NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW-8) have returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Air Station Oceana, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
After a more than eight-month deployment with the USS Gerald R. Ford — extended twice due to the war in Israel — the Hampton Roads squadrons began returning home Sunday afternoon.
VRC-40, or Rawhides, Lt. Cmdr. Josh Henderson told 10 On Your Side seeing his family again left him speechless.
“It’s — there’s really not words for it,” Henderson said. “I mean, this is a moment that we’ve been looking forward to for several months now. And to be finally here is just absolutely fantastic.”
He said his squadron helped keep the carrier resupplied.
“So, any high priority items that are needed by the ship, the airwing, or any of the other ships in the strike group, we bring those parts out from pretty much anywhere in the world,” Henderson said.
That wasn’t all.
They also helped facilitate U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s visit to the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier.
“And that was our team working with the ship, working with [the Secretary of Defense’s] team in order to get those embarks completed,” Henderson said.
Airwing Commander Cpt. Dan Catlin said he was “incredibly proud of everybody across the entire strike group — the airwing, the ship team, team Wolverine. Just a phenomenal job out there.”
“Sometimes we forget that the families make the greatest sacrifice,” Catlin said, “and the families serve too.”
The carrier wing flew more than 10,000 sorties, or a mission or attack by a single plane. That’s in addition to clocking almost 18,000 flight hours and completing close to 9,000 aircraft launches and recovers.
“Our bread and butter — we don’t have bombs,” Henderson said. “We don’t have missiles. Our bread and butter is learning how to get into and out of any place in the world. And so, the fact that we were able to do that was just a testament to their hard work.”
The Bear Aces was another one of the squadrons scheduled to return. Here are some photos of that squadron’s homecoming.
Servicemembers, and their loved ones, were glad to be reunited.
“So glad you’re home,” one said upon Monday’s return.
So many kisses to catch up on, and snuggles to share. Dads were giving hugs to their daughters, kissing babies.
Everyone was looking forward to something.
A man looked at his wife, smiling, and then turned to his son — the look on their faces said it all.
Four more squadrons made it home Monday morning — the Ragin Bulls, the Blacklions, the Golden Warriors and the Tomcatters.
“It feels amazing to be back,” Tremel said. “Everyone was very excited in our formation when we finally saw Virginia Beach we are just so excited to be home.”
Cmdr. Michael Tremel said he plans to “just relax, go lay on a carpet somewhere and not hear jet noise, I think.”
On Tuesday, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 9 (HSC-9), known as the Tridents, returned to Naval Station Norfolk.
“It feels absolutely wonderful to be back home. Joyous to be back around. Loved ones and happy. Everyone made it home safely,” said Cmdr. Robert Anderson. “The extensions are somewhat to be expected, but always a challenge. I honestly believe that Trident’s managed to persevere just based on a positive attitude and staying together as we’re kind of our second family on board the ship throughout the holidays.”
And the nearly-universal sentiment among those deployed and their families?
It’s just good to be home.
The USS Ford is expected to return Wednesday, along with thousands of sailors.
