Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) is a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and hangar facilities for supporting, arming, deploying and recovering carrier-based aircraft, shipborne aircraft. Typically it is the ...

air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The Air Wing is currently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). The Tail Code of aircraft assigned to CVW-9 is ''NG''.

Mission

To conduct carrier air warfare operations and assist in the planning, control, coordination and integration of seven air wing squadrons in support of carrier air warfare including; interception and destruction of enemy aircraft and missiles in all weather conditions to establish and maintain local air superiority. All weather offensive air-to-surface attacks, detection, localization, and destruction of enemy ships and submarines to establish and maintain local sea control. Aerial photographic, sighting, and electronic intelligence for naval and joint operations. Airborne early warning service to fleet forces and shore warning nets. Airborne electronic countermeasures. In-flight refueling operations to extend the range and the endurance of air wing aircraft and search and rescue operations.

Subordinate units

CVW-9 consists of 8 squadrons.Squadrons - Carrier Air Wing Nine
– CVW-9 – U.S. Navy – Access Date 9 January 2023

History

Cold War years (1952–1991)

CVW-9 was established as Carrier Air Group Nine (CVG-9) on 26 March 1952 (it was the third Carrier Air Group to carry the CVG-9 designation). It made its first deployment aboard in January 1953 participating in operations at the close of the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

. From 1954 to 1958, CVG-9 made an Around the World Cruise aboard and two Western Pacific deployments aboard and . In February 1960, Carrier Air Group 9 embarked in for a seven-month Western Pacific cruise. The aircraft complement at the time included F-8 Crusader, F2H Banshee, A-4 Skyhawk, FJ-1 Fury and AD-1 Skyraider. On 20 December 1963 the Navy redesignated all Carrier Air Groups to Carrier Air Wings and CVG-9 became Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9). Three additional deployments to Western Pacific aboard included two

Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

cruises. CVW-9 made seven subsequent Vietnam deployments aboard , and . Later, the Air Wing made peacetime cruises to the Western Pacific aboard USS ''Constellation'', USS ''Ranger'' and between June 1974 and June 1987. CVW-9 was assigned to in July 1987, completing the first Nimitz/Nine Western Pacific cruise in February 1989. The Air Wing completed a West to East Coast transit aboard USS ''Constellation'' in April 1990 before returning to to participate in post-

Desert Storm , combatant2 = , commander1 = , commander2 = , strength1 = Over 950,000 soldiers3,113 tanks1,800 aircraft2,200 artillery systems , page = https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-96- ...

operations from March to August 1991.

1990s

From February through August 1993, and again in November 1995 through May 1996, the Nimitz/Nine team completed deployments to the

Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf, sometimes called the Arabian Gulf, is a Mediterranean seas, mediterranean sea in West Asia. The body of water is an extension of the Arabian Sea and the larger Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.Un ...

, supporting

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

sanctions against

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

in Operation Southern Watch. During the May 1996 deployment, the Battle Group sortied from the Gulf to conduct contingency operation off the coast of

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

. One month into their 1997/1998 around the world cruise, the Nimitz/Nine team responded to the Secretary of Defense's order to proceed to the

at best speed to reinforce the Southern "No Fly Zone" over Iraq and provide a presence amid the crisis which led to Operation Desert Fox. CVW-9 ended its association with in March, 1998, and deployed in 2000 on as part of the Carrier Group Seven.

2000s

Following the 11 September attacks, the Stennis/Nine team provided air protection to the West Coast of the United States in support of

Operation Noble Eagle Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) is the United States and Canadian military operation related to homeland security and support to federal, state, and local agencies. The operation began 11 September 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks.. ...

. Shortly after, the Stennis/Nine team deployed to North Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean flying combat missions over

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

in support of

Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used by the U.S. government for both the first stage (2001–2014) of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response ...

before returning to homeport May 2002. CVW-9 made another deployment less than nine months after returning home in January 2003 to the Western Pacific aboard the . Operations included maritime patrol, security operations and participation with allied navies in joint operations and training. In 2005 CVW-9 made an Around the World Cruise aboard the as part of Carrier Strike Group Three. During this cruise the air wing took part in combat operations during

Operation Iraqi Freedom The Iraq War (), also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq lasting from 2003 to 2011. It began with the invasion by a United States-led coalition, which resulted in the overthrow of the Ba'athist governm ...

