Carrier Air Wing 5 departs George Washington for hull swap

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON , PACIFIC OCEAN

08.08.2015

Courtesy Story

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73)

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian Sloan
USS George Washington Public Affairs

EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN – Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, the embarked air wing of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), completed its mid-patrol fly off, Aug. 8.

CVW-5's more than 60 aircraft from nine squadrons will temporarily move to Fallon, Nev., in preparation to embark aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

“There are always challenges when you have to move an entire air wing somewhere, but when you are forward-deployed naval forces this becomes second nature since we do it so often,” said CVW-5’s Command Master Chief Todd Wende. “Seventy percent of the air wing is going to Fallon for training while the other 30 percent is charged with ensuring spaces, berthing and shops are set up prior to our transit back.”

CVW-5 participated in a variety of operations and received several coveted awards prior to the hull swap with Ronald Regan during the 2015 patrol.

“We completed Talisman Sabre ’15 with our Australian counterparts and performed large force interdiction strikes, maritime strike and multi-air-defense exercises, which is critical to the allied defense in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Wende. “Also, we had the pleasure of having Vice Adm. Shoemaker on board to present four Battle ‘E’s and a Safety ‘S’ to five different squadrons.”

Despite moving to a new platform, Wende stated that CVW-5’s overall mission will stay consistent.

“Our operations will remain the same, but with a new ship comes new spaces and new nuances that we will all have to learn to work through for the air wing,” said Wende. “It’s business as usual just, on a new aircraft carrier. George Washington has always treated the air wing with the utmost respect and many Sailors are sad to make the move.”
CVW-5 is comprised of seven fixed-wing and two rotary-wing squadrons including: the "Diamondbacks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet; the "Royal Maces" of VFA-27, the "Dambusters" of VFA-195, and the "Eagles" of VFA-115, flying the F/A-18E Super Hornet; the "Shadowhawks" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141, flying the E/A-18G Growler; the "Liberty Bells" of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 115, flying the E-2C Hawkeye; the "Providers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30, Det. 5, flying the C-2A Greyhound; Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12, flying the MH-60S Seahawk; and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, flying the MH-60R Seahawk.
George Washington and CVW-5 are en route to conduct a hull-swap with Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) after serving seven years as the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan.

• Date Taken: 08.08.2015
• Date Posted: 08.11.2015 15:40
• Story ID: 172616
• Location: USS GEORGE WASHINGTON , PACIFIC OCEAN