Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 121 Returns from Deployment

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Samuel Wagner | 221114-N-MW880-2149 ADRIATIC SEA (Nov. 14, 2022) An E-2D Hawkeye, attached to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, lands onto the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), during flight operations Nov. 14, 2022. Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 is the offensive air and strike component of CSG-10 and the George H.W. Bush CSG. The squadrons of CVW-7 are Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143, VFA-103, VFA-86, VFA-136, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Samuel Wagner)  

UNITED STATES

04.21.2023

Courtesy Story

Carrier Strike Group 10

NORFOLK – The “Bluetails” of Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 121 returned to its home base at Naval Station Norfolk, April 21, 2023, following an eight-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, George H.W. Bush CSG, to the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations.

Following completion of a four-week composite training unit exercise, VAW-121 deployed with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Aug. 10, 2022, , embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).

While deployed, VAW-121 trained and operated with NATO partners and allies, deterred aggression by projecting U.S. and Allied power, and expanded interoperability to interchangeability within the Alliance.

VAW-121 participated in the largest bi-lateral U.S.-Israeli exercise in history, Juniper Oak 23-2. Led by U.S. Central Command and the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), Juniper Oak 23-2 was designed to enhance interoperability between the U.S. and Israel militaries. Juniper Oak 23-2 joined the long-standing "Juniper" series that the U.S. and Israel have conducted for more than 20 years. It featured multiple long range strike and live-fire exercises with more than 140 aircraft from the U.S. Air Force, CVW-7, and IDF.

Cmdr. Matthew Campbell relieved Cmdr. Robert Whitmore as commanding officer of VAW-121 during an aerial change of command ceremony above the Mediterranean Sea, March 17. Capt. Alex Hampton, commander, CVW-7, presided.

“I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of the Sailors of the Bluetails,” said Whitmore. “During this deployment, our squadron accomplished unprecedented tasking and we not only strived but excelled, thus catapulting our community into the future.”

George H.W. Bush is the flagship of CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG. CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W. Bush, CVW-7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Information Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55).

The ships of DESRON-26 completing deployment with CSG-10 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119).

The squadrons of CVW-7 embarked aboard the George H.W. Bush are the "Sidewinders" of VFA-86, the "Jolly Rogers" of VFA-103, the "Knighthawks" of VFA-136, the "Pukin Dogs" of VFA-143, the "Bluetails" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 121, the "Patriots" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, the "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, and the "Grandmasters" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46.

• Date Taken: 04.21.2023
• Date Posted: 04.21.2023 19:44
• Story ID: 443109
• Location: US