page_title: VAW-121
section_title: 1970s
hierarchical_section_title: VAW-121 / Squadron History / 1970s
caption_attribution_description: A Grumman E-1B Tracer (BuNo. 148146) of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 121 (VAW-121) "Griffins" Det.42 in 1971. BuNo. 148146 was accepted by the U.S. Navy on 30 December 1960, and subsequently served in Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadrons (VAW) 11, 12, and 121, flying in deployed attachments on board carriers of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, including the USS Constellation (CVA-64), USS Wasp (CVS-18), USS Saratoga (CVA-60), and the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42). It arrived at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, Florida (USA) in 1975 still in the markings of service in the latter carrier with VAW-121. VAW-121 was stationed aboard the Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of Attack Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6) from 1970 to 1975.
context_page_description: Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 121, also known as the "Bluetails", is an Airborne Early Warning and Command and control squadron of the United States Navy, operating the E-2D Hawkeye. Established in 1967, the squadron is based at NAS Norfolk. It is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing 7 and deploys aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
context_section_description: Unlike its siblings, VAW-121 flew the E-1B Tracer, until the mid-1970s. This was due to the fact there were still carriers in the fleet that were not capable of handling for the larger E-2 Hawkeye, principally USS Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Essex-class carriers.
  In 1977 VAW-121 made its first deployment as part of Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) on the newly commissioned USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
caption: VAW-121 E-1B Tracer in 1971
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