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.

Read more about this topic:  Carrier Air Wing

Famous quotes containing the word vietnam:

    “That’s just the trouble, Sam Houston—it’s always my move. And damnit, I sometimes can’t tell whether I’m making the right move or not. Now take this Vietnam mess. How in the hell can anyone know for sure what’s right and what’s wrong, Sam?”
    —Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908–1973)

    “I told them I’m not going to let Vietnam go the way of China. I told them to go back and tell those generals in Saigon that Lyndon Johnson intends to stand by our word, but by God, I want something for my money. I want ‘em to get off their butts and get out in those jungles and whip hell out of some Communists. And then I want ‘em to leave me alone, because I’ve got some bigger things to do right here at home.”
    —Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908–1973)

    “Above all, Vietnam was a war that asked everything of a few and nothing of most in America.”
    —Myra MacPherson, U.S. author. Long Time Passing: Vietnam and the Haunted Generation, epilogue (1984)