Commander Naval Air Force US Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC)

Headquated at NAS North Island California, COMNAVAIRPAC is the primary advisor to the US Pacific Fleet for the operation and administration of naval aviation in the Pacific. The three-star vice admiral commandering is responsible for the training of all Pacific naval air units serving with the US Third, Fifth and Seventh Fleets. Assets assigned to this commander include 1,600 aircraft operated by 68 squadrons, and five aircraft carriers. With a personal strength of 50,000 COMNAVAIRPAC is responsible for eight type and functional wings, and for a territorial area that encompasses the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The geographical area falling under it's command stretches from pole to pole, from the Mississippi River west to the Persian Gulf.

Three of COMNAVAIRPAC's carriers are nuclear powered and it is usual for one to be deployed at all times with the US Seventh Fleet in the Pacific, or Gulf supporting Central Command. During training and local operations in the eastern Pacific, carriers are attached to the US Third Fleet.

Four of COMNAVAIRPAC's five CVW's are CONUS-based, whereas the fifth is forward deployed in Japan. The basic structure of Pacific air wings is the same as those under Atlantic command.

Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRIKFIGHTWINGPAC)

Based at NAS Lemoore, California, this wing controls 13 deployable strike fighter squadrons as well as VFA-125, the F/A-18A/B/C/D FRS and VFA-122, the new F/A-18E/F Super Hornet FRS. The Super Hornet will soon begin to replace the F-14 Tomcat in service. Three of the wing's units are forward deployed at NAF Atsugi, Japan.

Commander Sea Control Wing (COMSEACONWINGPAC)

Five operational sea control squadrons and the S-3B Viking FRS are assigned to COMSEACONWINGPAC. The wing's single carrier based fleet air reconnaissance squadron was recently deactivated and, with the exception of one forward deployed squadron, its units are based at NAS North Island, California. The FRS conducts all training on the S-3B Viking.

Commander Helicopter Antisubmarine Light Wing Pacific (COMHSLWINGPAC)

Seven LAMPS Mark III squadrons are assigned to this command including the SH-60B Seahawk FRS, one unit based in Hawaii and another forward deployed to Japan. The wing is based at NAS North Island, California, and each of it's operational squadrons is equipped with 10 Seahawks.

Commander Helicopter Antisubmarine Wing Pacific (COMHSWINGPAC)

Based at NAS North Island, COMHSLWINGPAC controls six helicopter antisubmarine squadrons that include five operational units and the SH-60F FRS. A single unit is forward deployed to Japan. The FRS conducts SH-60F training for both NAVAIRLANT and NAVAIRPAC squadrons.

Commander Helicopter Tactical Wing Pacific (COMHELTACWINGPAC)

Based at NAS North Island, COMHELTACWINGPAC controls three combat support helicopter squadrons providing supply and SAR services, respectively when deployed with combat support and amphibious assault ships. HM-15, the single airborne mine warfare unit that once belonged to the wing was relocated in 1996 from NAS Alameda, California to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. HC-3 is the H-46 Sea Knight FRS and provides SAR training for the Navy, while fellow Sea Knight operator, HC-11, also flies a single UH-3H from the deck of the the USS Coronado (AGF 11), for Commander Third Fleet.

Commander Airborne Early Warning Wing Pacific (COMAEWWINGPAC)

Established when Commander Fighter Airborne Early Wing Pacific was disestablished on 1st August 1993, COMAEWWINGPAC and four of it's E-2C Hawkeye squadrons recently relocated from MCAS Miramar, California, to NAS Pint Mugu, California. The other unit is forward deployed in Japan. I single fleet logistic support unit based at NAS North Island serves as the FRS for the UC-12B/F King Air, of which there are in service. It also flies 16 C-2A's Greyhounds, of which two permanently support CVW-5 in Japan.

Commander Electronic Attack Wing Pacific(COMVAQWINGPAC)

COMVAQWINGPAC is based at NAS Whidbey Island in Washington and controls 15 electronic attack squadrons, including the FRS and 10 assigned to NAVAIRLANT and NAVAIRPAC carrier air wings. Four additional squadrons represent joint-USAF/US Navy expeditionary units and are flown by personnel from both services. Each squadron has four EA-6B Prowlers which can be deployed worldwide for electronic jamming missions.

Headquarters at MCB Hawaii, this functional wing is responsible for a patrol and reconnaissance wing, a stratigic communications wing and a test site. Four squadrons are presently assigned to Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Ten, which is headquatered a NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. However, Commander Patrol Wing Two will be established at Marine Corps Air Facillity Kaneohe Bay to control three PARTONS currently assigned to the functional wing.
As a consequence of the closure of NAS Barbers Point, COMPATRECONFORPAC and its four squadrons relocated to MCAF Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii in 1999 and the functional wing relocated to Naval Station Pearl Harbor. COMPATRECONFORPAC squadrons are required to make six-month rotational deployments, with one unit from NAS Whidbey Island normaly sent to NAF Atsugi, Japan and aircraft and personal detached to Kadena AB Okinawa. A second squadron is deployed from Kaneohe Bay to the Naval Support Facility (NSF) at Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory. It also maintains detachments in Bahrain and Oman. In addition, EP-3E's from VQ-1 are normally detached to both NAF Atsugi and NAF Diego Garcia, where they also come under the control of Commander Patrol Wing One, located at Kamiseya, Japan. Aircraft operating in Southwest Asia are attached to US Naval Forces Central Command.

E-6A/B Mercury aircraft operated by fleet air reconnaissance squadrons with Commander Strategic Communications Wing One are also detached to locations worldwide, to support US Strategic Command, from the wing's headquarters at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. The squadrons also maintain sites at Travis AFB, California, and NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. In addition, the wing has activated a site at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, as it assumed the "Looking Glass' mission from the USAF on 25 September 1998. COMPATRECONWINGSPAC is also responsible for the Pacific Missle Range Facillity in Hawaii.

* RC-12F aircraft will be replaced by RC-26D

US Naval Fleet Wings Index