CARRIER AIR WING NINE HISTORY
Carrier Air Wing NINE (CVW-9) has a rich tradition dating back to March 1942 when the first numbered Carrier Air Group was established as CAG 9.
Numerous re-designations took place through the years with our present air wing being commissioned on 26 March 1952.
CVW-9 made its first cruise aboard USS PHILIPPINE SEA in January 1953, participating in operations at the close of the Korean War. From 1954 to 1958, CVW-9 made an around the world cruise aboard USS HORNET and two Western Pacific cruises aboard USS ORISKANY and USS TICONDEROGA.
In February 1960, CVW-9 embarked on USS RANGER for a seven month Western Pacific cruise. The aircraft complement at the time included F8U Crusaders, F2H Banshees, A4D Skyhawks, FJ-3 Furys and AD-1 Spads. Three additional deployments to Western Pacific aboard USS RANGER included two Vietnam cruises. CVW-9 made seven subsequent Vietnam deployments aboard USS ENTERPRISE, USS AMERICA and USS CONSTELLATION. Later, between 1974 - 1987, the wing made peacetime cruises to the Western Pacific aboard USS CONSTELLATION, USS RANGER, and USS KITTY HAWK. CVW-9 was assigned to USS NIMITZ in July 1987, completing the first USS NIMITZ/NINE Western Pacific cruise in February 1989. The Wing completed a West to East Coast transit aboard USS CONSTELLATION in April of 1990 before returning to the USS NIMITZ to participate in post-Desert Storm operations from March to August 1991. From February through August 1993, and again in November 1995 through May 1996, the NIMITZ/NINE team completed deployments to the Arabian Gulf, supporting United Nations sanctions against Iraq in OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH. During the May 1996 deployment, the Battle Group was sortied from the Gulf to conduct contingency operations off the coast of Taiwan. Recently, one month into their 1997/98 around the-world cruise, the NIMITZ/NINE team responded to the Secretary of Defense?s order to proceed to the Arabian Gulf at best speed to reinforce the Southern "No Fly Zone" over Iraq and provide a presence in the midst of Iraqi challenges to United Nation Sanctions. CVW-9 ended their association with the USS NIMITZ in March, 1998, and deployed January to July 2000 on the USS STENNIS.
CVW-9 has evolved into the most lethal carrier-borne strike force in the world. The Air Wing is comprised of F-14A Tomcats, FA-18C Hornets, EA-6B Prowlers, E-2C Hawkeyes, S-3B Vikings SH-60F/H Sea Hawks, and C-2A Greyhounds. The unique features of each type of aircraft in the air wing provide an arsenal of offensive firepower against air, surface, and subsurface threats. The F-14A and FA-18C are multi-role platforms that provide strike and fighter capabilities for power projection and fleet air defense. The EA-6B provides electronic attack, countermeasures, and electronic reconnaissance support. The E-2C Hawkeye provides airborne command, control, and early warning through surface and airborne radar surveillance. The S-3B is involved in long-range undersea and surface detection while the SH-60F/H provides search and rescue capability and close-in submarine detection. A detachment of C-2As provide critical logistics support to the carrier through its primary mission as a Carrier Onboard Delivery platform.
CVW-9 is assigned to Carrier Group Seven and serves as the Air Combat Commander for operations at sea with the USS JOHN C. STENNIS Battle Group. The strike arm of CVW-9 is comprised of nine squadrons: VF-211 "Checkmates" (F-14A) from NAS Oceana, VA, VFA-146 "Blue Diamonds" and VFA-147 "Argonauts" (FA-18C) from NAS Lemoore, CA; VMFA-314 "Black Knights" (USMC FA-18C) from MCAS Miramar, CA; VAQ-138 "Yellowjackets" (EA-6B) from NAS Whidbey Island, WA;VAW-112 "Golden Hawks" (E-2C) from NAS Point Mugu, CA, VS-33 "Screwbirds" (S-3B), HS-8 "Eightballers" (SH-60F/H) and VRC-30 "Providers" (C-2) from NAS North Island, CA.
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