George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 323 text:

Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN is currently composed of VFA-11 flying the F A-18F SUPER HORNET, VFA-34 and VFA-81 flying the F A-18C HORNET, VAW-121 flying the E-2C HAWKEYE, VAQ-132 flying the EA-6B (ICAPII) PROWLER, VS-22 flying the S-3B VIKING and HS-15 flying the SH-60F and HH-60H SEAHAWK.

Page 322 text:

The Air Group that would come to be known as Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN, Carrier Air Group EIGHTY TWO, was created during World War II on 1 April 1944 in Atlantic City. Air Group EIGHTY TWO deployed for one of the last combat tours of the war onboard USS BENNINGTON (CV 20) as the first air group to operate from her decks. The Air Group operated in the pacific for the remainder of the war supporting the assault on Iwo Jima and the Japanese home islands. During the battle for Okinawa, the Air Group was the first to attack the Japanese super battleship YAMATO in the action that resulted in that ship's sinking. Following the war, the Air Group was redesignated Carrier Air Group SEVENTEEN (CVAG-17) and redeployed to the East Coast in 1946. Until the Air Group was deactivated in September 1958, Air Group SEVENTEEN operated with the Atlantic Fleet and deployed to the Mediterranean and North Atlantic onboard USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, USS WASP, and USS CORAL SEA. Air Group SEVENTEEN was reactivated in November 1966 as Air Wing SEVENTEEN (CVW-17) and assigned to the USS FORRESTAL (CV 59). Just 6 1 2 months after re-forming, the Air Wing deployed to the Tonkin Gulf aboard FORRESTAL. CVW-17 flew its first combat missions into Vietnam on 25 July 1967. On the fifth day of combat operations, a Zuni rocket was accidentally fired across FORRESTAL’s flight deck resultingfn a catajRrophic fire. lerculean efforts eventu- ally controlled the flames, but not before 134 mpi wecjRulled (Ajuding l2 Air Wing personnel) and 21 aircraft were destroyed. Throughout me next 15 years thmFORRESTAL CVW-17 remained intact, conducting ten Mediterranean deployments. Themjr Wing Headquarters moved from NAS Oceana to NAS Cecil Field in 1980. When FORRESTALentered a three-year Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) in November 1982, CVW-17 crossdlcked to the USS SARATOGA (CV 60). The ‘85-’86 Med Cruise found the SAR ATOGA CVW-17 l earn in the thick of the action, intercepting the Egyptian airliner containing Achille Lauro hijackers on 10 October 1985 and con- ducting strikes against Libya in March 1986. Following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, CVW-17 and SARATOGA were immediately dispatched from a Med deployment to the Red Sea. During Operation DESERT SHIELD, CVW-17 and SARATOGA maintained sea control in the Red Sea while preparing for combat. CVW-17 launched its first combat strike into Iraq at 3:00 a.m. on 17 January' 1991 and continued tojrtrike targets almost continuously over the next 43 days during Operation DESERT STORM. CVW-17 aircraft delivered over four million pounds of ord- nance during DESERT STORM, returning home on 28 March 1991. In November 1992, CVW-17 and SARATOGA completed yet another record setting deployment to the Mediterranean, logging over 22,500 flight hours and over 9,500 arrested landings. CVW-17 and SARATOGA were the first Carrier Battle Group to take station in the Adriatic off the coast of Yugoslavia in support of Operation PROVIDE PROMISE. In addition to supporting United Nations forces, CVW-17 participated in NATO and other exercises with eleven littoral Mediterranean countries. In June 1994 CVW-17 was transferred to USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) homeported in Norfolk, VA. In September 1994. CVW-17 moved its headquarters back to NAS Oceana, VA. Upon a successful 1996 deployment in ENTERPRISE, CVW-17 was transferred to USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69), also homeported in Norfolk, Va. In the summer of 1998, CVW-17 and EISENHOWER patrolled the Adriatic in an effort to keep peace in Yogoslavia. Following the 1998 Mediterranean cruise, CVW-17 was transferred to USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73), homeported in Norfolk VA. During “TEAM 90’s” (CVN 73 + CVW-17) combat deployment to the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean in 2000 CVW-17 broke numerous operational and positive safety records flying 9,300 sorties, 18,000 flight hours and logging 9,200 arrested landings. As a result of a banner de- ployment and unmatched operational excellence and teamwork, the CVW-17 CVN 73 team gar- nered 52 awards in 2000 including 6 Battle “E”s, four Safety “S”s, the RADM McCIuskey and RADM Clifton awards, and the first ever RADM Ramage award for operational excellence.

Page 324 text:

LCDR Herman Gonzalez LT Thomas Murphy LT Raymond Parham LT Matthew Scornavacchi LTJG Jody Pounds LTJG Emmanuel Thomann