Home at Last: Carrier Air Wing Two Returns to Lemoore After Nine Months at Sea

Story and photos by Steve Lewis

Naval Air Station Lemoore was buzzing with excitement this week as Carrier Air Wing Two returned from a nine-month deployment aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Families lined the flight line waving flags, holding handmade signs, and straining for the first glimpse of their loved ones. After months apart, the base came alive with laughter, cheers, and the unmistakable joy of homecoming.

According to a US Navy press release, the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG 1) spent its deployment operating across the Western Pacific and the Middle East. While at sea, the air wing’s return was extended by more than 100 days to support U.S. Central Command operations. Over the course of the deployment, Sailors and aviators flew more than 10,000 sorties, logged 17,000 flight hours, carried out 45 replenishments-at-sea, and sailed a combined 275,000 nautical miles. Their missions ranged from multinational training exercises with allies to freedom of navigation operations and combat sorties that disrupted threats to international shipping lanes.

Yet, the true story of this homecoming unfolded not in statistics but in the heartfelt reunions taking place on the tarmac. Children dashed into the arms of parents they had only seen on video calls, while spouses shared long-awaited embraces. For friends and families, the long months of waiting were finally replaced with the comfort of being together again.

The return also marked the homecoming of four proud strike fighter squadrons based at NAS Lemoore:

• VFA-2 “Bounty Hunters”

• VFA-113 “Stingers”

• VFA-192 “Golden Dragons”

• VFA-97 “Warhawks”

As the squadrons settle back into life at home, the community of Lemoore celebrates alongside them. The homecoming was more than the end of a deployment—it was a reminder of the enduring bond between the Navy, its Sailors, and the families and neighbors who stand behind them.