and

as well as Maritime Security Operations with allied forces in the Persian Gulf. CVW-9 squadrons embarked on board the ''Carl Vinson'' for the deployment included VMFA-323, VFA-154, VFA-147, VFA-146, VAQ-138, VAW-112, VS-33, HS-8 and Detachment 4 of Fleet VRC-40. During the deployment, the air wing logged 2,600 flight hours by its four F-18 strike-fighter squadrons. This overseas deployment marked the final overseas mission for Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33), the ''Screwbirds''. On 12 January 2006 aboard the Carrier Air Wing Nine held a historic change of command where

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

Col. Doug 'Smash' Yurovich became the first Marine commanding officer of a Navy carrier air wing after relieving

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

Michael Spence, as part of the Navy Department's integrated tactical air assets program. CVW-9 is (as of March, 2007) currently deployed aboard the in the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility as part of Carrier Strike Group Three. CVW-9 deployed with USS ''John C. Stennis'' on a scheduled Western Pacific deployment on 13 January 2009. CVW-9 returned to the United States on 6 July 2009 after participating in operations in the Persian Gulf, exercises with Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and annual exercises as Foal Eagle with the

Republic of Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

and joint exercise Northern Edge 2009. Upon completion of this deployment, VFA-154, and VFA-146 were replaced by VFA-41, and

VFA-14 Strike Fighter Squadron 14 (VFA-14) "Tophatters" is a United States Navy fighter attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. They fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet, and are the Navy's oldest active squadron, having formed in 1919. Their ca ...

2010s

CVW-9 deployed again with on a scheduled deployment on 29 July 2011 and returned to the United States on 27 February 2012 after participating in

(OEF). Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Nine were the last aircraft to conduct combat missions over Iraq, ending Operation New Dawn. Following a 5-month down period, CVW-9 deployed again with on a scheduled deployment from August 2012 to April 2013 in support of 5th Fleet operations and

(OEF). (CVN-74) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 collectively earned the 2012 Ramage Award for carrier/air wing operational excellence 26 March 2012. The Navy-wide award, named for Rear Adm. James "Jig Dog" Ramage, a legendary World War II ace, recognizes the top aircraft carrier/air wing team for best performance as an integrated unit and excellence in Navy aircraft carrier operations. VAQ-136 joined CVW-9 on 1 June 2013 making them the first

EA-18G Growler The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American aircraft carrier, carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G replaced the Northrop Grumman EA- ...

squadron in the airwing's history. After a short stay, VAQ-136 was replaced by CVW-9's previous Electronic Attack Squadron, VAQ-133, after successful completion of the transition from EA-6B to EA-18G aircraft. From January through August 2016 CVW-9 executed a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific, strengthening partnerships with allies in the region and executing freedom of navigation missions in the South China Sea. In October 2018 CVW-9 began an around the world cruise on board (CVN-74) as part of Carrier Strike Group Three that would take them through operations in the Western Pacific, South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Atlantic Ocean. During this historic deployment CVW-9 squadrons conducted combat flights in support of Operations Inherent Resolve, Resolute Support and Freedom Sentinel over Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Carrier Air Wing NINE squadrons returned to NAS Lemoore, North Island, Point Mugu, and Whidbey Island in May 2019.

2020s

In May 2020, the Air wing transferred to the . In early August 2024, the Air Wing was deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln in response to heightened tensions between Iran and Israel.

Current force

Fixed-wing aircraft

* F/A-18E Super Hornet * F/A-18F Super Hornet *

F-35C Lightning II The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, supersonic stealth strike fighters. A multirole combat aircraft designed for both air superiority and strike missions, it also has electronic ...

* E-2D Hawkeye

Rotary wing aircraft

* MH-60S Seahawk * MH-60R Seahawk * CMV-22B Osprey

Previous Air Groups designated Carrier Air Group Nine

The first CVG-9 was established on 1 Mar 1942, and disestablished 15 Oct 1945. The second was established as CVG-20 on 15 Oct 1943, was redesignated CVAG-9 on 15 Nov 1946 and CVG-9 (the second use of the designation) on 1 Sep 1948. It was disestablished on 1 Dec 1949. Neither of these two Air Groups share a lineage with Carrier Air Wing Nine.Roy A. Grossnick (ed.), United States Naval Aviation 1910–1995
Appendix 15
accessed May 2012

References

{{United States Navy Carrier air wings CVW-09 Military units and formations in California