5 $8

DEPARTMENT OF THE *VY

CARRIER AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING SQUADRON
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY THREE
FPO NEWYORK OOBOl
5000
ser O O ~ ) 04
06 MAR 1987
(Unclassified upon removal of enclosures (31, and (5))
Worn: Commanding Officer, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 123
To: Director of Naval History (OP-09BH), Washington Navy Yard,
Washington, DC 20374-0571
Subj: 1986 COMMAND HISTORY
Ref: (a) OPNAVINST 5750.12D
Encl: (1) Command Organization (U)
(2) Chronology of Events CY-86 (U)
( 3) Amplyfying Narrative (C)
( 4 ) Supporting Documents (U)
(5) 1986 End of Deployment Report (C)
1. In accordance with reference (a), enclosures (1) through (5) are submitted
for VAW-123 1986 Calendar Year History.
n
C. 0. MCDONALD
By direction

Copy to:
COMCAEWWING 12
 C a r r i e r Airborne E a r l y Warning Squadron 123 (VAW-123). The SCREWTOPS f l y
t h e Grumman E-2C Hawkeye and a r e assigned t o C a r r i e r A i r Wing ONE (CVW-1) when
embarked aboard USS AMERICA (CV 66). While a s h o r e , VAW-123 i s a t t a c h e d t o
C a r r i e r Airborne E a r l y Warning Wing TWELVE based a t Naval A i r S t a t i o n Norfolk,
V i r g i n i a . The squadron's primary mission is t o provide a i r b o r n e e a r l y warning
(AEW) and command and c o n t r o l s e r v i c e s t o f l e e t f o r c e s with prompt and
s u s t a i n e d combat o p e r a t i o n s a t s e a i n d i r e c t support of t h e c a r r i e r a i r wing,
c a r r i e r b a t t l e group and t h e Navy's g l o b a l maritime s t r a t e g y . VAW-123 i s
p r e s e n t l y commanded by Commander W. D. Holbrook.

Enclosure ( 1)
02 Two day post h o l i d a y s a f e t y standdown a t NAS Norfolk.
07 VAW-123 p a r t i c i p a t e d i n l i n k e x c e r c i s e s w i t h USS BOSTON (SSN-703)
a t Montauk P o i n t , NY.
22 Provided range c l e a r a n c e f o r VF-33 m i s s i l e e x c e r c i s e .
23 Provided range c l e a r a n c e f o r USS DETROIT missile e x c e r c i s e .

03 Screwtop c a r r i e r q u a l i f i c a t i o n aboard USS AMERICA.

06 Commencenced FLEET EXCERCISE 1-86 i n Puerto Rico o p e r a t i n g a r e a .
25 Completed FLEET EXCERCISE 1-86 and r e t u r n e d t o Norfolk.

09 Loaded aboard USS AMERICA and underway f o r s i x month Mediterranean

deployment.
22 Three C a r r i e r B a t t l e Group o p e r a t i o n s i n t h e v i c i n i t y of Libya;
USS AMERICA, USS SARATOGA, USS CORAL SEA.
31 T r a i n i n g anchorage Augusta Bay, S i c i l y t u r n o v e r with t h e USS SARATOGA
and A i r
Wing SEVENTEEN .
APRIL

04 P o r t v i s i t t o Livorno, I t a l y .
09 Return t o t h e Gulf of S i d r a f o r dual Carrier Battle Group o p e r a t i o n s
with USS CORAL SEA
28 Port v i s i t t o Naples I t a l y .

05 P a r t i c i p a t e d i n NATO e x c e r c i s e DISTANT HAMMER.

17 Dual c a r r i e r o p e r a t i o n with USS ENTERPRISE i n c e n t r a l Mediterranean Sea.
20 P o r t v i s i t t o Cannes, France.
23 VAW-123 Change of Command, CDR Holbrook r e l i e v e d CDR Liebe.
29 Squadron s a f e t y standdown.
31 CentralMediterranean operations.

11 P a r t i c i p a t e d i n Excercise POOPDECK with t h e Spanish A i r Force.

13 P o r t v i s i t t o Palma D e Majorca, Spain.
19 NATO Excercise TRIDENTE.
24 Dual c a r r i e r o p e r a t i o n s with USS FORRESTAL.
28 P o r t v i s i t t o Naples, I t a l y .
Enclosure ( 2)
Central Mediterranean operation NATIONAL WEEK.
Port visit to Catania, Sicily.
Western Mediterranean operations.
Port visit to Benidorm, Spain.

