USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) — CSG-2
Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) AJ
Squadron Nickname Aircraft MoDex
VFA-31 ‘Tomcatters’ F/A-18E 1xx
VFA-213 ‘Black Lions’ F/A-18F 2xx
VFA-87 ‘Golden Warriors’ F/A-18E 3xx
VFA-37 ‘Ragin Bulls’ F/A-18C 4xx
VAQ-131 ‘Lancers’ EA-18G 5xx
VAW-124 ‘Bear Aces’ E-2D* 60x
HSC-9 ‘Tridents’ MH-60S 61x
HSM-70 ‘Spartans’ MH-60R 7xx
VRC-40 Det 2 ‘Rawhides’ C-2A xx
*VAW-124 is currently undergoing conversion to the E-2DUSS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) — CSG-3
Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) NG
Squadron Nickname Aircraft MoDex
VFA-41 ‘Black Aces’ F/A-18F 1xx
VFA-14 ‘Tophatters’ F/A-18E 2xx
VFA-97 ‘Warhawks’ F/A-18E 3xx
VFA-151 ‘Vigilantes F/A-18E 4xx
VAQ-133 ‘Wizards’ EA-18G 5xx
VAW-117 ‘Wallbangers’ E-2C 60x
HSC-14 ‘Chargers’ MH-60S 61x
HSM-71 ‘Raptors’ MH-60R 7xx
VRC-30 Det 4 ‘Providers’ C-2A xxUSS Nimitz (CVN 68) — CSG-11
Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) NH
Squadron Nickname Aircraft MoDex
VFA-154 ‘Black Knights’ F/A-18F 1xx
VFA-147 ‘Argonauts’ F-35C 2xx
VFA-146 ‘Blue Diamonds’ F/A-18E 3xx
VMFA-323 ‘Death Rattlers’ F/A-18C 4xx
VAQ-142 ‘Gray Wolves’ EA-18G 5xx
VAW-115 ‘Liberty Bells’ E-2C 60x
HSC-8 ‘Eightballers’ MH-60S 61x
HSM-75 ‘Wolfpack’ MH-60R 7xx
VRC-30 Det 3 ‘Providers’ C-2A xx
VFA-147 is currently undergoing conversion to the F-35C
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) — CSG-9
Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) NA
Squadron Nickname Aircraft MoDex
VFA-22 ‘Fighting Redcocks’ F/A-18F 1xx
VFA-113 ‘Stingers’ F/A-18E 2xx
VMFA-312 ‘Checkerboards’ F/A-18C 3xx
VFA-94 ‘Mighty Shrikes’ F/A-18E 4xx
VAQ-139 ‘Cougars’ EA-18G 5xx
VAW-116 ‘Sun Kings’ E-2C 60x
HSC-6 ‘Screamin Indians’ MH-60S 61x
HSM-73 ‘Battlecats’ MH-60R 7xx
VRC-30 Det 1 ‘Providers’ C-2A xx
Note: CVW-14 was disestablished on March 31, 2017
AIRCRAFT OF THE CARRIERS
C-2A Greyhound
The Grumman C-2A Greyhound is a
long-range logistical support aircraft that
serves in the carrier on-board delivery
(COD) role. The eet currently includes
34 C-2As that are operated by two eet
logistics support squadrons (composite)
and the E-2/C-2 eet replacement
squadron. Two C-2As are forward-
deployed in Japan and another supports
testing duties with VX-20 at NAS Patuxent
River, Maryland.
VRC-30 at NAS North Island,
California, and VRC-40 at NS Norfolk,
Virginia, normally deploy two-aircraft
detachments with each CVW. They are
typically staged ashore at an air eld near
the carrier’s operating area and make
daily ights to and from the ship. The
C-2A is programmed to remain in service
until 2028, but phase-out will begin
around 2020. It is being replaced by a
variant of the MV-22B tilt-rotor known as
the CMV-22B.E-2C Hawkeye/E-2D
Advanced Hawkeye
The Northrop Grumman E-2 series is the
oldest design ying from the US Navy’s
aircraft carriers. It rst entered service as
the Grumman E-2A in January 1964 when
the rst example was delivered to carrier
airborne early warning squadron VAW-11
at NAS North Island, California. Today
the aircraft serves as the eet’s airborne
surveillance and battle management
command and control platform.
E-2Cs currently equip ve eet
squadrons and one eet replacement
squadron. As of late 2017 the inventory
included 41 E-2Cs and a single TE-2C that
supports pilot training.
Known as the E-2D Advanced
Hawkeye, the latest version achieved
initial operational capability (IOC) in
October 2014 and completed its maiden
deployment aboard the USS Theodore
Roosevelt (CVN 71) in November 2015.
The E-2D’s Lockheed Martin AN/APY-9A deck handler directs an F/A-18E of VFA-115 on the fl ight deck of
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). US Navy/MCS2C Kenneth AbbateThe eyes and ears of the carrier group is the Hawkeye, with this E-2D being from VAW-121
embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). US Navy/MCS3C Jeff ShermanThe C-2A Greyhound is
the lifeline for the carriers,
transporting time-critical
goods and personnel to and
from shore bases. US Navy/
MCS2C Kenneth Abbatehttp://www.combataircraft.net // October 2018 39