CVW5 aircraft

A BLAST FROM THE BAST: THE PHOTO OF CARRIER AIR WING 5 AIRCRAFT FLYING IN FORMATION OVER Mt. FUJI

By Gabriele Barison
Apr 23 2017
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Carrier Air Wing 5 is the the U.S. Navy’s only continuously forward-deployed air wing

The interesting picture in this post features aircraft from the U.S. Navy’s only continuously forward-deployed air wing, Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) which operates from Japan and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) today, flying in formation past Mt. Fuji 10 years ago this month.

At the time this picture was taken CVW-5 was embarked aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63). In Aug. 2008, USS George Washington (CVN-73) replaced USS Kitty Hawk as the U.S. Navy’s forward deployed carrier and CVW-5 was reassigned to George Washington.

VFA-195 transitioned to the F/A-18E Super Hornet during the fall of 2010 and in Mar. 2012 VAQ-141 equipped with the new EA-18G Growler replaced VAQ-136. Thus, CVW-5 became the first U.S. Navy carrier air wing flying only variants of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as strike-fighter aircraft.

In 2013, the wing’s helicopter squadrons were replaced, when the MH-60S Seahawk-equipped HSC-12 replaced HS-14, and HSL-51 was replaced by HSM-77, flying the MH-60R Seahawk.

On Jan. 14, 2014, the U.S. Navy announced that the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) would replace the USS George Washington as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group Five.

In Oct. 2015 the USS Ronald Reagan along with CVW-5 moved to their new home base of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The carrier was home-ported at Yokosuka and CVW-5 at Atsugi Naval Air Facility.

Currently CVW-5 consists of eight Squadrons and one Fleet Logistics Squadron Detachment

VFA-27 Strike Fighter Squadron 27 ‘Royal Maces’ (F/A-18E Super Hornet)
VFA-102 Strike Fighter Squadron 102 ‘Diamondbacks’ (F/A-18F Super Hornet)
VFA-115 Strike Fighter Squadron 115 ‘Eagles’ (F/A-18E Super Hornet)
VFA-195 Strike Fighter Squadron 195 ‘Dambusters’ (F/A-18E Super Hornet)
VAW-115 Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 115 ‘Liberty Bells’ (E-2C Hawkeye)
VAQ-141 Electronic Attack Squadron 141 ‘Shadowhawks’ (EA-18G Growler)
VRC-30 Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 ‘Providers’ (C-2A Greyhound)
HSC-12 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 ‘Golden Falcons’ (MH-60S Seahawk)
HSM-77 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 77 ‘Saberhawks’ (MH-60R Seahawk)

This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F/A-18F Super Hornet VFA-102 Diamondbacks, NF102 / 165882. CVW-5, USS Kitty Hawk CV-63 – 50th Anniversary, 2005

Photo credit: U.S. Navy

Artwork courtesy of AircraftProfilePrints.com


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Gabriele Barison

Gabriele Barison

Gabriele Barison is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Co-Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. He has flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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