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)
Photo by U.S. Navy