VAW-126

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 126 (VAW-126), nicknamed the "Seahawks", is a carrier airborne early warning squadron of the United States Navy. Established in 1969, the squadron and its five E‑2D Hawkeye aircraft are based at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.

VAW-126 was commissioned at NAS Norfolk, Virginia on 1 April 1969. Originally nicknamed the "Closeouts", the squadron was equipped with four E‑2A Hawkeye aircraft and assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing 17 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal.

After their first deployment in July 1970, the squadron switched to the E‑2B.

The squadron won the COMNAVAIRLANT Battle Readiness Efficiency "E" and the CNO Safety "S" Award in 1971. The squadron won the Battle "E" a second time in 1974.

In September 1974, the squadron transferred to USS America. After their return to NAS Norfolk in October 1974, the squadron began to shift from the E‑2B to the E‑2C, Group 0 variant.

In August 1975, the squadron began operations in the Caribbean Sea with CVW-9, based at NAS Miramar. In May 1976, they began the first of many trips moving the entire squadron back and forth between NAS Norfolk and NAS Miramar to operate with CVW‑9 and prepare for their upcoming deployment aboard USS Constellation. The squadron made their second and final Western Pacific deployment with USS Constellation in May 1978.

The squadron changed their name to "Seahawks" in memory of their commanding officer, CDR Vady Clark, who died suddenly in September 1979.

Upon returning to the East Coast in 1979, the squadron joined USS John F. Kennedy and CVW-1.