Dec. 19, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release #160-11

USS John C. Stennis Flies Navy’s Final Air Mission Over Iraq

From USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs

ARABIAN GULF - The John C. Stennis Strike Group (JCSSG) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 launched the Navy’s final air sortie over Iraq, effectively ending naval air support for Operation New Dawn, Dec. 18.

The crew of five launched from Stennis at 7:32 a.m. and returned at 11:04 a.m.

The final command and control mission for U.S. forces over Iraq was flown by an E-2C Hawkeye from the “Golden Hawks” of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112.

“I think all of us went up to the flight deck focused on executing our assigned mission,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Reynolds, a pilot aboard the last flight. “We knew that we might be the crew to fly the last mission over Iraq. As always, we stayed focused on completing the mission we were assigned. After confirmation that we were the last, I realized I was part of something pretty special.”

According to Rear Adm. Craig Faller, commander of the John C. Stennis Strike group, the Navy’s final air mission comes after two decades of combat missions flown in support of operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.

“Navy air presence has been absolutely essential to Operation New Dawn, and the overall military mission in Iraq,” said Faller.

Although the Navy’s air support mission in Iraqi airspace has drawn to a close, Navy airpower from the sea remains vital to supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and to maritime security operations. Carrier Strike Groups, like JCSSG, will continue to maintain a forward presence in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with regional partners while deterring aggressors, ensuring freedom of the seas and regional security and stability.

“I believe that John C. Stennis and Nimitz class carriers are the world’s pre-eminent arbitrators of peace and stability,” said Capt. Ronald Reis, commanding officer of John C. Stennis.

Stennis, the flag ship of JCSSG, departed from its homeport of Bremerton, Wash. July 25, and has been conducting maritime security operations in the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation, and directly supported operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom.

JCSSG is comprised of embarked CVW-9, guided missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), and Destroyer Squadron 21, comprised of guided missile destroyers USS Kidd (DDG 100), USS Dewey (DDG 105), USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and USS Pinckney (DDG 91).

U.S. 5th Fleet encompasses 2.5 million square miles of water and includes the Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.

Photos:

111218-N-BT887-057 ARABIAN GULF (Dec. 18, 2011) A Sailor gives the add tension to the catapult signal, to launch an E-2C Hawkeye attached to the “Golden Hawks” of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112 from aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). The flight marks the U.S. Navy’s last air mission in support of Operation New Dawn. John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Benjamin Crossley/Released)

111218-N-BT887-061 ARABIAN GULF (Dec. 18, 2011) An E-2C Hawkeye from the “Golden Hawks” of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112 launches from aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), marking the U.S. Navy’s last air mission in support of Operation New Dawn. John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Benjamin Crossley/Released)

111218-N-OY799-655 ARABIAN GULF (Dec. 18, 2011) An E-2C Hawkeye from the Golden Hawks of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112 lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), after completing the U.S. Navy’s last air mission in support of Operation New Dawn. John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released)