VAW-12

{{short description|US Navy squadron}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name= Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 12 | image= Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 12 (US Navy) patch 1967.png | image_size = 200 |caption= |dates= 1956– 1 April 1967 |country= United States of America |allegiance= |branch= {{nowrap|30px|United States Navy Seal United States Navy}} |type= Airborne Early Warning |role= |size= |website= |command_structure= |current_commander= |garrison= |ceremonial_chief= |colonel_of_the_regiment= |nickname= "Bats" |patron= |motto= |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles= |anniversaries= |aircraft_electronic= E-2 Hawkeye<br> WF-2 Tracer<br>AD-5W Skyraider }} '''Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 12''' (VAW-12), nicknamed the "Bats", was a U.S. Navy Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron. The squadron was disestablished on 1 April 1967.<ref name="History" />

== Squadron history == On 6 July 1948, VAW-2 (Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron TWO) was established at NAS Norfolk. The squadron quickly moved to NAS Quonset Point, and was redesignated VC-12. In succession, it operated the TBM Avenger, AF Guardian, and the AD-5W Skyraider.<ref name="History">{{cite web | url = http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/vaw120/community/Pages/default.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101018024014/http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/vaw120/community/Pages/default.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-date = 18 October 2010 | title = History of VAW-120 Greyhawks | accessdate = 2014-02-02}}</ref>

In 1956, the squadron was re-designated VAW-12 (Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron TWELVE) and acquired a new aircraft, the "Guppy" version of the Skyraider. In 1961, the WF-2 Tracer, affectionately called the "Willie Fudd", arrived, and the following year the squadron returned to NAS Norfolk.<ref name="History"/>

thumb|left|Two of VAW-12's AD-5W ''Skyraider'' AEW aircraft fly over USS ''Forrestal'' (CVA-59), while she was operating with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, 25 April 1960.thumb|right|E-1B VAW-12 on cat of USS ''FD Roosevelt'' (CVA-42) 1961In July 1966, VAW-12 received its first E-2A Hawkeye and was supplying detachments using two different aircraft aboard ten aircraft carriers of the Atlantic Fleet, as well as training personnel for those detachments. The squadron had grown to over 200 officers and 800 enlisted personnel, and VAW-12 was reorganized as an air wing.<ref name="History"/>

On 1 April 1967, VAW-12 was disestablished and Carrier Airborne Early Warning Wing Twelve was formed to command all Atlantic Fleet Airborne Early Warning (AEW) efforts. Replacement Airgroup Squadron RVAW-120 was formed to train aviators and enlisted personnel in carrier-based AEW aircraft. '''VAW-121''', '''VAW-122''', and '''VAW-123''' were formed on the same day from former VAW-12 operating detachments.<ref name="Armistead">{{cite book | last1 = Arnisted | first1 = Leigh | title = AWACS and Hawkeyes: The Complete History of Airborne Early Warning Aircraft | chapter = AEW Reaches its Potential | publisher = Zenith Imprint | year = 2002 | pages = 62–63 | url = https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0760311404 | accessdate = 2014-02-02}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Command History |url=https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/Organization/COMACCLOGWING/VAW-121/Command-History/ |access-date=26 June 2024 |website=Official website of Naval Air Force Atlantic (U.S. Navy)}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaw-12}} Category:Early warning squadrons of the United States Navy