1970s
From 5 March to 17 December 1970, CVW-8 made its first combat deployment to Vietnam. This was to be the last deployment of the Shangri-La which was decommissioned in 1971. The air wing was re-assigned to the USS America (CVA-66) in 1971. All of its squadrons were replaced and received the latest models of the F-4 Phantom II, A-7 Corsair II and A-6 Intruder. In 1971 America went to the Mediterranean Sea, again, before being deployed to Vietnam from 5 June 1972 to 24 March 1973. The wing returned to Med aboard America in 1975, before being re-assigned to the nuclear powered USS Nimitz in 1975.
Read more about this topic: Carrier Air Wing Eight