Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 114

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 114, designated VAW-114 and nicknamed the “Hormel Hawgs,” was a United States Navy aviation unit specializing in airborne early warning, battle management, surveillance, and communications support for carrier strike forces. Unlike a commercial brand, it was an operational military organization whose identity was associated with its squadron designation, nickname, aircraft, carrier air wings, and deployment record. The squadron was established on 20 April 1967 from Detachment C of VAW-11. At formation it was already engaged in the Vietnam War, operating E-2A Hawkeye aircraft with Carrier Air Wing Eleven aboard USS Kitty Hawk. Its principal mission was to extend the fleet’s awareness beyond the horizon, detect and track aircraft and surface activity, coordinate defensive responses, and support naval and air operations. The Hawkeye’s radar and command-and-control capabilities made VAW-114 an important link between carrier aviation forces and other elements of U.S. military operations. During the late 1960s and 1970s, VAW-114 conducted several deployments to the Vietnam combat zone before later joining Carrier Air Wing Fifteen aboard USS Coral Sea. By 1976 the squadron was based at Naval Air Station Miramar. In 1978 it returned to USS Kitty Hawk and deployed to the Arabian Sea in response to the Iran hostage crisis, demonstrating the unit’s role in maintaining surveillance and command support during periods of geopolitical tension. The squadron joined USS Carl Vinson in 1982 and completed multiple deployments through 1990. Its operating pattern expanded beyond Vietnam-era missions to include the Northern and Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and Middle Eastern waters. In 1988, VAW-114 supported Operation Earnest Will during the Iran–Iraq War by providing airborne early warning and escort-related support for oil tankers being protected by U.S. naval forces. In 1990 and 1991, the unit transitioned to the E-2C+ Hawkeye configuration and conducted two counter-drug-interdiction deployments to Howard Air Force Base in Panama. In 1992, it was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Fifteen and accompanied USS Kitty Hawk during the carrier’s voyage from Norfolk around South America to Naval Air Station North Island. The squadron also participated in the multinational RIMPAC exercise that year. A further deployment beginning in November 1992 took VAW-114 with Carrier Air Wing Fifteen and USS Kitty Hawk to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf. During that cruise, the squadron supported Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and Operation Southern Watch in the Persian Gulf region. Its early warning aircraft provided airborne surveillance and command support, including support associated with the 13 January 1993 air strike conducted during Southern Watch. The squadron returned to Miramar in May 1993 and later deployed to Panama for another counter-drug mission. VAW-114 left Miramar in June 1994 for its final deployment, patrolling waters around Korea aboard USS Kitty Hawk. It returned in December 1994. The squadron was formally disestablished on 31 March 1995 at Naval Air Station Miramar as part of the United States Navy’s post-Cold War force reductions. Its legacy rests on nearly three decades of carrier-based airborne early warning operations across the Vietnam War, the Middle East, the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean, Somalia, Korea, and counter-drug missions in the Americas.

VAW-114 originated as Detachment C of VAW-11 and was formally established on 20 April 1967. The new squadron operated the E-2A Hawkeye and initially served with Carrier Air Wing Eleven aboard USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War. Its aircraft supplied airborne radar coverage, early warning, and command-and-control support for naval forces and strike aircraft operating over and around the Gulf of Tonkin. The squadron completed additional Vietnam-era deployments before becoming associated with Carrier Air Wing Fifteen and USS Coral Sea. By 1976, its shore base was Naval Air Station Miramar in California. In 1978, VAW-114 returned to USS Kitty Hawk for an Arabian Sea deployment connected with the Iran hostage crisis. This period illustrated the squadron’s transition from a primarily Vietnam-focused unit into a globally deployable carrier aviation organization. In 1982, VAW-114 joined USS Carl Vinson. Between 1982 and 1990 it made six deployments, followed by additional operations in the Northern and Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean. In 1988, during the Iran–Iraq War, it supported Operation Earnest Will, in which U.S. naval forces escorted reflagged oil tankers. The squadron’s airborne early warning role helped provide situational awareness for maritime forces operating in a contested region. The unit adopted the E-2C+ Hawkeye in 1990–1991 and performed two counter-drug deployments to Howard Air Force Base in Panama. In 1992, it joined Carrier Air Wing Fifteen and accompanied USS Kitty Hawk on the carrier’s around-the-horn voyage from Naval Station Norfolk to Naval Air Station North Island. VAW-114 also took part in RIMPAC, a multinational Pacific exercise. In November 1992, VAW-114 deployed with Carrier Air Wing Fifteen and USS Kitty Hawk to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf. It supported Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and Operation Southern Watch. The squadron provided airborne early warning support during the January 1993 air strike associated with Southern Watch. After returning to Miramar in May 1993, it carried out another counter-drug-interdiction deployment to Panama. The squadron’s final deployment began in June 1994 and focused on patrols around Korea aboard USS Kitty Hawk. VAW-114 returned to Miramar in December 1994. The post-Cold War restructuring of the Navy led to the unit’s disestablishment on 31 March 1995. Across almost 28 years, VAW-114 served in combat, crisis-response, maritime-security, multinational-exercise, and counter-drug roles, using the E-2 Hawkeye as its principal operational platform.

• 1995

  Disestablished

  [1]VAW-114en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron was formally disestablished at Naval Air Station Miramar on 31 March as part of post-Cold War Navy force reductions.

• 1994

  Final deployment

  [1]VAW-114en.wikipedia.org

  VAW-114 conducted its final deployment aboard USS Kitty Hawk, patrolling waters around Korea, and returned to Miramar in December.

