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| VAW-112 | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112 |
| Caption | E-2C Hawkeye of the squadron |
| Dates | Established 2 January 1967 – present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Type | Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron |
| Role | Airborne early warning, command and control |
| Command structure | Commander, Carrier Air Wing; United States Pacific Fleet / United States Fleet Forces Command |
| Garrison | Naval Air Station North Island |
| Nickname | Golden Hawks |
| Colors | Gold and Black |
| Motto | Protecting the Fleet |
| Decorations | Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation |
VAW-112 is a United States Navy airborne early warning squadron established in 1967 that provides carrier-based radar surveillance, battle management, and command-and-control support. The squadron operates E-2 Hawkeye aircraft and has participated in operations associated with Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. Its activities tie into broader naval aviation and carrier strike group operations led by United States Pacific Fleet, United States Fleet Forces Command, and coordinated with United States Central Command and United States European Command tasking. Squadron deployments have operated from aircraft carriers including USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Nimitz (CVN-68), USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).
The squadron was established during the Cold War era and traces lineage through events shaped by NATO, SEATO, and shifting force posture after the Cuban Missile Crisis. Early deployments included operations in the Gulf of Tonkin and sorties connected to carrier task forces engaged with Task Force 77 and Carrier Strike Group 7. During the 1980s the squadron supported maritime patrols during tensions involving Iran–Iraq War and contributed to operations coordinated with United States Sixth Fleet and United States Seventh Fleet. In the 1990s VAW-112 participated in post-Cold War contingencies associated with Operation Southern Watch and enforcement actions tied to United Nations Security Council resolutions. In the 21st century the squadron provided airborne early warning, command-and-control support, and airborne command element functions across Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and multinational exercises with Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Republic of Korea Navy units.
The unit’s principal mission is airborne early warning and airborne command and control, integrating sensor information to support Carrier Strike Group air defense, maritime domain awareness, and theater battle management. It performs extended-range radar surveillance, Identification Friend or Foe ("IFF") coordination with assets like E-3 Sentry, and airborne relay to surface combatants such as Ticonderoga-class cruiser and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The squadron’s capabilities support strike coordination for platforms including F/A-18 Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, and F-35C Lightning II while interoperating with AWACS assets, P-8 Poseidon, and NATO maritime patrol units. VAW-112 also provides airborne command-and-control for search-and-rescue tasks coordinated with United States Coast Guard and humanitarian assistance liaising with United States Southern Command or United States Indo-Pacific Command staff.
The squadron primarily operates the Grumman/ Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye family of carrier airborne early warning aircraft, progressing through E-2B, E-2C, and E-2D variants. Its sensor suite includes long-range radar arrays, tactical datalinks such as Link 16, secure voice and data systems compatible with Joint Tactical Radio System standards, and mission computing similar to systems fielded on USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) carrier strike group elements. Organic support equipment includes maintenance test sets from Naval Air Systems Command supply chains and logistics coordinated with Commander, Naval Air Force, Pacific depots. The squadron trains with carrier qualification profiles developed in cooperation with Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization and Fleet Replacement Squadron curricula.
Deployments have supported carrier operations across Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, and Mediterranean Sea theaters. The squadron has flown combat sorties during Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and subsequent enforcement campaigns like Operation Southern Watch. In the Global War on Terror it contributed airborne early warning and command-and-control during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, coordinating with Coalition forces and multinational maritime task groups. VAW-112 participated in major exercises such as RIMPAC, Foal Eagle, and Malabar and provided presence missions during crises involving North Korea, Iran, and regional tensions in the South China Sea and Strait of Hormuz.
The squadron is home-ported at Naval Air Station North Island and falls under the administrative command of Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific and operational control when embarked under the relevant Carrier Air Wing. It coordinates through Commander, Naval Air Forces for training readiness and through Commander, Naval Surface Forces when integrating with surface warfare units. Deployments are task-organized under Carrier Strike Group staffs and receive mission tasking from numbered fleets, including Third Fleet and Fifth Fleet operational commands.
Personnel comprise naval aviators, naval flight officers, aircrew, and enlisted aviation maintenance and operations specialists trained under Naval Aviation Schools Command pipelines. The squadron emphasizes carrier qualifications, professional military education linked to Naval War College and Air Command and Staff College opportunities, and cross-deck interoperability familiarization with allied navies such as Royal Australian Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Traditions include squadron insignia, ceremonies observed with Navy birthday events and memorials honoring losses alongside fleet commemorations with ship crews from carriers like USS Nimitz (CVN-68).
The unit has received multiple squadron-level citations including the Navy Unit Commendation and Meritorious Unit Commendation for performance during combat deployments. Individual members have earned awards from Department of the Navy recognition programs and been listed in command historical records alongside carrier air wing decorations and campaign streamers tied to operations such as Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Category:United States Navy squadrons