Kadena Air Base’s 18th Wing visits Kitty Hawk Published Dec. 11, 2006 By 031206 USS KITTY HAWK, At sea -- Twenty Airmen serving in the Air Force's 18th Wing, the service's largest combat wing, flew onto USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) for an at-sea tour Dec. 2. The Airmen flew in a naval aircraft for a change, a C-2A Greyhound, from Kadena Air Base to Kitty Hawk. "The C-2 is small compared to our C-5 [Galaxy transport]," said Chief Master Sgt. Octavia Murray, superintendent of the 18th Medical Group. "It was an interesting experience to catch the [arresting wire] on the carrier." Each Airman was given a "tail hook certificate" by Kitty Hawk Executive Officer Capt. Jeffrey Amick to commemorate landing on the carrier's flight deck and hooking onto the arresting wire. The visitors toured the hangar bay, received a brief about Kitty Hawk's capabilities in the Combat Direction Center and watched flight operations from the flight deck. "It's such a choreographed dance to make sure everything works together," said Maj. Dani Johnson, 18th Wing Chief of Public affairs, about flight operations. "It highlighted the outstanding teamwork [and] talent of all the Sailors on the Kitty Hawk." Brig. Gen. Harold W. Moulton II, 18th Wing's commander, flew aboard Kitty Hawk in an F/A-18 Super Hornet with Rear Adm. Doug McClain, Battle Force Seventh Fleet commander, while the other 18th Wing personnel were touring the ship. The tour helped Murray appreciate what Sailors do on a daily basis. "In the Air Force, we are very specialized," she said. "And when I'm at work the floor doesn't move!" The Kitty Hawk Strike Group is the largest carrier strike group in the Navy. It includes the Kitty Hawk, the aircraft squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing 5, the guided-missile cruisers USS Shiloh (CG 67) and USS Cowpens (CG 63), and Destroyer Squadron 15 staff. The group's ships and destroyer squadron staff operate from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, and the air wing and staff operate from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. To find more news about the Kitty Hawk Strike Group, visit the Navy NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil/local/cv63/.