Carrier Air Wing Reserve THIRTY was established on 1 April 1970 at Naval Air Station Alameda, and was composed of an Air Wing Staff, two Fighter Squadrons, three Attack Squadrons, one Light Reconnaissance Squadron, one Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, one Early Warning Squadron and one Aerial Refueling Squadron. They were:
- VA-303 “Golden Hawks” at NAS Alameda
- VA-304 “Firebirds” at NAS Alameda
- VA-305 “Lobos” at NAS Point Mugu
- VAK-308 “Griffins” at NAS Alameda
- VAQ-309 “Axemen” at NAS Whidbey Island
- VAW-88 “Cottonpickers” at NAS Miramar
- VF-301 “Devil’s Disciples” at NAS Miramar
- VF-302 “Stallions” at NAS Miramar
- VFP-306 “Peeping Toms” later “Photomasters” at NAF Washington, D.C.
The mission of the staff was primarily to maintain operational and administrative control of its squadrons, as well as supervise their training to ensure a high degree of readiness was achieved and maintained.
The establishment of Carrier Air Wing Reserve THIRTY and the introduction of special mission squadrons gave the Naval Air Reserve Force multiple-missions capability it had never previously possessed. It greatly enhanced the Reserve program’s capability to be a formidable striking force should the need have ever arisen for Reserve mobilization.
A memorable Active Duty Training (ACDUTRA) was when CVWR-30 reported aboard the USS Ranger CV-61 for Carrier Qualifications (CARQUALS) on 6 November 1976. The Reserve Air Wing launched and recovered aircraft for seven consecutive days.
Carrier Air Wing Reserve THIRTY had an illustrious career of more than 24 years and disestablished on 31 December 1994.
To all of Air WIng 30,
My name is Ron MacDougall. My father was LCDR Ron MacDougall. I am his oldest son. I know if my father was still around he would have found this site and kept in touch with many of the people he worked and flew with. He told me numerous stories of his flying and how much enjoyment he got from where he went and who he flew with. He passed away in 1996 due to cancer. I still have a few patches of VAQ-308 on my own flight jacket. I remember my mother designed the “Griffins” patch in our house in Seattle. Take care all of you.
I have one of those patches. I was stationed at Naval Air Station Alameda from June 1970 thru December 1973 attached to CVWR-30 Staff in Hangar 20, same Hangar as VAQ-308. Best duty I had in the Navy. I remember those screaming whales (A-3’s) landing on the runway alongside the Hangar. Will never forget the “November Delta” aircraft. VAQ-308 and the A-3’s, VA-303 and VA-304 with the A-4’s and then A-7’s.
I am PR3 Hawley and was on the initial cruise that transferred the Abraham Lincoln to the PAC fleet and CVWR 30 was onboard for quals and I have collected every single patch except for air wing reserve 30’s patch. If someone could let me know, I would appreciate it. As a matter of fact, I stayed at NAS Alameda for a few days before flying back to Norfolk to go back to my AIMD.
I started my Navy career in Sept. 1983. I was stationed at VA-174 Cecil Field FL. for training on the A-7 Corsair II. I reported for active duty at VA-304 NAS Alameda CA working on A-7s about April 1984 until I transferred Dec. 1987. I remember detting to NAS Lemoore, NAS Pt. Mugu, and NAS Fallon NV, as well as 2 weeks on the USS Ranger and a short carrier qual det aboard the USS Lexington at NAS Pensacola FL. After I left VA-304 transitioned to A-6 Intruders. I still remember the 2 VAK refueling squadrons next door flying the A-3 Skywarrior, the Marines with A-4s and H-53s, and HS-85 H-3 squadron around the corner, and also the C-9 squadron. One particularly memorable night was launching a plane late at night to fly away to the east coast. As we were sweeping the hangar, and could hear the jet go to military power, we then heard the engines whine down and shut off. We all assembled on the hangar, then hustled into vans and went out to the runway. One of the main landing gear had snapped in half. The jet was leaning to one side on its wingtip! We had to call (wake up) public works to get a flatbed and crane. After loading it we walked the plane all night back to the hangar, where we craned it onto jacks in between the hangars. Fun times!