CVW-2 Homecoming

Story and photography by Steve Lewis

Carrier Air Wing Two recently returned home from a scheduled four-month cruise aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) to the Western Pacific, which saw port visits in the Republic of South Korea, Singapore, the Philippines, and Hawaii. According to a NAS Lemoore press release: the Strike Group…”participated in and supported numerous bilateral and multinational maritime exercises supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.” The release went on to state…”The Vinson crew conducted 9,540 launch and recovery evolutions, 7,835 aircraft moves, 651 aircraft elevator moves, and transferred nearly 5,000 pallets of cargo and mail.”

The four Strike Fighter Squadrons assigned to the Vinson are all based at Naval Air Station Lemoore.  Each squadron performed formation flyovers over their individual hangers to the delight of waiting family members who have been eagerly awaiting their return. After being deployed three times, I’ve always been impressed with how the Navy conducts their homecoming events, if not a little jealous if I’m being honest.  Homecomings such as these are a very special event and I feel honored to been part of another one. After being separated from your loved ones, for several months at a time, the feeling of coming home after a long, tiring, deployment is a feeling like no other. Families of these deployed men and women are just as big of a part of the success of the mission as any other part. 

Squadrons returning home to NAS Lemoore were: 

VFA-2 Bounty Hunters, FA-18F Super Hornets,

VFA-113 Stingers, FA-18E Super Hornets

VFA-192 Golden Dragons, FA-18E Super Hornets

VFA-97 Warhawks, F-35C Lightning II

Other squadrons returning home off the Carl Vinson were:

VAQ-136 Gauntlets, EA-18G Growler, NAS Whidbey Island

VAW-113 Black Eagles, E-2D Hawkeye, NAS Pt. Mugu

HSC-4 Black Knights, MH-60S Seahawks, NAS North Island

HSM-78 Blue Hawks, MH-60R Seahawks, NAS North Island. 

I’d like to personally thank Sarah Thrasher from the NAS Lemoore Public Affairs Office for her hospitality. 

All of us at Photorecon.net would like to welcome home everyone home Carrier Air Wing Two, as well as everyone from Carrier Strike Group One, from another successful deployment. We thank all of you and your families from the bottom of our hearts for the sacrifices you have all made.