Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye "Operation Iraqi Freedom" NF 600/165295, VAW-115
USS Kitty Hawk by Hobby Master in 1/72 die cast. VAW-115 “Liberty Bells” was commissioned on April 20, 1967 and deployed aboard USS Ranger on November 4, 1967. In the mid 1970’s VAW-115 won 2 consecutive Battle E’s and the CNO Safety S award. In the early 1990s the squadron participated in Desert Shield and then
Desert Storm. In August 1998 VAW-115 transferred to the USS Kitty Hawk and remained there until August 2008. In March 2003 the Liberty Bells began flying in Operation Iraqi Freedom in support of ground forces and logged 363 hours.
The Northrop E-2 Hawkeye is an all-weather airborne early warning aircraft (AEW). The E-2 was a twin-turboprop developed in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s for the USN. The E-2 is a carrier- the E-2C also receiving improved turbo-prop engines. The E-2 has been in production since the 1960’s making it the longest production run of any carrier based aircraft. The E-2C variant became operational in 1973. The early versions of the E-2 were nicknamed the “Super Fudd” but with the new turboprop engine sound the nickname is “Hummer”.