Family members greeted returning members of Carrier Air Wing Nine, three Strike Fighter Squadrons and Fleet Readiness Center's Sea Operations Detachment back to NAS Lemoore Friday, following a six-month deployment aboard the USS John C. Stennis.

They were welcomed with signs, flowers and American flags in addition to open arms and smiling faces.

The squadrons' pilots and aircraft arrived home first. The Black Knights of VFA-154 arrived first with a flyover from the west, followed by the Argonauts of VFA-147, then the Blue Diamonds of VFA-146.

The remainder of the squadron members, Carrier Air Wing Nine and Sea Operations Detachment are scheduled to fly to NAS Lemoore aboard Navy C-40 and C-9 passenger aircraft on Monday beginning at about 3:15 p.m.

During the six-month deployment, the USS John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group and embarked Carrier Air Wing Nine engaged in diplomatic training missions with ally nations in the Western Pacific.

Training scenarios tested the air wing's ability in various aspects of air warfare, such as dogfighting, air intercepts and the air wing's ability to support ground operations in a combat zone.

The group concluded its deployment in the Gulf of Alaska participating in Northern Edge operations conducted within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which includes more than 60,000 square miles of air space and the Gulf of Alaska.

(July 4, 2009)