![]() During their six and a half month deployment, VAW-124 provided Airborne Early Warning and Command and Control for CVW-8 and USS Theodore Roosevelt. VAW-124 departed Norfolk in September 2005 to support Operation Sea Dragon Three in the Persian Gulf. ĭuring the normal workup cycle in early January 2003, while preparing for a June 2003 deployment, the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean on board USS Theodore Roosevelt in support of the escalating situation that would eventually develop into the Iraq War. However, due to the September 11 attacks, USS Enterprise would not make it to Cape Town and instead took station in the Northern Arabian Sea as VAW-124 and CVW-8 prepared for what would become Operation Enduring Freedom. In September, with their mission complete, USS Enterprise headed south towards Cape Town, a rare African port call. After several months of operations in the North Sea and Mediterranean, the squadron flew missions in support of Operation Southern Watch over Iraq. VAW-124 left home again in April 2001 aboard USS Enterprise. VAW-124 E-2C flies over the Gulf of Oman, 2009. Transiting to the Persian Gulf, the squadron completed the deployment enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq in Operation Southern Watch. The squadron flew combat missions during Operation Allied Force against targets in Kosovo. In April 1999, VAW-124 departed Norfolk on a combat deployment aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt. This award is given annually to the finest E-2C squadron in the Navy. In August, VAW-124 was awarded the 1991 AEW Excellence Award by VADM Anthony Less, Commander, U.S. On 26 June 1991, the squadron returned to its home port. After transiting the Suez Canal on 20 April, USS Theodore Roosevelt assumed station northeast of Cyprus between Turkey and Syria to lead a multi-national Operation Provide Comfort. When the cease-fire went into effect on 28 February, the squadron had flown a total of 331 combat sorties and over 1150 combat hours in support of 1220 strikes against 531 targets in the Kuwait Theater of Operations, the most combat hours and combat sorties of any E-2C squadron, over 750 of the combat hours were flown in a single thirty-day period. On 21 January 1991, CVW-8 launched its first major strike of Operation Desert Storm with the squadron providing AEW, command and control, and search and rescue coordination. The squadron was awarded their second COMNAVAIRLANT Battle Efficiency Award at the conclusion of 1987 and completed over sixteen years and 32,000 hours of mishap-free flying. In June 1985, VAW-124 provided tracking of hijacked TWA Flight 847 as it crisscrossed the Mediterranean. On 19 August 1981, during the Gulf of Sidra incident, F-14 Tomcats under the control of a VAW-124 intercepted and shot down two Libyan SU-22 "Fitter" fighter aircraft. As a result of numerous VAW-124 directed intercepts of Soviet TU-95 "Bear" reconnaissance aircraft, the squadron acquired the new nickname "Bear Aces." In December 1980, the squadron received immediate deployment orders to NAS Keflavik, Iceland. The squadron was awarded the COMNAVAIRLANT Battle Efficiency Award and the Command Retention Silver Anchor Award in recognition of accomplishments during the year. VAW-124 deployed with CVW-6 aboard USS America in the summer of 1976 and again in October 1977. ![]() ![]() Seven line periods and 147 combat days later, VAW-124 was present in the Gulf of Tonkin when the Paris Peace Accords were signed on 28 January 1973. In June 1972, VAW-124 embarked again aboard USS America for an extended Western Pacific deployment. In April 1970, VAW-124 deployed with CVW-9 aboard USS America to Southeast Asia. E-2B Hawkeye of VAW-124 landing on USS America in 1971
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