page_title: VAW-117
section_title: 2000s
hierarchical_section_title: VAW-117 / History / 2000s
caption_attribution_description: English: Pacific Ocean (Nov. 4, 2005) - An E-2C Hawkeye, assigned to the &#8220;Wallbangers&#8221; of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One One Seven (VAW-117), conducts a fly over during an airpower demonstration aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is currently conducting a &#8220;Tiger Cruise&#8221; and is returning from a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer&#8217;s Mate Airman Roland Franklin (RELEASED)
context_page_description: Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117 is an airborne early warning squadron. Nicknamed "The Wallbangers", it flies the E-2C Hawkeye, the USN’s only carrier-based command and control platform. The squadron is based in NAS Point Mugu and deploys as part of Carrier Air Wing 9 on board USS Abraham Lincoln.
context_section_description: In July 2001, VAW-117 was the first squadron to deploy with the new MCU/ACIS system. WESTPAC 2001-02 on board USS Carl Vinson proved to be an active deployment. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, aircraft from VAW-117 and CVW-11 were among the first aircraft to lead the strikes on Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The extensive radar and communication equipment on board the E-2C Hawkeye allowed the squadron to continuously provided battle space management over Pakistan and southern Afghanistan, ensuring the safety of all airborne assets and clearance from commercial air routes. The squadron's Hawkeyes served as an information-clearing house, providing a communications relay between command authorities on the ground and tactical aircraft airborne.
  VAW-117 was the first fleet squadron to receive the HE-2K variant of the Hawkeye and also the first fleet Hawkeye squadron to receive the Cooperative Engagement Capability system (CEC).
  In May 2005, VAW-117 deployed on USS Nimitz with CVW-11 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This was VAW-117's first deployment with the HE2K variant. During the deployment, VAW-117 flew into Karachi, Pakistan, and Goa, India, to display the E-2C to partner nations. The Nimitz while on deployment visited Hong Kong; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Guam; Manama, Bahrain; Dubai, UAE; Perth, Australia; and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, twice.
  In April 2007 VAW-117 deployed on WESTPAC 2007. The squadron flew 101 sorties and 227 hours in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Iraq War. It also took part in several exercises including Valiant Shield and Malabar.
  
  In January 2008 the squadron deployed on a four-month surge to the Western Pacific, where it took part in Exercise Foal Eagle 08. During the course of the cruise, VAW-117 demonstrated its aviation skills, earning the CVW-11 Top Hook Award for the first time in nearly eight years.
caption: VAW-117 E-2C conducts a flyover
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