Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 11

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 11, commonly identified as VAW-11 and nicknamed the “Early Elevens,” was a United States Navy aviation unit specializing in airborne early warning for carrier and shore-based fleet forces. It was headquartered at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, while its operational detachments served aboard attack carriers and anti-submarine carriers of the Pacific Fleet. The squadron’s central role was to extend the fleet’s warning and surveillance horizon by operating radar-equipped aircraft above and around naval formations. Its mission also encompassed combat air patrol support and anti-submarine warfare, and it was expected to provide these services in all weather conditions. The unit originated in 1948 as VAW-1 and was redesignated Fleet Composite Squadron 11, or VC-11, approximately one month later. It initially operated the Grumman TBM-3W Avenger while the Navy was developing practical airborne early warning methods. During the Korean War, VC-11 deployed detachments equipped with Douglas AD-3W and AD-4W Skyraiders. These detachments supplied airborne early warning and anti-submarine protection to fleet forces, demonstrating the value of combining shipborne radar networks with aircraft able to detect and report activity at greater range. The Skyraiders were subsequently supplemented and replaced in this role by the AD-5W variant. The squadron’s responsibilities broadened in the late 1950s. In 1958 it received the AD-5Q Skyraider and Grumman TF-1Q Trader, aircraft that added an electronic-warfare dimension to its earlier warning and anti-submarine functions. The electronic-warfare aircraft were later associated with VAW-13, a unit trained by VAW-11 and commissioned in 1961. In 1959, VAW-11 began receiving the Grumman WF-2 Tracer, an aircraft known by the informal names “Willy Fudd” and “Stoof with a Roof.” The Tracer’s prominent radar installation made it particularly suited to airborne surveillance. In July 1960, the squadron sent its first Tracer detachment to the Western Pacific. Aircraft redesignations in 1962 changed the formal nomenclature of the unit’s equipment: the AD-5W became the EA-1E, while the WF-2 became the E-1B. The most important modernization began in early 1964, when VAW-11 started receiving the Grumman E-2A Hawkeye. The Hawkeye’s complex avionics required extensive ground-support equipment, specialized maintenance, and a substantially larger technical organization. As a result, the squadron expanded considerably in both personnel and maintenance resources. By 1966, VAW-11 had become the United States Navy’s largest carrier-based squadron. It operated E-2A Hawkeye detachments aboard large attack carriers and E-1B Tracer detachments aboard smaller Essex-class carriers. This arrangement allowed one parent organization to provide airborne warning capability across a wide range of carrier platforms. The Navy subsequently reorganized the large squadron to improve efficiency and readiness. On 20 April 1967, VAW-11 was redesignated Carrier Airborne Early Warning Wing 11, and its detachments were established as separate VAW squadrons, including VAW-111, VAW-112, VAW-113, VAW-114, VAW-115, and VAW-116. The redesignation marked the end of VAW-11 as a single operational squadron, while its organizational and training legacy continued through the successor units.

