About this Unit
Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 111 (VAW-111), known as the "Reef Raiders," was established on April 27, 1967, as part of the United States Navy's airborne early warning community. The squadron was equipped with the E-1B Tracer aircraft, providing essential airborne surveillance and command and control capabilities for carrier strike groups during the Vietnam War. VAW-111 operated primarily from NAS North Island and deployed aboard various aircraft carriers, playing a crucial role in fleet air defense and early warning missions in the Western Pacific. The squadron was disestablished on March 1, 1971, as part of the transition to more advanced airborne early warning platforms.
Historical Facts
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Origins: Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 111 (VAW-111), also known as the “Hunters,” was established on April 3, 1967, at Naval Air Station North Island, California.
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Nickname: The squadron was nicknamed the “Hunters,” and their insignia featured a caricature of a wolf with a radar screen, representing their surveillance mission.
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Aircraft: VAW-111 flew the Grumman E-1B Tracer, the U.S. Navy’s first purpose-built airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft, recognized by its distinctive radome on top.
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Vietnam War Service: VAW-111 detachments operated from several aircraft carriers during the Vietnam War, providing critical radar surveillance and early warning against enemy aircraft.
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Detachment Structure: Unlike traditional squadrons, VAW-111 was organized into multiple independent detachments, each assigned to a different carrier air wing.
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Call Signs: The various detachments within VAW-111 were known by unique call signs such as “Willy Fudd,” a nickname for the E-1B Tracer.
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Significant Missions: The squadron played a key role in “Operation Rolling Thunder” and other major air campaigns over North Vietnam, helping to coordinate air strikes and alerting U.S. forces to enemy threats.
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Transition Period: As the E-2 Hawkeye replaced the E-1B Tracer in the early 1970s, VAW-111 began to phase out, with its functions gradually taken over by new VAW squadrons.
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Disestablishment: VAW-111 was officially disestablished on June 30, 1977, marking the end of the E-1B Tracer’s operational service in the U.S. Navy.
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Legacy: The Hunters set the standard for carrier-based AEW operations, and their service laid the groundwork for modern airborne early warning tactics and the E-2 Hawkeye’s continued success.
