Official VAW-117 E-2D Turn Operator Patches

Official VAW-117 E-2D Turn Operator Patches — U.S. Navy Airborne Command & Control Squadron Wallbangers Embroidered Patch

Nothing flies without the picture, and nobody paints the picture like the Wallbangers. If you turned the scope, this patch is earned.

Airborne Command and Control Squadron 117 (VAW-117), the "Wallbangers," was established at NAS North Island, California, on July 1, 1974, as part of the Fighter Airborne Early Warning Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. The squadron received its first E-2B Hawkeye in October 1974 and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea aboard USS Independence just a year later. Over the next five decades, VAW-117 built one of the most decorated records in naval aviation. In 1988, the Wallbangers played a critical command and control role during Operation Praying Mantis aboard USS Enterprise, providing the secure data links that coordinated the destruction of Iranian naval assets in the Persian Gulf. During the 1989 World Cruise, they shattered all E-2 squadron flight records with 503 hours in a single month. Attached to Carrier Air Wing Eleven aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, the Wallbangers participated in Desert Storm in 1991 and assisted in the evacuation of the Philippines during Operation Fiery Vigil. After transitioning to the E-2C Group II with APS-145 radar in 1994, VAW-117 racked up an unprecedented string of awards — the Battle "E," the CNO Airborne Early Warning Excellence Award, the Grandpaw Pettibone Award, and the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Award. When the September 11 attacks hit, the Wallbangers were deployed aboard USS Carl Vinson and were among the first aircraft to lead strikes on Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, providing continuous battlespace management over Pakistan and southern Afghanistan. VAW-117 was the first fleet squadron to receive the Cooperative Engagement Capability system and later transitioned to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. In 2024, the Wallbangers deployed with CVW-9 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln and played a critical role in defeating Houthi one-way attack drones, anti-ship ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles in the Red Sea. This Turn Operator patch honors the enlisted operators who work the scope — the heart of every Hawkeye mission.

• Embroidered U.S. Navy airborne early warning squadron patch
• Dense stitching with merrowed border for lasting durability
• Vivid detail capturing the Wallbangers Turn Operator insignia
• Ideal for flight suits, gear bags, and shadow box collections
• Built for working aircrew and proud display alike

Perfect For:
VAW-117 Wallbangers aircrew and enlisted operators past and present, E-2D and E-2C Hawkeye Naval Flight Officers and turn operators, CVW-9 and CVW-11 veterans, NAS Point Mugu personnel, and anyone who served with the Wallbangers. A standout addition to any naval aviation patch collection or veteran display.