Squadron History
The "World Famous" Screwtops, uniquely recognized by the spiraling logo adorned on each aircraft's radar dome, have established their place in Naval Aviation as the premier Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW). The squadron was originally commissioned in 1964, as a detachment of VAW-12 flying the E-2A Hawkeye. Through reorganization, VAW-12 Detachment 59 was commissioned VAW-123 in April 1967, under the command of CDR W. L. Hill.
Initially attached to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, onboard the USS Forrestal (CV 59), the squadron later joined CVW-3. Remaining in CVW-3 throughout the 1970's, the Screwtops sailed onboard USS Saratoga (CV 60), USS America (CV 66), USS Kennedy (CV 67), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CV 71), and USS Washington (CV 73).
After joining CVW-1 in 1981, VAW-123 supported Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, operated in Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and an as expeditionary detachment out of Kuwait. The squadron also supported Operations DENY FLIGHT and DELIBERATE FORCE over Bosnia-Herzegovina and Operation Southern Watch over Iraq. Deploying eight days after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001,, the Screwtops provided Tactical Command and Control (TAC-C2) for Operation Enduring Freedom in the skies over Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Deploying in 2003 with USS Enterprise (CVN 65), VAW-123 became the first carrier-based Navy squadron to operate an expeditionary detachment in support of special warfare units. Under combat conditions with hostile fire in Northern Afghanistan, the squadron provided TAC-C2 to coalition aircraft and time sensitive targeting coordination to Special Operations Forces for Operation Mountain Resolve.
From 2006 to 2012, VAW-123 deployed three times with CVN-65. The squadron provided TAC-C2 in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in 2006, Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn in 2011, and again in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2012.
From 2015 to 2020, the Screwtops joined the “Battleaxe” team of CVW-3 and deployed twice onboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) to the 5th and 6th fleet AOR. The Screwtops executed nearly 600 sorties in 2015 alone, including 286 TAC-C2 sorties in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. In 2020, the Screwtops spent over 200 consecutive days at sea aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN69) as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe.In that time, CVW 3 supported Central Command with 1,135 flight hours in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel.
Departing in 2023 on what was to be a routine deployment, the CVW-3 “Battleaxe” team was called to support freedom of navigation operations in response to Houthi aggression in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aiden. Again under combat conditions and direct fire, the Screwtops aboard the “IKE” (CVN 69) ensued rapid and resilient communications across hundreds of miles bringing battlespace awareness to Joint and Coalition aircraft for more than 180 days of combat operations at sea. With a 99% sortie completion rate and 0 mishaps, they further enabled a robust TAC-C2 structure connecting Carrier Strike Group TWO units to the Combined Air Operations Center in Qatar and U.S. Central Command.
Throughout the mission in the Red Sea, VAW-123 aircraft tracked and controlled over 40 air-to-air intercepts, directed over 70 on-call strike missions against emergent and critical targets in self-defense of U.S. assets and merchant shipping in the Red Sea, and controlled 7 coalition large-force-strikes against over 430 separate targets. Flying over 450 Combat missions to ensure maritime security and freedom of navigation in the 5th Fleet AOR in support of Operations Prosperity Guardian, Freedom Sentinel, and Yukon Lighting the Screwtops earned both the Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Unit Commendation for their actions.
For over 50 years the Screwtops have been employed afloat and ashore on foreign soil, they have been first to the fight, and have consistently led in combat. The Screwtops are battle-tested and remain committed to the standard of excellence that fits their “World Famous" title.