Authentic licensed US Navy VAW-78 ‘Fighting Escargots’ patch—fully embroidered, no Velcro backing

Description

Officially Licensed US Navy VAW-78 Fighting Escargots Patch — Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 78 E-2 Hawkeye Embroidered Patch

Fighting Escargots — slow, steady, and seeing everything.

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 78 (VAW-78) “Fighting Escargots” was a United States Navy Reserve airborne early warning squadron that operated the E-2 Hawkeye. The “Fighting Escargots” (fighting snails) nickname is one of the most distinctive and humorous in naval aviation, embracing the E-2’s reputation as one of the slower aircraft on the carrier flight deck while celebrating the squadron’s outsized contribution to fleet air defense.

VAW-78’s Reserve Hawkeye crews maintained proficiency in the complex art of airborne early warning and control, managing the aerial battlespace by detecting and tracking aircraft, ships, and missiles at extended ranges. The E-2 Hawkeye’s massive rotodome radar makes it one of the most recognizable aircraft in military aviation, and its crews provide the tactical picture that allows carrier strike group commanders to make informed decisions. The “Escargot” name was a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment that while the turboprop Hawkeye may not be the fastest aircraft on the flight deck, its contribution to the fight is arguably the most important — because you can’t fight what you can’t see.

This patch celebrates one of the most memorably named squadrons in the Navy.

Perfect For: VAW-78 Fighting Escargots veterans, E-2 Hawkeye Reserve crews, humorous squadron name collectors, and AEW community enthusiasts.

Fighting Escargots see all — VAW-78.

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