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Carrier Air Wing 5 Aircraft Return Home

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030501-09
Release Date: 5/1/2003 9:34:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class Johnie Hickmon, Naval Air Facility Atsugi Public Affairs

NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan (NNS) -- The sound of thunder pierced the air on a cloudless spring day, as four F/A-18 Hornets raced across the blue sky and broke formation.

The Hornets, from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195, were the first aircraft and crews of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 to return home to Naval Air Facility (NAF), Atsugi May 1, after more than three months embarked aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) during Operations Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom.

By the end of the day, more than 65 aircraft and aircrew personnel had put their wheels down for a happy, long-awaited homecoming.

Known as America's 9-1-1 air wing, CVW-5 is the U.S. Navy's only permanently forward-deployed air wing. The air wing consists of eight squadrons and one detachment, 75 aircraft and approximately 2,000 personnel. CVW-5 is Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet's only resident carrier air wing. Their area of responsibility stretches from the Bering Sea to the Indian Ocean.

The squadrons in CVW-5 feature a wide range of aircraft, including F-14A Tomcats, F/A-18C Hornets, S-3B Vikings, EA-6B Prowlers, E-2C Hawkeyes, C-2A Greyhounds and SH-60F Seahawks. The Seahawks of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 14 are scheduled to return home throughout the rest of the week.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the air wing conducted air interdiction and close air support missions in support of the U.S. Marine Corps 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, and the U.S. Army's V Corps, projecting air power ashore.

Loved ones and friends gathered excitedly in each squadron hangar, clapping their hands, waving welcoming posters and balloons, and offering food, gifts, handshakes, hugs and kisses to the returning heroes.

"It feels great to be back," said CVW-5 Commander Capt. Patrick Driscoll. "The weather was perfect for our fly-in today. It was great walking by the families and seeing how happy they were to have their loved ones back."

Lt. Jake Parsons of VFA-27, walking arm in arm with his wife, Glory, said he had an extra incentive for wanting to hurry back home.

"It's great to be back on solid ground again," said Parsons. "I'm going to go home with my wife and celebrate a new life."

That new life is the baby that the aviator and his wife are expecting. Prior to Parsons' deployment with his squadron, the couple learned that Glory was pregnant with their first child.

"I couldn't wait for him to return," said Glory, "Now that he's back, I feel safe again."

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan Rear Adm. Robert Chaplin was personally on hand throughout the day, and commended the air wing for a job well done.

"They did a tremendous job over there," he said. "No one could have asked for a better job than what they did. I'm extremely proud of them."

As the shadows of the day began to grow long, the air crewmen got re-acquainted with friends and family. Their wives and children wore relaxed faces, knowing that husband or daddy was back home.