Carrier Air Wing Three

Carrier Air Wing 3
CVW-3 Insignia
Active1 July 1938 - Present
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
TypeCarrier Air Wing
Part ofCarrier Strike Group 2
Garrison/HQNAS Oceana
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
Nickname(s)"Battle Axe"
Tail CodeAC
EngagementsWorld War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Desert Fox
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Inherent Resolve
2024 missile strikes in Yemen
DecorationsPresidential Unit Citation
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (6)
United Nations Service Medal
Korean Service Medal (2)
Navy Unit Commendation (2)
China Service Medal
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Frederick C. Turner

Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3), known as the "Battle Axe", is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The wing was created on 1 July 1938 and has seen service in World War II, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, Lebanon, against Libya, and the Global War on Terror.