AUGUST
Western Mediterranean operations.
Port visit to Naples, Italy.
Western Mediterranean operations.
Central Mediterranean operations.
Inport Rota, Spain to turnover with USS KENNEDY.
Outchop 6th Fleet.

Trans-Atlantic crossing enroute to home port Norfolk, Virginia.

Screwtops fly off USS AMERICA to NAS Norfolk to complete squadrons
17th deployment since commissioning.
USS AMERICA Battle Group inport Norfolk.

OCTOBER
Squadron celebrated 18 years of mishap free flying.
Participated in Excercise Red Flag 87-1 at AF'B Nellis, Nevada.

Drug interdiction operations at NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Fleet fighter air combat maneuver refresher program in Virginia Vacapes

operating area with VF-33 and VF-102.
C a r r i e r Airborne Early Warning Squadron 123 began 1986 with a two day post
holiday s a f e t y standdown, and prepared f o r an e a r l i e r than expected deploy-
ment. The Screwtops a l s o provided range clearnance f o r VF-33 and USS DETROIT
missile e x c e r c i s e i n t h e Virginia Capes operating a r e a .

I n e a r l y Febuary, t h e squadron moved aboard USS AMERICA (CV-66) and p a r t i c i -

pated i n c a r r i e r q u a l i f i c a t i o n s . The Screwtops then steamed south t o t h e
Puerto Rico o p e r a t i n g a r e a and p a r t i c i p a t e d in one of t h e most successful
e x c e r c i s e s t h i s squadron has ever undertaken, FLEETEX 1-86. The r e s u l t s were
t h e s u c c e s s f u l employment and refinement of new Anti-Air Warfare B a t t l e Force
procedures.

On March 10, two weeks earlier than expected, t h e Screwtops moved aboard USS
AMERICA f o r a Mediterranean deployment. A short trans-Atlantic crossing
allowed only l i m i t e d c a r r i e r q u a l i f i c a t i o n s but expedited our a r r i v a l i n t h e
v i c i n i t y of Libya. The Screwtops and t h e USS AMERICA B a t t l e Group took
s t a t i o n with t h e USS SARATOGA and USS CORAL SEA i n t h e c e n t r a l Ionian. Due t o
increased a c t i v i t y of t e r r o r i s t s , t h e t h r e e c a r r i e r b a t t l e groups moved South
i n t o t h e Gulf of S i d r a . See t h e c l a s s i f i e d n a r r a t i v e i n enclosure (3).

APRIL

After t h e USS AMERICA turnover with t h e USS SARATOGA, t h e Screwtops returned

t o t h e Gulf of S i d r a f o r dual c a r r i e r b a t t l e group operations. The r e s u l t s of
those operations were described i n d e t a i l i n various n a t i o n a l media. During
s t r i k e s a g a i n s t Libya, t h e Screwtops provided combat a i r p a t r o l , e l e c t r o n i c
support measures, command and c o n t r o l support f o r Airwing one a t t a c k a i r c r a f t
on t h e e a s t e r n t a r g e t s and delousing and tanker c o n t r o l f o r t h e FB-111's
r e t u r n i n g from t h e T r i p o l i t a r g e t s . After following t h e USN/USAF s t r i k e s i n t o
Libya, t h e Screwtops s e t t l e d i n t o r o u t i n e C e n t r a l Mediterranean operations
which c o n s i s t e d p r i m a r i l y of s u r f a c e search and combat a i r p a t r o l . See t h e
c l a s s i f i e d n a r r a t i v e i n enclosure ( 3 ) .

Enclosure ( 3)
 The Screwtops started the month of May with NATO excercise DISTANT HAMMER.
Designed to enhance Allied tactical interoperability, the excercise was
significantly curtailed due to real world tension in the southern
Mediterranean. During the excercise, one Screwtop NFO flew with the NE-3A
AWACS and three NAEW controllers visited the Screwtops for some eye-opening
carrier experience. Following DISTANT HAMMER, the squadron participated
briefly in dual carrier operations with the USS ENTERPRISE and also B-52 over
the horizon targeting (OTHT) excercises in the western Mediterranean. On 23
May, VAW-123 held a change of command ceremony aboard USS AMERICA in which
CDR W. D. Holbrook relieved CDR W. C. Liebe.