VAW-11 emerged from the United States Navy’s postwar effort to make airborne early warning a practical and deployable carrier capability. Established in 1948 as VAW-1, it was redesignated Fleet Composite Squadron 11, or VC-11, soon afterward. Its first aircraft, the Grumman TBM-3W Avenger, supported the development of the airborne early warning concept by carrying radar and transmitting information that could extend the fleet’s detection range beyond the limits of shipboard sensors. During the Korean War, VC-11 detachments operated in support of fleet forces with Douglas AD-3W and AD-4W Skyraiders. Their duties included airborne early warning and anti-submarine protection. The AD-5W later became the principal Skyraider variant for this mission. Rather than functioning only as a conventional aircraft squadron, VC-11 was organized around detachments that could be distributed among multiple carriers and provide a common warning and surveillance capability across the Pacific Fleet. In 1958, the squadron expanded into related technical missions. The AD-5Q Skyraider and TF-1Q Trader introduced electronic-warfare functions alongside the existing warning and anti-submarine roles. VAW-11 also became involved in the development of a broader Navy airborne-warning structure: the electronic-warfare aircraft were later employed by VAW-13, which was trained by VAW-11 and commissioned in 1961. The arrival of the Grumman WF-2 Tracer in 1959 represented another major step. Informally called “Willy Fudd” or “Stoof with a Roof,” the Tracer was recognizable for its large radar housing and was designed to provide airborne surveillance over naval forces. VAW-11 deployed its first Tracer detachment to the Western Pacific in July 1960. In 1962, the Navy changed the aircraft designations, identifying the AD-5W as the EA-1E and the WF-2 as the E-1B. The squadron began receiving the Grumman E-2A Hawkeye in early 1964. The Hawkeye brought more capable airborne warning technology but also imposed much greater demands on maintenance, avionics support, technical personnel, and ground equipment. VAW-11 consequently grew into a large and complex organization. By 1966, it was the Navy’s largest carrier-based squadron, supporting E-2A detachments on large attack carriers and E-1B detachments on smaller Essex-class carriers. The parent-squadron model eventually became inefficient as the number and complexity of detachments increased. To improve readiness and operational efficiency, the Navy reorganized VAW-11 on 20 April 1967. It was redesignated Carrier Airborne Early Warning Wing 11, and its detachments became separate VAW squadrons, including VAW-111, VAW-112, VAW-113, VAW-114, VAW-115, and VAW-116. Thus, the history of VAW-11 is primarily the history of an organizational and technological transition: from experimental radar-equipped Avenger operations to a distributed carrier-warning system centered on the E-2 Hawkeye and supported by specialized successor squadrons.

• 1967

  Redesignated Carrier Airborne Early Warning Wing 11

  [1]VAW-11en.wikipedia.org

  On 20 April, VAW-11 was reorganized as Carrier Airborne Early Warning Wing 11, and its detachments were established as separate VAW squadrons.

• 1966

  Became the Navy's largest carrier-based squadron

  [1]VAW-11en.wikipedia.org

  VAW-11 operated E-2A detachments on large attack carriers and E-1B detachments on smaller Essex-class carriers, making it the United States Navy's largest carrier-based squadron.

• 1964

  Began receiving the E-2A Hawkeye

  [1]VAW-11en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron started receiving the Grumman E-2A Hawkeye, prompting substantial growth in avionics support, maintenance resources, and personnel.

• 1962

  Aircraft redesignations

  [1]VAW-11en.wikipedia.org

  The Navy redesignated the AD-5W as the EA-1E and the WF-2 as the E-1B.

• 1961

  Supported the creation of VAW-13

  [1]VAW-11en.wikipedia.org

  VAW-11 trained the unit that became VAW-13, which was commissioned to operate electronic-warfare aircraft previously associated with VAW-11.

• 1960

  First Tracer deployment to the Western Pacific

  [1]VAW-11en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron deployed its first Grumman Tracer detachment to the Western Pacific in July.

• 1959

  Received the WF-2 Tracer

  [1]VAW-11en.wikipedia.org

  VAW-11 began receiving the Grumman WF-2 Tracer, a radar-equipped airborne surveillance aircraft later redesignated the E-1B.

• 1958

  Electronic-warfare capability added

  [1]VAW-11en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron received AD-5Q Skyraiders and TF-1Q Trader aircraft, expanding its responsibilities beyond warning and anti-submarine work into electronic warfare.

• 1950

  Korean War airborne warning deployments

  [1]VAW-11en.wikipedia.org

  VC-11 deployed detachments equipped with Douglas AD-3W and AD-4W Skyraiders to provide airborne early warning and anti-submarine protection during the Korean War.

• 1948

  Established as VAW-1 and redesignated VC-11

  [1]VAW-11en.wikipedia.org

  The unit was established as Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 1 and was redesignated Fleet Composite Squadron 11 approximately one month later. It began operations with the Grumman TBM-3W Avenger.

A specialized United States Navy carrier aviation unit positioned as a fleet-level airborne sensor and warning organization, combining radar surveillance with anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare, and combat air patrol support.

• Airborne early warning aircraft

  Grumman TBM-3W Avenger

  The TBM-3W Avenger was the first aircraft operated by the unit. It served during the squadron’s formative period, when the Navy was developing the airborne early warning concept and determining how radar-equipped aircraft could support fleet forces.

