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 | "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 air wing is currently attached to the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. 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.