During the first half of the June, Screwtops patrolled the central
Mediterranean and participated in excercise POOPDECK with the Spanish Air
Force. A USAF controller and two Spanish Air Force controllers flew with the
Screwtops to control USAF/SAF fighters against embarked F-14 Tomcats. After a
short port visit to Palma De Majorca, Spain, the Screwtops participated in
excercise TRIDENTE, and dual carrier operations with the USS CORAL SEA as she
transited to Naples Italy.

JULY

After a port visit to Naples, Italy, the Screwtops returned to flight

operations in the central Mediterranean and participated in NATO excercise
NATIONAL WEEK. Then came port visits to Cantania, Sicily and Benidorm, Spain
followed by more central Mediterranean flight operations.

AUGUST
Western Mediterranean flight operations continued during the month. On 28
August, while inport Rota, Spain, USS AMERICA turned over with USS KENNEDY.
After the turnover was completed, USS AMERICA [Link] from 6th Fleet and
began a trans-Atlantic crossing enroute to its homeport of Norfolk, VA.

On the 9 September, Screwtops flew back to NAS Norfolk concluding a six

month Mediterranean deployment. During the post deployment standown period,
the Screwtops coordinated two missile excercises with VC-12 and the USS
BARNEY. The remainder of the month, the Screwtops concentrated on maintaining
aircrew proficient in primary mission areas in preparation for Red Flag 87-1.
 The Screwtops were inport during the month to celebrate 18 years of mishap
free flying having accumulated 35,900 total hours, 8850 arrested landings
during 9 major deployments. The ground training efforts kicked off the
turnaround training plan and preparation for the NATOPS unit evaluation.
Nearing the end of the month, the Screwtops participated excercise Red Flag
87-1 in Nellis AFB, Nevada.

The Screwtops flew to NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to conduct drug

interdiction operation THUNDERBOLT.

During the first part of the month, Screwtops participated in a Fleet

Fighter Air combat maneuver Refresher Program (FFARP) for VF-33 and VF-102 in
the Virginia Capes operating area. The remainder of the month was dominated
by a holiday standdown and preparation for upcoming shakedown training in USS
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
 UNCLASSIFIED

sQumo1y
1986 B a t t l e "En
N ~ EVx p e~ d i t i o n a r y A w a r d ( 2 3 - 3 1 M ar 86)
M e r i t o r i o u s U n i t C o m m e n d a t i o n (21 Mar-27 Jun 86)
COMNAVAIRLANT n o m i n a t i o n f o r 1 9 8 6 AEW E x c e l l e n c e A w a r d
COMNAVAIRLANT N o m i n a t i o n f o r 1 9 8 6 Secretary of D e f e n s e M a i n t e n a n c e A w a r d

rnIVIIWJbL
1 9 8 6 S a i l o r of t h e Y e a r - AE1 , USN
1986 H a w k e y e of t h e Y e a r - LCDR USN
1986 Junior P i l o t of t h e Y e a r - L T USNR
LCDR J a m e s L. DELANEY A w a r d - L T USNR
LCDR P a u l PI. WRIGHT Safety A w a r d LCDR USN
Command A d v a n c e m e n t P r o g r a m (CAP) -DK2 USN
AMH1 , USN
Navy Achievement Medals - LT , USN
LT USN
AMS1 USN
AT2 USN

NAVY COMHWDATIOIi, MEDAL:

AFCM , USN
LCDR , USN
W1 , USN

HAW ACHI- MEDAL:

DK2 , USN
AE2 , USN
AMH2 , USN
AT1 , USN
ATC , USN
AT2 , USN
HM1 , USN
LT , USN
LT , USN
ATC , USN
AT1 USN
LCDR , USN

COHCBUDESGRU 12 LETTERS OF C ~ A T I O 1 y :
AT2 , USN
AMS2 , USN
PN3 USN
AT2 , USN
AT2 , USN
YNC , USN
ADC , USN
AE1 USN
AMS3 USN
AMS3 , USN
AE3 , USN
AEC USN
AMH1 , USN

E n c l o s u r e (4 )
UNCLASSIFIED