VAW-12

• Early Origins: VAW-12, originally established as Composite Squadron Twelve (VC-12) in 1948, was one of the US Navy's first dedicated airborne early warning (AEW) squadrons. • Name Change: The squadron was redesignated as Airborne Early Warning Squadron Twelve (VAW-12) in 1956, reflecting its specialized AEW mission. • Skyraider to Tracer: VAW-12 operated several aircraft types, transitioning from the AD-3W Skyraider (an AEW variant of the famous attack aircraft) to the E-1B Tracer, known for its distinctive radome "Willy Fudd" appearance. • Carrier Deployments: VAW-12 detachments served aboard nearly every Atlantic Fleet aircraft carrier, providing essential radar support during the Cold War era. • Cuban Missile Crisis: VAW-12 played a critical role in surveillance and fleet defense during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, helping to monitor Soviet activities in the Caribbean. • Largest AEW Squadron: By the mid-1960s, VAW-12 was the largest AEW squadron in the Navy, with over 800 personnel and more than 30 aircraft. • Birthplace of Modern VAW Wings: In 1967, VAW-12 was disestablished and reorganized into several independent squadrons (VAW-121, VAW-122, VAW-123, and RVAW-120), forming the foundation of today's East Coast E-2 Hawkeye community. • Nickname "Bats": VAW-12 was known as the "Bats," a nod to their night and all-weather operations, with the squadron insignia often featuring a bat motif. • Radar Pioneers: VAW-12 crews helped develop tactics and procedures for carrier-based radar surveillance, influencing AEW doctrine for decades. • Legacy: The VAW-12 lineage is carried on by the squadrons that emerged from its breakup, and its pioneering spirit continues in the US Navy's airborne early warning missions today.