Squadron History Airborne Command & Control Squadron ONE ONE THREE traces its legacy to the Airborne Early Warning (AEW) shortfalls of WWII and the systems developed through Project Cadillac. Employing the AN/APS-20 radar from the TBM-3(W) Avenger aircraft, the Navy commissioned VAW-1 on 6 July 1948, just a few months later redesignated to VC-11, and a year later transitioned to the larger and more powerful AD-3W Guppy aircraft. During the Korean War, Guppy crews initially focused on the anti-surface and anti-submarine mission areas, but concentration shifted to anti-air AEW during the growing threat of North Korean retaliatory raids on the U.S. Navy. In 1952, the squadron designation again changed from VC-11 to VAW-11, and in 1959, the fleet gained what would become known as the E-1 Tracer. In 1967, VAW-11 comprised over 2000 personnel across multiple hangars and deployed as detachments aboard U.S. Navy carriers. The decision was then made to split VAW-11 into five individual fleet squadrons and one training squadron. The “Black Eagles” of VAW-113 were commissioned as an individual command on 20 April 1967 at NAS North Island, San Diego, CA, flying the E-2A Hawkeye, and one week later, deployed to the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) aboard USS Constellation. VAW-113 repeatedly deployed to the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1975, with a notable role in the evacuation of American personnel from Saigon in 1975 known as Operation Frequent Wind. Other notable events for VAW-113 during the 1970s included the instrumental development of tactics between the E-2B and the Navy’s newest fighter, the F-14A, the squadron’s homeport move from NAS North Island to NAS Miramar in 1975, and earning the first annual CNO AEW excellence award (later renamed to the "Rear Admiral Frank Akers Award" ) in 1976. The 1980s saw VAW-113 deploy multiple times in support of commanders' objectives, including during the 1980 Iranian Crisis, operating from Gonzo station, and in 1983 counter-drug operations in the Caribbean Sea with the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1983, VAW-113 also transitioned to the E-2C aircraft with the AN/APS-138 radar and, in 1985, became the first E-2C squadron to deploy with the F/A-18A, providing substantial input to tactical development. In August 1990, the Black Eagles, along with Battle Group Delta, became one of the first U.S. forces to respond to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait as part of Operation Desert Shield. The rest of the 1990s saw VAW-113 deploying to Panama in 1992 in support of the Counter-Narcotic operations of Joint Task Force Four (JTF-4), deploying to the Arabian Gulf in 1994, 1995, and 1998 in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 1995, the squadron celebrated the first E-2C Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) graduate from the USMC’s Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron (MAWTS) course. 1998 also saw VAW-113 relocate to NAS Point Mugu, CA, where it still calls home. The early 2000s saw the Black Eagles again deploy in support of Operation Southern Watch, and then return to the Arabian Gulf in 2003 for the initial phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A significant milestone occurred in 2006 during the maiden voyage of the USS Ronald Reagan, where VAW-113 was the first to employ the new ALQ-217 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Then, in 2008 and 2009, the Black Eagles deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The 2010s brought both combat and humanitarian missions. In 2011, the Black Eagles deployed for Operations New Dawn in Iraq, Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and later diverted to provide critical airborne command and control for Operation Tomodachi, the disaster relief effort following the devastating Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. A major technological leap for the squadron came between 2018 and 2019, as they transitioned from the E-2C Hawkeye to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, becoming the first E-2D squadron on the West Coast. Throughout the 2020s, VAW-113 had deployed multiple times in support of INDOPACOM objectives, and on the most recent 2024/2025 deployment, supported combat operations in the CENTCOM AOR.