NNS0200722-14 Carrier Air Wing Five Completes At-Sea Period
Release Date: 7/22/2002 11:29:00 AM
By Lieutenant j.g. Nicole Kratzer, Naval Air Facility Atsugi Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan (NNS) -- Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) recently returned to its forward-deployed operating base, Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan, after approximately seven weeks of training aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63).
CVW-5 is the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed air wing.
The underway period began with carrier qualifications for CVW-5's aircrew and flight deck certification for Kitty Hawk. According to Lieutenant Frederick Crecelius, a landing signal officer for CVW 5, this carrier qualification period provided the opportunity for new pilots and flight deck crew to become qualified at day and night landing evolutions, while also giving refresher training to experienced members.
This training was especially important since many members of CVW-5 had not landed aboard the carrier since spring 2001. The evolution usually takes an average of four to five days, but on this mission everyone in the air wing was qualified within just three days and nights.
One of the important training requirements accomplished while underway was the ability to drop live ordnance on targets. CVW-5 aviators dropped 424,810 pounds of ordnance in seven days at Farallon de Medinilla (FDM) near Guam and Okino Diato Jima ("The Rock") off of Okinawa. This training was extremely beneficial since CVW 5 cannot carry live ordnance or heavy inert (heavy dummy bombs) from Atsugi.
In addition to dropping live ordnance on targets, CVW-5 aviators also conducted several live air-to-air missile shoots in an effort to exercise aircraft systems and train pilots. Aviators expended four AIM-54 Phoenix, five AIM-7 Sparrow, and three AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Four AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles were also successfully launched against land targets.
Loading live weapons onto aircraft was valuable training for the aviation ordnancemen of the air wing as well.
"Although procedures are the same, live missiles have all the components," said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Anthony Moore, CVW-5's Ordnance Leading Petty Officer. "The smaller components are different on live weapons. Being able to actually see a live weapon makes all the training we do easier to understand."
This at sea period also gave the sailors and aviators of CVW-5 a chance to participate in various training exercises with the Kitty Hawk Battle Group and foreign navies.
Throughout the at-sea period, CVW-5 aviators conducted Maritime Interdiction in the high traffic area of Singapore and Okinawa.
Following a port call to Singapore, SH-60F Seahawks from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 14 (HS-14) and S-3 Vikings from Sea Control Squadron 21 (VS-21) provided Surface Interdiction for a Passing Exercise conducted by the Royal Singapore Navy.
During this exercise, CVW-5 aircraft helped the Singapore Navy practice preventing an enemy force from passing through a choke point. Before pulling into Guam, four F/A-18 Hornets helped provide training to the Kitty Hawk Battle Group by participating in a "Red Air" presentation. The Hornets acted as an opposing attack force, providing all the ships in the battle group training in defending against enemy attack.
CVW-5 sailors had the opportunity to enjoy themselves during this underway period as well. The Hawk/Five team made port visits to Hong Kong, Singapore and Guam.
In each port, sailors were able to enjoy the local sights and attractions.
"The ports were exciting to look forward to," said Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 2nd Class Tomica Rankins of CVW-5's Maintenance Department. "We got exposed to different people, cultures and foods."
Many also gave back to the communities they visited by participating in volunteer community relations projects organized by Kitty Hawk's Chaplain department. According to CVW 5's Chaplain, Lieutenant Glenda Harrison, these projects function as a humanitarian gesture of goodwill that serves to promote positive community relations between the locals and within the Navy community at-large.
Before arriving in Guam, CVW-5 pilots were able to strut their stuff in an Air Power Demonstration.
The aircraft participating included an F-14A Tomcat from Fighter Squadron 154 (VF-154), five F/A-18 Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadrons 27 (VFA-27), 192, and 195, an S-3 Viking from VS-21, an EA-6B Prowler from Electronic Attack Squadron 136 (VAQ-136), and a HH-60H Seahawk from HS-14.
The aircraft performed various aerobatic and routine maneuvers. The evolution was brought to a grand close when HS 14 soared past the flight deck flying the American flag.
Air wing aviators accumulated more than 4,721 flight hours, 2,650 sorties flown, and 2,587 carrier arrested landings for the underway period.
"The hard work and dedication of everyone in this air wing is the reason for our success," CVW-5's commander, Captain Mike Galpin said. "Our accomplishments are a testament to the quality of people we have here."
CVW-5 will continue training throughout the Western Pacific in the upcoming summer months.
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