Carrier Air Wing - Vietnam

Vietnam

During the Vietnam War Attack Carrier Air Wings typically consisted of approximately 70 aircraft, including two fighter squadrons and three attack squadrons, plus the special squadrons.

In 1965, a typical air wing consisted of:

• 2 fighter squadrons (VF) flying F-8 Crusaders
• 2 light attack squadrons (VA) flying A-4 Skyhawks
• 1 attack squadron (VA) flying A-1 Skyraiders
• 1 heavy attack squadron (VAH) flying A-3 Skywarriors
• 2-3 RF-8 Crusader or RA-5C Vigilante reconnaissance planes
• 2-3 E-1 Tracer airborne early warning aircraft

By the end of the Vietnam War in 1973, a typical air wing consisted of ~90 aircraft:

• 2 fighter squadrons (VF) flying F-4 Phantoms or F-8 Crusaders (on Essex class carriers)
• 2 light attack squadrons (VA) flying A-7 Corsairs or A-4 Skyhawks
• 1 medium/all weather attack squadron (VA) flying A-6 Intruders
• 1 electronic warfare squadron (VAQ) flying EKA-3B Skywarriors or EA-6B Prowlers
• 1 airborne early warning squadron (VAW) flying 3-4 E-2 Hawkeye aircraft
• 1 reconnaissance attack squadron (RVAH) flying 3-6 RA-5C Vigilante on Forrestal class and larger carriers, or a detachment of RF-8G light Crusaders from a light photographic reconnaissance squadron (VFP)
• Detachments of SH-3s or UH-2s from a helicopter combat support squadron (HC) and dual-mission EKA-3B electronic warfare and aerial refueling tankers as a detachment from a VAQ squadron

An anti-submarine air group (CVSG) aboard the Essex-class anti-submarine carriers (CVS) operated five squadrons:

• 2 anti-submarine squadrons (VS) flying S-2 Trackers
• 1 helicopter anti-submarine squadron (HS) flying SH-3A Sea Kings
• 1 early warning squadron (VAW) of 4 E-1 Tracers
• a detachment of 4 A-4 Skyhawks for self-defence from various squadrons (VSF, VA, VMA, H&MS)

From 1969 to 1977, a number of carrier air wings were disestablished in the post-Vietnam drawdown: Carrier Air Wing 10 on 20 November 1969, Readiness Carrier Air Wing 12 on 1 June 1970, Readiness Carrier Air Wing 4 on 1 July 1970, Carrier Air Wing 16 on 30 June 1971, Carrier Air Wing 21 on 12 December 1975, and Carrier Air Wing 19 on 30 June 1977.