Carrier Air Wing Eight - 1950s

1950s

CVW-8 was recommissioned in April 1951 and has been in continuous operation since that date. Originally designated Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8), most of the wing's squadrons were reserve squadrons. CVG-8 made its first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea aboard USS Tarawa (CVA-40) in 1951-52. Up to 1957, CVG-8 made three deployments aboard the carriers USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), USS Lake Champlain (CVA-39), and USS Intrepid (CVA-11), followed by the shakedown cruise aboard the newly commissioned USS Ranger (CVA-61) in late 1957. The following year, CVG-8 was assigned to the USS Forrestal (CVA-59).