The Big E Took Two Squadrons of the New Fleet Defenders to the Tonkin Gulf in 1974
When the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) deployed to the Western Pacific (WestPac) in 1974, her air group included the very first Grumman F-14A Tomcats to go to sea. VF-1 Wolfpack and VF-2 Bounty Hunters were flying the new Fleet Defenders. Carrier Air Wing ONE FOUR (CVW-14) was deployed aboard the Big E from 17 September 1974 until 20 May 1975.
The Air Group flew cover for Operation Frequent Wind—the evacuation of US personnel from South Vietnam. This great video of VF-2 in action was uploaded to YouTube by Aviation videos archives part 4 1975-2015.
It Took an Entire Air Wing
During their 1974-1975 deployment aboard the Big E, Carrier Air Wing ONE FOUR (CVW-14) consisted of VF-1 Wolfpack and VF-2 Bounty Hunters flying the Grumman F-14A Tomcat, VA-27 Royal Maces and VA-97 Warhawks flying the Ling Temco Vought A-7E Corsair II, VA-196 Main Battery flying the Grumman A-6A and KA-6D Intruder, VAQ-137 Rooks flying the Grumman EA-6B Prowler, VAW-113 flying the Grumman E-2B Hawkeye, RVAH-12 Speartips flying the North American RA-5C Vigilante, Detachment 65 from VQ-1 World Watchers flying the Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior, and HS-2 Golden Falcons flying the Sikorsky SH-2D Sea King.
Not the Only New Trick In Town
VF-2 made three WestPac deployments aboard Big E between 1974 and 1978. Those VAQ-137 EA-6Bs had just gone into service themselves, with VAQ-132 Rooks deploying aboard the USS America (CVA-66) for the first time during June of 1972, followed by VAQ-131 Lancers aboard the Enterprise and VAQ-134 Garudas aboard the Constellation (CVA-64).
During her 1974-1975 WestPac deployment, the Enterprise visited Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Cubi Point, Philippines; Hong Kong; Subic Bay, Philippines; Mombasa, Kenya; Port Louis, Mauritius; and Singapore.
