Black Eagles return home from WESTPAC and Liberty Bells relocate to new home at Point Mugu. With some cool special markings.

On Jun. 21, 2017, NBVC Point Mugu saw the homecoming of the VAW-113 “Black Eagles” from a six month deployment from USS Carl Vinson and the re-location of the VAW-115 “Liberty Bells” from MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, to their new home in California.

Both squadrons flew off the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) with their E-2Cs acting as airborne command and control platforms, positioning themselves between the ship and other aircraft to relay communications, identify and track air traffic and surface traffic, coordinate air-to-air refueling, handle aircraft emergencies, and provide information from the battlefield to warfare commanders through data-link and satellite radio communications.

The Black Eagles returned with 2 E-2C Hawkeye aircraft and their 19 military crewmembers from a six month deployment to the Western Pacific and South China Sea in support of 7th fleet operations. The remainder of the 150 person, along with two more E-2Cs arrived later, as USS Carl Vinson sailed into San Diego.

The “Liberty Bells” arrived in California with four aircraft and 19 crew members after being forward deployed to Japan for 44 years.

Shorealone Films photographer Matt Hartman went to NBVC Point Mugu to meet the “Black Eagles” and “Liberty Bells” as they were welcomed home by family, friends and co-workers.

 

All images credit: Matt Hartman

 

Salva

Salva

Related articles

• VAW-112 Golden Hawks E-2Cs Return Home to NBVC Point Mugu after 7-month deployment
• Epic photograph of an F/A-18E Super Hornet launching from USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier
• Airstrikes on ISIS: Night Flight Operations on USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier
• [Photo] U.S. F/A-18E Hornet makes final launch of 2014 at night from USS Carl Vinson
• U.S. Navy Super Hornet refuels French Rafale and Super Etendard jets over USS Carl Vinson
• The Aviationist ” New North Korean Propaganda Video Shows Fake Attack on USS Carl Vinson and B-1B Lancer destruction

Salva

The “Golden Hawks” of VAW-112 returned to Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu following a seven month deployment to the Western Pacific and South China Sea.

On Aug. 9 four E-2C Hawkeye aircraft and their 19 aircrew members,belonging to the VAW-112 “Golden Hawks,” returned to NBVC Point Mugu on Aug. 9.

Launching from USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), the squadron flew 428 missions in support of Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea, the Foal Eagle, Balikatan and RIMPAC Exercises during which its Hawkeyes acted as airborne command and control platforms, positioning themselves between the ship and the other aircraft to relay communications, identify and track air traffic and surface traffic, coordinate air to air refueling, handle aircraft emergencies and provide information from the battlefield to warfare commanders through data-link and satellite radio communications.

Total flight hours for the deployment were 1,618.

Shorealone Films photographer Matt Hartman went to NBVC Point Mugu to meet the “Golden Hawks” as they were welcomed home by family, friends and co-workers.

All images: Matt Hartman

Related articles

• Things heat up near South China Sea: two U.S. aircraft carriers, B-52s and EA-18G Growler detachment
• France to deploy Aircraft Carrier in Persian Gulf to join ISIS war
• This crazy video shows flight ops aboard French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in slow motion!
• A memorable anti-terrorist operation with U.S. Navy F-14s and E-2s took place over the Mediterranean Sea in October 1985
• Operation Opera: how 8 Israeli F-16s destroyed an Iraqi nuclear plant 33 years ago today
• The Aviationist ” Terrifying video shows an E-2C Hawkeye almost crashing into the sea after arresting cable snaps aboard USS Eisenhower
• The Aviationist ” U.S. aircraft carrier launched strikes against Daesh from Mediterranean for the first time

Salva

This is the worst nightmare for pilots conducting trap landings on an aircraft carrier.

This video was filmed on Mar. 18, 2016 and shows an E-2C Hawkeye performing a trap landing on the flight deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

As the footage shows, the cable used to catch the landing aircraft snapped: you can see the E-2C, slowed down by the #4 wire, continue toward the end of the flight deck, disappear off the flight deck while falling toward the sea before reappearing several seconds later, miraculously managing to gain speed and altitude.

According to the Virginian-Pilot media outlet, U.S. Navy investigators blamed human error and an improperly programmed valve for the incident in which eight sailors were injured.

Aircraft performing for an arrested landing on a carrier apply full throttle immediately after touchdown for two reasons: they may miss the cable or, worst case scenario, the cable might snap. In both cases, the aircraft needs to

Related articles

• France to deploy Aircraft Carrier in Persian Gulf to join ISIS war
• Airstrikes on ISIS: Night Flight Operations on USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier
• [Photo] U.S. F/A-18E Hornet makes final launch of 2014 at night from USS Carl Vinson
• That time a Soviet bomber crashed into the sea after buzzing a U.S. aircraft carrier
• Extremely rare: U.S. Navy plane lands on snow-covered aircraft carrier’s flight deck
• HD Video: The life of a U.S. Navy C-2A Greyhound squadron at sea
• This crazy video shows flight ops aboard French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in slow motion!