVEN and USS KITTY HAWK were again awarded the Navy Unit Citation for their efforts in the Vietnam conflict from December 1966 to May 1967. The Attack Carrier KITTY HAWK and Air Wing ELEVEN became the first ship air wing to receive the Presidential Unit Citation for performance during the Vietnam conflict. The Citation for KITTY HAWK Air Wing ELEVEN was approved and signed by President Lyndon B. JOHNSON in recognition for their combat operations that were conducted from December 1967 through June 1968 as part of the United States Seventh Fleet. Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN set numerous records for the Vietnam conflict, foremost of which was a 61 day line period, longest for the war. Prior to the limited bombing announcement, Air Wing ELEVEN ranged the length of North Vietnam striking enemy power plants, rail yards, and lines of transportation and communications and were instrumental in the defense of Khe Sanh. During Attack Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN ' S sixth WestPac deployment (November 70 - July 71) she again broke all previous records for combat sorties flown and ordnance delivered. This record was short lived, however, for during her seventh deployment she again broke all records. Deployed early due to the 1972 Communist offensive, KITTY HAWK and Air Wing ELEVEN became known as the backbone of the Linebacker operations (the resumption of bombing in North Vietnam). Bombing the length of North Vietnam, Air Wing ELEVEN was instrumental in forcing the North Vietnamese to negotiate a final end to the conflict. In 1973, Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN and KITTY HAWK transitioned to a 13 squadron air wing and 107 aircraft to form the world ' s largest air wing under the new CV concept. This new concept, TACAIR and ASWAIR on the same carrier, was implemented and deployed to Westpac in November 1973 for a most successful cruise highlighted by an Air Power Demonstration for the Shah of Iran and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff while operating in the Indian Ocean. The first CV deployment of a West Coast carrier demonstrated the flexibility of simultaneous TACAIR and ASW employment. Following her first non-combat cruise since 1965, in July 1974, KITTY HAWK CVW-1 1 returned to CONUS for a brief standdown period. In 1975 KITTY HAWK Air Wing ELEVEN once again demonstrated their versatility in the role of a multi-mission carrier with its second CV deployment. FoJIowing this deployment. Air Wing ELEVEN underwent a major reorganization incorporating the Navy ' s newest F-14 Tomcat and S-3A Viking as well as the new A-6E CAINS and E-2C, 1977 saw Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN deployed to WESTPAC aboard the USS KITTY HAWK with the newest aircraft in the fleet. After an eight month extended deployment. Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN began preparations to move the Air Wing to the East Coast. In March 1979, Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN deployed to the Mediterranean aboard the USS AMERICA. The Air Wing was comprised of 10 squadrons with over 90 aircraft stationed throughout the United States. In September 1982, Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN deployed to WESTPAC aboard USS ENTERPRISE. Following the end of an extended seven month deployment. Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN commenced preparations for its next deployment. Today Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN is comprised of two fighter squadrons, (VF-1 14 and VF-213) flying the F-14A Tomcat , two light attack squadrons (VA-94 and VA-22) flying the A-7E Corsair II , one medium attack squadron (VA-95) flying A-6E Intruders , and two anti-submarine squadrons (VS-21 and HS-6) flying the S-3A Viking and the SH-3H Sea King. 350 CVW-ll