Carrier Air Wing Three
| Carrier Air Wing Three | |
|---|---|
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CVW-3 Insignia
|
|
| Active | 1 July 1938 - Present |
| Country |
 United States of America
|
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Carrier Air Wing |
| Part of | Carrier Strike Group 10 |
| Garrison/HQ |
NAS Oceana USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) |
| Nickname(s) | "Battle Axe" |
| Tail Code | AC |
| Engagements |
World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Operation Desert Fox Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Decorations |
Presidential Unit Citation Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (6) United Nations Service Medal Korean Service Medal (2) Navy Unit Commendation (2) China Service Medal Meritorious Unit Commendation Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3), known as the "Battle Axe", is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The wing was created on 1 July 1938 and has seen service in World War II, Korea, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Lebanon, against Libya, and since September 11, 2001. As of 2012, the air wing is routinely embarked aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) as part of Carrier Strike Group 10. Captain Sara A. Joyner, USN, became the first woman to lead a U.S. Navy carrier air wing when she took command of Carrier Air Wing Three on 7 January 2013. As of June 2016, it is embarked on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
"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."
CVW-3 consists of 9 Squadrons:
The air wing was commissioned on 1 July 1938 as the Saratoga Air Group and during World War II was assigned to the first carrier to bear the name (USS Saratoga (CV-3)). The wing was deployed on Saratoga until the ship was torpedoed in January 1942. Part of the wing was then deployed aboard USS Yorktown (CV-5) and helped cripple the Japanese carrier Soryu during the battle of Midway. The wing was also involved in the first carrier strikes against Tokyo.
Became CVG-3 25 September 1943; Attack Carrier Air Group 15 November 1946 ; back to CVG-3 1 September 1948.
The air wing was assigned to the USS Leyte (CV-32) in 1950 when she transited the Panama Canal en route to Korean War operations. The Wing flew in support of the Pusan Perimeter, the invasion on Wonsanand, and strikes on Hungnam Salient and Yalu River Bridges. The wing accumulated over 11,000 operational hours flying against the North Korean and Chinese Communist Forces.
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Wikipedia