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In 2001, the Tailhook Association and commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAL) started the “Jig Dog” Ramage Award with Newport News Shipbuilding. The award was developed to recognize carriers and their air wings who excelled operationally by comparing their performance as an integrated unit with others in the fleet over the calendar year. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), or IKE, and Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) are winners of this award for the year 2021. Having won three separate times prior, this marks the pair’s fourth time achieving the accolade, making them the most recognized aircraft carrier and air wing for receiving this honor since its inception.
Rdml. James D. Ramage is an aviation legend who launched his career on the Yorktown-class aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV 6). He was highly decorated, and is part of the Carrier Aviation Hall of Fame, American Combat Airman Hall of Fame, and Naval Aviation Hall of Honor. Ramage fought in WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, and developed many aircraft during the Cold War, like the F-4 Phantom, A-6 Intruder and B-52 Stratofortress. He is credited for crippling the Imperial Japanese Navy light aircraft carrier Ryuho during the Battle of the Philippine Sea and won the Arleigh Burke Award for most improved crew on the only aircraft carrier he ever commanded; the Forrestal-class aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVA 62).
For everything he did in his career, Ramage received the Navy’s second highest honor - the Navy Cross, as well as four Legion of Merits, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, seven Air Medals, four Navy Unit Citations, a Presidential Unit Citation, and a Joint Service Commendation Medal.
Hill Goodspeed, the editor-in-chief for “The Hook,” the Tailhook Association’s quarterly newsletter, said Ramage was selected as the namesake for the award over other aviation legends such as Dick Best and Edward O’Hare due to his stellar service, dedication to the tailhook community, and his experience in multiple levels of command aboard aircraft carriers; experience O’Hare and Best lacked.
“I’m really proud of our Sailors,” said Capt. Paul F. Campagna, IKE’s commanding officer. “We put in the hard work and overcame many challenges while actively mitigating COVID-19. This was our second deployment within six months during a global pandemic and our crew showed great resiliency and perseverance.”
IKE and CVW-3 deployed from Norfolk, Virginia, February 18, 2021, after completing a six month, record-breaking deployment where the ship, embarked air wing, and escort ship remained at sea for 206 consecutive days. IKE’s second deployment took place across both U.S. 5th and 6th Fleets over the course of approximately seven months. They also conducted cooperative exercises and operations with the Egyptian, French, Hellenic, Italian, Japanese, and Royal Moroccan navies. IKE and CVW-3 participated in Exercise Lightning Handshake 21, Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Inherent Resolve, and was the ready-carrier for over 70% of Operation Final Countdown.
“We rocked our missions and kicked butt,” said Capt. Marcos A. Jasso, commander, CVW-3. “Every single CVW-3 and IKE Sailor should be proud of this accomplishment. We out-did all other aircraft carriers and air wings in the Navy during a global pandemic, which is no small feat. Each Sailor’s daily sacrifice and teamwork lived up to IKE’s motto of “Greater Each Day,” culminating in our success. I cannot understate our accomplishment individually and as a team. We just experienced the second of the hardest and most stressful back-to-back deployments due to [COVID-19], and still came out on top.”
CVW-3 consists of the “Fighting Swordsmen” of Strike Fighter Squadron 32 (VFA-32), “Rampagers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 83 (VFA-83), “Gunslingers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 105 (VFA-105), “Wildcats” of Strike Fighter Squadron 131 (VFA-131), “Zappers” of Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), “Screwtops” of Early Warning Squadron 123 (VAW-123), “Rawhides” of Carrier Replenishment Squadron 40 (VRC-40), “Dusty Dogs” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC-7), and “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Strike Squadron Maritime 74 (HSM-74).
| Date Taken: | 09.21.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2022 15:41 |
| Story ID: | 430122 |
| Location: | PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 270 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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