• 1993

  Restore Hope and Southern Watch support

  [1]VAW-114en.wikipedia.org

  During its 1992–1993 deployment, the squadron supported operations in Somalia and the Persian Gulf, including airborne early warning support during the January 1993 Southern Watch air strike.

• 1992

  RIMPAC and Kitty Hawk around-the-horn voyage

  [1]VAW-114en.wikipedia.org

  VAW-114 joined Carrier Air Wing Fifteen, accompanied USS Kitty Hawk from Norfolk to North Island, and participated in RIMPAC.

• 1990

  E-2C+ transition and Panama missions

  [1]VAW-114en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron upgraded to the E-2C+ Hawkeye and conducted counter-drug-interdiction deployments to Howard Air Force Base in Panama.

• 1988

  Operation Earnest Will support

  [1]VAW-114en.wikipedia.org

  VAW-114 supported U.S. naval tanker-escort operations during the Iran–Iraq War.

• 1982

  Joined USS Carl Vinson

  [1]VAW-114en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron began its association with USS Carl Vinson and completed multiple deployments through 1990.

• 1978

  Arabian Sea deployment

  [1]VAW-114en.wikipedia.org

  VAW-114 rejoined USS Kitty Hawk in the Arabian Sea during the Iran hostage crisis.

• 1976

  Moved to Naval Air Station Miramar

  [1]VAW-114en.wikipedia.org

  By 1976, the squadron had moved its shore base to Naval Air Station Miramar in California.

• 1967

  Squadron established

  [1]VAW-114en.wikipedia.org

  VAW-114 was established on 20 April from Detachment C of VAW-11 and operated from the United States Navy’s carrier aviation structure.

• 1967

  Vietnam War operations

  [1]VAW-114en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron operated E-2A Hawkeye aircraft with Carrier Air Wing Eleven aboard USS Kitty Hawk in support of operations connected with the Vietnam War.

A carrier-based airborne early warning and battle-management squadron supporting United States Navy carrier operations across expeditionary theaters.

• Airborne early warning aircraft

  E-2A Hawkeye

  The E-2A was VAW-114’s initial operational aircraft. Its shipborne radar and mission systems enabled the squadron to detect and track airborne and maritime activity beyond the carrier group’s direct line of sight, while supporting command, control, and coordination for naval aviation operations.

• Airborne early warning aircraft · 1990

  E-2C+ Hawkeye

  The E-2C+ upgrade formed the squadron’s principal late-service platform. It provided improved airborne surveillance and battle-management capability for carrier deployments, maritime security, Operation Southern Watch support, Korean patrols, and counter-drug-interdiction missions.

• 1994Korea patrol deployment

  Korean waters

  VAW-114’s final deployment involved patrolling waters around Korea aboard USS Kitty Hawk.

  Outcome. The squadron returned to Naval Air Station Miramar in December 1994 before being disestablished.

  Source
• 1992RIMPAC

  Pacific Ocean

  VAW-114 participated in the multinational Rim of the Pacific exercise after joining Carrier Air Wing Fifteen.

  Outcome. The exercise provided experience in multinational maritime and air coordination.

  Source
• 1992Operation Restore Hope

  Somalia · Indian Ocean

  During the USS Kitty Hawk deployment, VAW-114 supported the U.S.-led operation in Somalia through airborne early warning and surveillance functions.

  Outcome. The squadron supported carrier and expeditionary forces operating in and around Somalia.

  Source
• 1992Operation Southern Watch

  Persian Gulf · Southern Iraq

  VAW-114 supported enforcement operations in the Persian Gulf region during its Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf deployment.

  Outcome. The squadron supplied airborne early warning support, including support associated with the 13 January 1993 air strike.

  Source
• 1990Counter-drug-interdiction deployments

  Panama · Caribbean region

  After transitioning to the E-2C+ configuration, VAW-114 deployed twice to Howard Air Force Base for counter-drug-interdiction duty.

  Outcome. The missions extended the squadron’s surveillance role beyond carrier combat deployments.

  Source
• 1988Operation Earnest Will

  Persian Gulf · Arabian Sea

  VAW-114 supported U.S. naval efforts to escort oil tankers during the Iran–Iraq War.

  Outcome. The squadron contributed airborne situational awareness to maritime escort operations.

  Source
• 1978Iran hostage crisis response

  Arabian Sea

  The squadron deployed with USS Kitty Hawk to the Arabian Sea during the regional crisis created by the Iran hostage situation.

  Outcome. VAW-114 provided carrier-based surveillance and early warning support during the deployment.

  Source
• 1967Vietnam War operations

  Vietnam · Gulf of Tonkin

  VAW-114 operated from USS Kitty Hawk with Carrier Air Wing Eleven, providing airborne early warning and command support for U.S. naval and air forces.

  Outcome. The squadron completed multiple Vietnam-era war-zone deployments before shifting toward broader global carrier operations.

  Source

• 1995

  Disestablishment during post-Cold War reductionsStrategy

  Background

  The United States Navy reduced force structure after the end of the Cold War.

  Action taken

  VAW-114 was formally disestablished on 31 March 1995 at Naval Air Station Miramar.

  Aftermath

  The “Hormel Hawgs” ceased to exist as an active squadron after nearly 28 years of service.

  Source

• 1990

  Transition to the E-2C+ HawkeyeGeneration change

  Background

  The squadron required a modernized airborne early warning platform for its late-Cold War and post-Cold War missions.

  Action taken

  VAW-114 upgraded from its earlier Hawkeye configuration to the E-2C+ version.

  Aftermath

  The upgraded aircraft supported subsequent deployments, including Panama counter-drug missions, Southern Watch, Somalia support, and the final Korea patrol.

  Source

1. 1VAW-114en.wikipedia.org