Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron
ONE ONE FIVE

Current Status

During the October-November at-sea period, the Liberty Bells of VAW-115 participated in exercises "FOAL EAGLE" and "ANNUALEX" in The Sea of Japan. After quickly completing pilot carrier requalifications, the exercises soon got underway. While working with CVW-5 aircraft and a variety of multinational assets, VAW-115 flew 56 sorties and honed its skills during both day and night operations. By being an essential participant in everything from mission planning to command and control of multiple training strikes, VAW-115 proved once again the value and necessity of Airborne Early Warning platforms in today’s modern carrier battlegroups.

After a brief but exciting month at sea, USS Independence returned to its homeport, Yokosuka, Japan while the squadrons of CVW-5 prepared for the upcoming holidays. Thanksgiving was close at hand and many ‘Bells’ were enjoying an Asian Thanksgiving when tensions began to rise in the Arabian Gulf region. As Christmas approached it appeared as if the situation was returning to normal. However, this was only a holiday wish. Early in January, with many of the squadron’s personnel still on leave, the order was given to immediately prepare for a January 23^rd departure. Those on leave were recalled to duty and VAW-115 began the process of getting the squadron ready for an extended deployment.

While aircrews flew grueling hours, the maintenance teams worked around the clock fixing all aircraft discrepancies. Administratively, the squadron prepared the documents necessary to ensure the smooth operation of a unit deployed halfway around the globe. With less than one-week notice, ‘The Bells’ were ready for action. Families rendered good-byes and VAW-115, with all its aircraft and more than 150 personnel, loaded aboard.

As the Indy steamed westward during the long transit to the Gulf, the Liberty aircrews and sailors had to focus on the upcoming task at hand. The anticipated aircraft transition from the aging E2-C Group 0 aircraft, currently flown by VAW-115, to the brand new E2-C Group II birds is still scheduled for the summer of 1998. The upgraded version, which has an improved combat information center offering features like, increased detection range, continuous overland and oversea detection and tracking, an enhanced high-speed processor with color display, and secure anti-jam voice and data communications, was originally scheduled to arrive in early summer of 1998. The upgraded aircraft, whose other modifications include an improved navigation suite, complete with Global Positioning System, and a beefed up propulsion system, will greatly increase VAW-115’s mission capabilities as a command and control platform and make CVW-5 a more able fleet asset.

Despite the challenges presented to us, we continue to persevere and ‘get the job done’ here at the ‘Tip of the Spear.’ VAW-115 aircrew and sailors, alike, are committed to the present mission determined to accomplish it with professionalism and tenacity. We invite you to visit with us regularly so that you may learn more about our squadron and enjoy the stories we have to tell.