Carrier Air Wing Three
| Carrier Air Wing 3 | |
|---|---|
CVW-3 Insignia | |
| Active | 1 July 1938 - Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Type | Carrier Air Wing |
| Part of | Carrier Strike Group 2 |
| Garrison/HQ | NAS Oceana USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) |
| Nickname(s) | "Battle Axe" |
| Tail Code | AC |
| Engagements | World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Operation Desert Fox Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Inherent Resolve 2024 missile strikes in Yemen |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (6) United Nations Service Medal Korean Service Medal (2) Navy Unit Commendation (2) China Service Medal Meritorious Unit Commendation Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Frederick C. Turner Joseph F. Kilkenny |
Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3), known as the "Battle Axe", is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The wing was created on 1 July 1938 and has seen service in World War II, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, Lebanon, against Libya, and the Global War on Terror.