{"id":318055,"date":"2024-11-05T13:34:52","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T14:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=318055"},"modified":"2024-11-06T05:04:56","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T05:04:56","slug":"vaw-123-sends-their-last-e-2c-hawkeye-to-the-boneyard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=318055","title":{"rendered":"VAW-123 Sends their Last E-2C Hawkeye to the Boneyard"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This event was part of the squadron\u2019s transition to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to be completed in mid-2025.<\/p>\n

VAW-123\u2019s other two E-2C were transferred to VAW-120 Fleet Replacement Squadron to be used for training the next generation of Hawkeye pilots. For more than 50 years, the E-2C has provided the Navy\u2019s command and control capabilities.<\/p>\n

Lt. Terrance Lawrence, assigned to VAW-123, was one of the pilots chosen to deliver an E-2C to the boneyard. The squadron first received the E-2C in November 1973. Since then, this platform has been used for sea and land-based military operations, search and rescue missions, drug interdiction, humanitarian efforts and disaster relief.<\/p>\n

Lawrence, a naval aviator since 2021, had not experienced delivering an aircraft to its final resting place.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was something that I knew not a lot of other aviators get to do; it is pretty rare that you get to participate in this type of flight,\u201d Lawrence said. \u201cThis was a special and unique opportunity that does not come up often. I volunteered immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lt. Avesta Shwany, also of VAW-123, flew the second E-2C and reflected on the experience for her and her crew upon departing Norfolk for the boneyard.<\/p>\n

“Getting to be a part of the last crew was incredibly bittersweet,\u201d Shwany said. \u201cThis aircraft carries a lot of memories to so many aircrew members, especially from this most recent deployment to the Red Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shwany added that the aircraft had seen combat and played a vital role in many missions.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking this aircraft to the boneyard signified the end of an era, and the beginning of our delta transition. I think everyone was surprised with how emotional we were dropping her off and saying our goodbyes,\u201d Shwany said.<\/p>\n

Lawrence said he was proud to be the last person to fly the E-2C for his squadron. The aircrew that accompanied both aircraft to Tucson took the opportunity to mark their place in history by ceremoniously signing the inside of the aircraft as a final farewell.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis aircraft meant a lot,\u201d Lawrence said. \u201cI was sentimental about it, especially after spending nine months flying it in the Red Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 10 aircrew who participated in the nearly six-hour flight to the boneyard, took time to tap the side of the aircraft, as they said their farewell before transferring it to the staff at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis plane has all of these stories associated with it especially just after deployment,\u201d Lawrence added. VAW-123 was deployed aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and returned from a nine-month deployment in July 2024.<\/p>\n

The crew also had an opportunity to step back in time and witness aviation history.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe toured the boneyard, which has over 4,000 aircraft stored,\u201d Lawrence said. \u201cI am proud to be one of the last pilots to be part of that aircraft\u2019s history.\u201d<\/p>\n

With VAW-123 marking its transition to the E-2D, west-coast based VAW-116 is the only fleet squadron in the Navy flying the E-2C until its scheduled sundown.<\/p>\n

Lawrence said he looks forward to flying the E-2D which features a state-of-the-art radar with upgraded capabilities and aircraft systems that improve supportability and increase readiness. The E-2D enhances operational capabilities by increasing time on station allowing for extended range from the carrier, increased persistence and operational flexibility.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This event was part of the squadron\u2019s transition to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to be completed in mid-2025. VAW-123\u2019s other two E-2C were transferred to VAW-120 Fleet Replacement Squadron to be used for training the next generation of Hawkeye pilots. For more than 50 years, the E-2C has provided the Navy\u2019s command and control capabilities. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":318057,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-318055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/318055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=318055"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/318055\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":318058,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/318055\/revisions\/318058"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/318057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=318055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=318055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=318055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}