aboard America in 1975, before being reassigned to the nuclear-powered in 1975. Iran Between June 1976 and May 1980, CVW-8 embarked on board Nimitz for three Mediterranean deployments. CVW-8 made a special appearance in the 1980 movie The Final Countdown. During their third Mediterranean deployment and in response to the Iranian hostage crisis and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Nimitz with CVW-8 embarked left Naples, Italy in January 1980 and sailed around the Cape of Good Hope into the Indian Ocean. Established at "Gonzo Station," the air wing supported the Iranian hostage rescue attempt, Operation Eagle Claw, while remaining at-sea for more than 140 consecutive days. Returning to the United States in May 1980, CVW-8 embarked once again in USS Nimitz for the North Atlantic NATO exercise "Teamwork 80" from August to November 1980. 1980s CVW-8 embarked on Nimitz again in April 1981 for Caribbean operations, followed by another Sixth Fleet Mediterranean deployment. It was during this deployment that two CVW-8 F-14s from Fighter Squadron 41 engaged and destroyed two Libyan Sukhoi Su-22 aircraft following an unprovoked air-to-air missile attack over the international waters of the Gulf of Sidra. Lebanon Returning to Norfolk, Virginia, CVW-8 embarked in the Navy's newest carrier, for her maiden voyage in March 1982. CVW-8 squadrons returned to Nimitz later in 1982 for Carrier Refresher Training followed by Caribbean operations and an extended Mediterranean deployment from November 1982 to May 1983 which included air operations in support of the multi-national force in Beirut, Lebanon. In March 1985, CVW-8 embarked again on USS Nimitz for a Mediterranean deployment which included participation in several exercises including Distant Hammer, Poop Deck, and Bright Star. During this deployment, USS Nimitz and CVW-8 were stationed off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon for 69 consecutive days during the terrorist hijacking of a TWA airliner. The prompt response and threat of contingency strike operations by USS Nimitz and CVW-8 helped coerce the Iranian-backed terrorists into releasing their hostages. In December 1986, CVW-8 embarked on USS Nimitz for the last time and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. At the end of this deployment USS Nimitz team sailed around the tip of South America as the carrier changed its homeport from Norfolk, Virginia to Everett, Washington. In June 1987, CVW-8 aircraft launched for the last time from USS Nimitz while off the coast of San Diego, California to return to their respective homeports. The air