NORFOLK, Va. — Several squadrons assigned to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group are flying home to Hampton Roads Friday morning after a nine-month deployment.
The squadrons' returns will take place at Naval Station Norfolk and NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach. The VRC-40 “Rawhides” arrived at Naval Station Norfolk around 7:30 a.m, followed by the VAW-123 "Screwtops" around 8 a.m.
RELATED: After long, eventful, historic deployment, USS Eisenhower Strike Group returns to Hampton Roads
Families of the VRC-40 and VAW-123 crew said it's been a long haul and they've been anticipating this day for a long time.
“I’m waiting for my dad,” said Ryleigh Hendershot. “We are very eager to see him and the anticipation is killing us.”
“We can’t wait!” said Ryleigh's mother, Leigh. "We've been counting down the months, the weeks, the days and now hours."
These families said the nine-month-long deployment was challenging. For some time, it was hard to communicate with their loved ones.
“It has definitely been a different experience,” Sharese McFarlin said as she waited for her sister's return. "Because we talk often, she's always coming to visit."
However, to see their service member's face again was worth the wait.
“It’s so bittersweet," said Kiara Marsh, a crewmember with VRC-40. "I’m so happy to see my family and my friends.”
Carrier Air Wing squadrons VRC-40 and VAW-123 came home to Naval Station Norfolk after assisting the Dwight D Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group on deployment.
“When they need parts and stuff and people right now direct from shore to the carrier…then that’s what we do,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jedidiah Hendershot with VRC-40.
“We are in charge of the battle space and making sure that planes are identified and tracked,” Cmdr. Alex Glass, the commanding officer of VAW-123.
Despite multiple extensions, they’re all happy to make up for lost time.
“It was a long one and it feels indescribable to be home,” said Lt. Cmdr. Hendershot.
Homecoming for Navy Super Hornet squadrons
Meanwhile in Virginia Beach, the VFA-83, VFA-131, VFA-32, and VFA-105 Navy Super Hornet squadrons touched down at NAS Oceana.
"It's been a long nine months. Very happy to be here now. A little longer than I anticipated, but I'm so happy to be home, " said Lieutenant Commander Robert Nelson, a VFA-83 pilot.
His wife Lindsay said: "I couldn't believe that the day was finally here. The nine months, I felt like the day would never get here after two extensions."
The four returning Super Hornet squadrons' job was to defend the Red Sea from relentless Houthi rebel attacks, in the midst of the Israel-Hamas war.
"It was tough. This is the first time the Navy's seen this kind of combat in a very long time. The enemy had a lot of threats against us, but we relied on our training, and we did what we are trained to do," said Commander Keith Jerronimus, a VFA-83 pilot.
"The challenge of the ops in the Red Sea, they're incredibly challenging. It's a water space we don't usually operate in. There's a lot of logistical challenges and then the uncertainty of the deployment, that has a big impact on families," said Commander Benjamin Orloff, VFA-83 Commanding Officer.
"But the crew really held it together. And it was a really good team we built, focused on a righteous mission: protecting the freedom of navigation on the high seas. Which is what we were doing for the majority of the deployment. And I was super excited to be a part of it," said Captain Marvin Scott, Carrier Air Wing 3 Commanding Officer.
And now, they're super excited to be home.
Friday's homecoming kicks off a three-day period of the return of the carrier strike group that includes four ships, nine squadrons, and 6,500 sailors.
After shipping out last Oct. 14 and having the deployment extended twice, the group spent most of the past nine months in the Middle East engaged in combat operations at a tempo not seen since World War II.
The group escorted 28 vessels, launching hundreds of missiles. Ike aircrews flew more than 13,000 sorties, accumulated more than 31,000 flight hours, and completed more than 10,000 aircraft launches and recoveries.
More squadrons will fly in on Saturday, and then the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Philippine Sea will return Sunday.