VAW-78

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 78 (VAW-78), nicknamed the "Fighting Escargots" or "Slugs" was a reserve Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established on 1 July 1970 as part of a major reorganization of the Naval Air Reserve and deactivated on 31 March 2005.

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 78
Active1 October 1968 – 31 March 2005
Country United States of America
Branch United States Navy
TypeAirborne Early Warning
Nickname(s)"Fighting Escargots"
Aircraft flown
Electronic
warfare		E-2 Hawkeye
Grumman E-1 Tracer

Squadron History

1970s

The Fighting Escargots was established in July 1970 at NAS Norfolk as a component of Anti-Submarine Group Reserve Seventy. The squadron initially operated the E-1B Tracer aircraft.[1]

A Grumman E-1B Tracer of Naval Reserve airborne early warning squadron VAW-78 Fighting Escargots at NARTU Norfolk, Virginia (USA), in 1970.

In September 1975, VAW-78 became a component of Carrier Air Wing Reserve TWENTY. Two years later, the squadron transitioned to the E-2B "Hawkeye" aircraft. During March 1983, the first E-2C "Hawkeye" was introduced to the squadron and remains in use today. This milestone marked the first current tactical fleet aircraft to be utilized in the Naval Air Reserve.[1]

1980s

VAW-78 operated on board aircraft carriers on five extended periods for active duty training of its Navy Reserve personnel. The squadron participated in many exercises, including the UNITAS exercises with Latin American navies. The squadron also coordinated missile shoots and provided search and rescue support for space shuttle launches.

1990s
U.S. Navy E-2C Hawkeye of VAW-78 flies over the James River.

Its most important contribution was with the tracking and interdiction of drug running aircraft and vessels in the Caribbean area starting in the 1990s . In 1999, after Hurricane Floyd struck the U.S. East Coast, the squadron provided air control for federal, state, and local aircraft bringing relief to 20,000 flooded residents.

2000s

VAW-78 was set to be deactivated March 31, 2005. Before being deactivated, VAW-78 transferred some of its aircraft to VAW-77 to replace older E-2Cs in that squadron.[1][2]

See also

References
  1. "Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 78 (VAW-78)". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2015-10-27.
  2. Burgess, Rick (2006-03-01). "VAW-78 Fighting Escargots Deactivated". Naval Aviation News. 88 (3): 37. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 8, 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
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