VAW - 125 VAW - 125 , known as the “ Torch Bearers ” or “ Tigertails , ” was established on October 1 , 1968 , at Naval Air Station , Norfolk . The squadron ’ s initial supporting command was Carrier Air Wing Three ( CVW - 3 ) deploying aboard USS Saratoga ( CV - 60 ) . While with CVW - 3 , VAW - 125 became the first East Coast squadron to take delivery of the new E - 2B Hawkeye . 1970s . In June 1978 , VAW - 125 took the E - 2C ’ s newest weapons system upgrade , the Advanced Radar Processing System ( ARPS ) , to sea for the first time . The Tigertails were then assigned to Carrier Air Wing Seventeen ( CVW - 17 ) in November 1979 , with the squadron making their eighth Mediterranean Sea deployment , this time aboard USS FORRESTAL ( CV 59 ) . In December 1976 , Vice Admiral Howard E . Greer , COMNAVAIRLANT , presented VAW - 125 with the Comnavairlant Battle “ E ” for readiness , the Cinclantflt “ Golden Anchor ” Award for career retention , and the CNO Safety “ S ” Award . VAW - 125 is believed to be the first Navy unit to win all three awards in the same year . 1980s . While deployed in August 1981 , VAW - 125 participated in Freedom of Navigation Operations in the Central Mediterranean Sea , during which two Libyan MiGs were destroyed after attacking Battle Group aircraft . Upon return from deployment , the squadron participated in two national tasking missions VAW squadrons would be assigned over the next twenty - plus years , first providing range control services for the second launch of the NASA space shuttle , STS - 2 , and second providing detection and monitoring services in the first E - 2C Counter - Drug tasking , Operation Thunderbolt . While on routine deployment in October 1985 , the Tigertails played an instrumental role in the successful intercept of the Egyptian airliner carrying the hijackers of the Italian cruise ship , “ Achille Lauro . ” Tigertail aircrew spoke directly to the hijackers , convincing them that the communications were coming from the two VF - 103 / VF - 74 F - 14s on their wing and persuading the airliner to divert into NAS Sigonella , IT . In August 1988 , the Tigertails deployed aboard USS Independence ( CV 62 ) for an “ Around the Horn ” cruise to San Diego , CA . 1990s . In August 1990 , CVW - 17 aboard USS Saratoga ( CV 60 ) rapidly responded to the invasion of Kuwait by deploying to the Red Sea . VAW - 125 and VAW - 126 Hawkeyes flew around - the - clock as the force build - up of Operation Desert Shield continued . VAW - 125 flew over 890 combat hours controlling strikes on Iraqi targets while providing AEW coverage for the Red Sea Battle Group . On a 17 January 1991 strike , Tigertail aircrew detected two Iraqi MiG - 21s threatening the strike group . Tigertail controllers vectored two VFA - 81 F / A - 18s toward the MiGs and recorded the only Navy fixed - wing air - to - air kills of Desert Storm . In January 1994 , the Tigertails deployed aboard USS Saratoga ( CV 60 ) for her final cruise . During the deployment , the Tigertails joined NATO forces flying in support of Operations Deny Flight and Provide Promise . The Tigertails conducted operational tests of the Navy ’ s newest Mini - DAMA Satellite Communication Suite . Using this new system , the Tigertails , for the first time , functioned as an Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center ( ABCCC ) , a mission that continues to grow in emphasis to present day . With the decommissioning of USS Saratoga ( CV 60 ) , VAW - 125 and CVW - 17 were paired with USS Enterprise ( CVN 65 ) . After completing a two - month Counter - Drug assignment at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads , Puerto Rico , the Tigertails deployed to the Mediterranean Sea aboard USS Enterprise ( CVN 65 ) in June 1996 . In July , the Tigertails again joined NATO forces in the former Yugoslavia , this time in support of Operation Joint Endeavor . In September , USS Enterprise ( CV 65 ) moved to respond to mounting tensions in Southwest Asia . Supporting Operation Southern Watch over the next three months , VAW - 125 played a vital role in the enforcement of the southern Iraq no - fly zone . Additionally , Tigertail pilots earned the CVW - 17 “ Top Hook ” Award for carrier landing performance . The squadron was duly recognized for its achievements in 1996 , being awarded the COMNAVAIRLANT Battle Efficiency Award , the CNO Safety Award , and the VAW community ’ s AEW Excellence Award . 2000s . Within hours of the unprecedented terrorist attacks and national crisis of 11 September 2001 , squadron personnel were embarked at sea , leaving NS Norfolk with minimal logistics support and literally nothing more than the shirts on their backs . Transported to USS George Washington ( CVN 73 ) , VAW - 125 maintenance personnel immediately began dedicated aircraft launch and recovery operations while others prepared ship spaces , established supply requirements , and readied lines of communication to support Operation Noble Eagle . Squadron aircraft flew numerous Command and Control missions in the New York City vicinity in the days following the attacks as commercial air traffic slowly resumed . In April 2003 , the Tigertails became the first East Coast squadron to transition to the E - 2C Hawkeye 2000 , which boasts improved electrical and vapor cycle systems , mission computer and display stations , and Cooperative Engagement Capability ( CEC ) . The squadron participated in the Operational Evaluation of the AN / USG - 3 airborne node of the Navy ’ s net - centric CEC sensor fusion system . While deployed aboard USS Dwight D . Eisenhower in the Central Persian Gulf , North Arabian Sea , and Western Indian Ocean VAW - 125 has played vital roles in the ongoing Global War on Terror , Operation Enduring Freedom , and operations off the coast of Somalia . As of May , 2007 the Tigertails are home following nearly eight months of being deployed . 2010s . In January , 2010 , The Tigertails were deployed to Guantanamo bay , Cuba , in support of Operation UNIFIED REPSONSE providing humanitarian assistance to the earthquake - ravaged country of Haiti . The squadron flew missions each day to provide communications relay , command and control , and general airborne radar services allowing forces afloat and ashore to distribute thousands of tons of rations , water , and medical supplies . In the most extreme of cases crews provided necessary information to medevac helicopters in order to reduce flight time between life saving facilities allowing for many lives to be spared . Currently , VAW - 125 is deployed on USS Carl Vinson . They are taking the ship back to its homeport in San Diego , California . The USS Carl Vinson and its crew left port in Norfolk , Virginia on 12 Jan 2010 . They are en route to Haiti to help with relief efforts for the massive earthquake that just occurred , and then they will head around the horn of South America up to San Diego where VAW - 125 will fly home to their home port of NAS Norfolk .