• Airborne early warning and anti-submarine aircraft

  Douglas AD-3W and AD-4W Skyraider

  These radar-equipped Skyraider variants supported VC-11 detachments during the Korean War. They provided airborne warning and anti-submarine protection for naval forces operating in the Korean War theater and helped establish the squadron’s distributed-detachment operating model.

• Airborne early warning aircraft

  Douglas AD-5W / EA-1E Skyraider

  The AD-5W was a later Skyraider warning variant used by the squadron after the earlier AD-3W and AD-4W aircraft. In 1962, the Navy redesignated it EA-1E. It supported fleet surveillance and warning missions before the squadron’s transition to newer platforms.

• Electronic warfare aircraft · 1958

  Douglas AD-5Q Skyraider

  The AD-5Q added electronic-warfare capability to the squadron’s airborne warning and anti-submarine portfolio. It was introduced in 1958 and was later associated with VAW-13 after that unit was trained by VAW-11.

• Electronic warfare aircraft · 1958

  Grumman TF-1Q Trader

  The TF-1Q Trader was introduced in 1958 as another platform for the squadron’s expanding electronic-warfare responsibilities. Like the AD-5Q, it contributed to the transition from a narrowly defined warning unit toward a broader airborne surveillance and electronic-support organization.

• Carrier-based airborne early warning aircraft · 1959

  Grumman WF-2 / E-1B Tracer

  The Grumman WF-2 Tracer, redesignated E-1B in 1962, was the squadron’s principal carrier-based radar aircraft during the early 1960s. Its large radar installation earned it the informal names “Willy Fudd” and “Stoof with a Roof.” VAW-11 deployed its first Tracer detachment to the Western Pacific in July 1960 and later assigned E-1B detachments to smaller Essex-class carriers.

• Carrier-based airborne early warning aircraft · 1964

  Grumman E-2A Hawkeye

  The E-2A Hawkeye became the squadron’s most important modernization platform when deliveries began in early 1964. Its advanced avionics increased the unit’s surveillance capability but also required extensive ground support, specialized maintenance, and a much larger technical organization. E-2A detachments were operated aboard large attack carriers.

• 1960Western Pacific Tracer deployment

  Western Pacific

  VAW-11 sent its first Grumman Tracer detachment to the Western Pacific in July 1960, extending its carrier-based airborne surveillance capability into a strategically important Pacific operating area.

  Outcome. The deployment expanded the squadron’s practical experience with the Tracer and reinforced its role in Pacific Fleet warning operations.

  Source
• 1950Korean War operations

  Korean War theater · United States Navy Pacific Fleet

  VC-11 deployed detachments during the Korean War to provide airborne early warning and anti-submarine protection for fleet forces. The operation demonstrated the value of distributing radar-equipped aircraft among carrier formations and integrating airborne reports with wider naval warning networks.

  Outcome. The deployments established an operational foundation for the squadron’s later Pacific Fleet airborne-warning role.

  Source

• 1967

  Reorganized into a wing and separate squadronsStrategy

  Background

  By 1966, VAW-11 had become the Navy’s largest carrier-based squadron, operating numerous detachments across different carrier types.

  Action taken

  On 20 April 1967, the Navy redesignated VAW-11 as Carrier Airborne Early Warning Wing 11 and converted its detachments into separate VAW squadrons.

  Aftermath

  The reorganization was intended to improve efficiency and combat readiness while preserving specialized airborne early warning capacity across the Pacific Fleet.

  Source

• 1964

  Transitioned to the E-2A HawkeyeProduct launch

  Background

  The growing complexity of carrier air operations required a more capable airborne early warning platform than the Tracer.

  Action taken

  VAW-11 began receiving the Grumman E-2A Hawkeye in early 1964.

  Aftermath

  The new aircraft required extensive avionics support and caused major growth in the squadron’s maintenance inventory and personnel.

  Source

• 1958

  Expanded into electronic warfareStrategy

  Background

  The squadron’s original airborne-warning and anti-submarine responsibilities were broadened as naval aviation placed greater emphasis on electronic support and countermeasures.

  Action taken

  VAW-11 received the AD-5Q Skyraider and TF-1Q Trader, adding electronic-warfare aircraft to its operating inventory.

  Aftermath

  The electronic-warfare mission later helped support the creation and training of VAW-13.

  Source

1. 1VAW-11en.wikipedia.org