Aewron 11

• Origins: Airborne Early Warning Squadron 11 (VAW-11), also known as "Aewron 11," was established in 1948 as part of the U.S. Navy’s efforts to enhance airborne early warning (AEW) capabilities after World War II. • Nickname: The squadron was nicknamed the “Early Elevens.” • First Aircraft: The squadron initially flew the TBM-3W Avenger, a modified version of the famous WWII torpedo bomber equipped with radar for AEW missions. • Carrier Operations: VAW-11 operated from numerous aircraft carriers in both the Pacific and Atlantic, providing vital radar coverage and fleet defense during the early Cold War years. • Pioneering Technology: The squadron played a key role in integrating and testing new radar and electronic warfare equipment, including the move to the WF-2 Tracer (“Willie Fudd”), the Navy’s first purpose-built AEW aircraft with its distinctive radome. • Vietnam War Service: During the Vietnam War, VAW-11 detachments provided critical airborne command, control, and surveillance for carrier task forces operating in the Gulf of Tonkin. • Detachment System: VAW-11 was unique in that it operated a “detachment” system, splitting its aircraft and crews between multiple carriers, which became a model for future AEW squadrons. • Transition to E-2 Hawkeye: The squadron was among the first to operate the E-2A Hawkeye, which remains the U.S. Navy’s primary AEW platform to this day. • Squadron Split: In 1967, VAW-11 was disestablished and reorganized into several independent squadrons, including VAW-111, VAW-112, VAW-113, and VAW-114, each with its own carrier assignment. • Legacy: The traditions and innovations of VAW-11 helped shape modern airborne command and control, and its successor squadrons continue to serve as the “eyes of the fleet.”