List of United States Navy Carrier Air Wings - Vietnam

Vietnam

During the Vietnam War Attack Carrier Air Wings typically consisted of approximately 70 aircraft, including two fighter squadrons and three attack squadrons, plus the special squadrons and detachments (VAW, VAQ, RVAH or VFP, VQ, HC or HS.

In 1965, a typical Carrier Air Wing consisted of:

• 2 fighter squadrons (VF) flying F-8 Crusaders of F-4 Phantom IIs
• 2 light attack squadrons (VA) flying A-4 Skyhawks
• 1 attack squadron (VA) flying A-1 Skyraiders or A-6 Intruders
• 1 heavy attack squadron (VAH) flying A-3 Skywarriors or A-5 Vigilantes
• 1 light photographic squadron detachment flying RF-8 Crusaders or 1 reconnaissance attack squadron flying RA-5C Vigilantes
• 2-3 carrier airborne early warning squadron detachment E-1 Tracer airborne early warning aircraft

By the end of the Vietnam War in 1973, a typical air wing consisted of ~90 aircraft:

• 2 fighter squadrons (VF) flying F-4 Phantom IIs or F-8 Crusaders (the latter on Essex class carriers)
• 2 light attack squadrons (VA) flying A-7 Corsairs or A-4 Skyhawks
• 1 medium/all weather attack squadron (VA) flying A-6 Intruders
• 1 electronic warfare squadron (VAQ) flying EKA-3B Skywarriors (also served as aerial refueling tankers) or EA-6B Prowlers
• 1 airborne early warning squadron (VAW) flying 3-4 E-2 Hawkeye aircraft
• 1 reconnaissance attack squadron (RVAH) flying 3-6 RA-5C Vigilantes on Forrestal class and larger carriers, or a detachment of RF-8G Crusaders from a light photographic reconnaissance squadron (VFP)
• Detachments of SH-3s or UH-2s from a helicopter combat support squadron (HC)

An anti-submarine air group (CVSG) aboard the Essex-class anti-submarine carriers (CVS) operated five squadrons:

• 2 anti-submarine squadrons (VS) flying S-2 Trackers
• 1 helicopter anti-submarine squadron (HS) flying SH-3A Sea Kings
• 1 early warning squadron (VAW) of 4 E-1 Tracers
• a detachment of 4 A-4 Skyhawks for self-defence from various Navy or Marine Corps squadrons (VSF, VA, VMA, H&MS)

From 1969 to 1977, a number of carrier air wings were disestablished in the post-Vietnam drawdown: Carrier Air Wing 10 on 20 November 1969, Readiness Carrier Air Wing 12 on 1 June 1970, Readiness Carrier Air Wing 4 on 1 July 1970, Carrier Air Wing 16 on 30 June 1971, Carrier Air Wing 21 on 12 December 1975, and Carrier Air Wing 19 on 30 June 1977.