20 years ago today 22 December 2002, saw the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), with Carrier Air Wing 14 (NK) embarked, and the cruiser USS Shiloh (CG-67), arrive at Fremantle, Western Australia, the Shiloh docked at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal, while the Abraham Lincoln anchored in Gage Roads after a stint in the Persian Gulf, both ships were heading home to the USA.
USS Abraham Lincoln was on her fourth visit to Western Australia, while USS Shiloh was on her second. Carrier Air Wing Fourteen comprised of the F-14D Tomcats of VF-31 'Tomcatters', the F/A-18C Hornets of VFA-25 'Fist of the Fleet' and VFA-113 'Stingers', the E-2C Hawkeyes of VAW-113 Black Eagles' the EA-6B Prowlers of VAQ-139 'Cougars', S-3B Vikings of VS-35 'Blue Wolves': the SH-60F.HH-60 Seahawks of HS-4 'Black Knights', and the C-2A Greyhounds of VRC-30 'Providers' Det-1.
Also with CVW-14 were the F/A-18E Super Hornets of VFA-115 'Eagles', on the first deployment of the Super Hornet, which sparked much interest.
Both ships enjoyed Christmas in Perth before departing on 28 December 2002 for the USA...BUT, events would occur that would see these two ships return to Fremantle sooner than anyone expected.
——Ian Johnson