PHOTO : A Catapult Officer gives the signal to launch a Northrop Grumman E - 2B Hawkeye ( VAW - 111, USS Forrestal )

Today, we offer for sale this nice photograph that depicts a Catapult Officer giving the signal to launch a Northrop Grumman E - 2B Hawkeye of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 111 ( VAW - 111 ), from USS Forrestal ( CV - 59 ). VAW - 111 was activated in 1967. Here is an excerpt from USS Forrestal ( CV - 59 ) Mediterranean Cruise Book 1975 :

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Hundred Eleven is one of the Navy's newest E - 2B Hawkeye Squadrons. The E - 2B is an airborne early warning aircraft, and as such, it is FORRESTAL'S " Eye in the Sky ". Early warning, surface surveillance, intercept control, strike control, flight following for safety and, very important, search and rescue coordination are just a few of the responsibilities of VAW - 111. Even though things a present are just for practice, it's a great relief knowing that such a professional team as VAW - 111 will provide us the earliest fling possible if it should ever come down to the real thing.

VAW - 111 was deactivated in 1988.

( sources : Wikipedia, www.vaw-vrcreadyroom.org, www.cloud9photography.us, www. vpnavy.com, www.navysite.de )