Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 114 (VAW-114) already was deployed and flying missions over the Tonkin Gulf off Vietnam when it was established on 20 April 1967. The "Hormel Hawgs" were formed from Detachment C of VAW-11. VAW-114, home-based at NAS North Island, Coronado, California, was operating the new E-2A Hawkeye early-warning aircraft as part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW-11) on board the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), protecting the naval forces in the Tonkin Gulf and U.S. aircraft that were striking targets in Vietnam.
After another deployment to Vietnam, VAW-114 upgraded to the E-2B version in 1970 and made two more deployments to the war zone. After the war, the squadron made two more deployments before joining CVW-15 on board the USS Coral Sea (CV-43). By 1976, the squadron had moved to NAS Miramar, California.
VAW-114 upgraded to the E-2C version in 1978 and, with CVW-15, rejoined the Kitty Hawk, and operated over the Arabian Sea in response to the hostage crisis in Iran. In 1982, VAW-114 joined the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and made six deployments by 1990. VAW-114 was the first fleet squadron to operate with the Advanced Radar Processing System/Passive Detection System version of the E-2C. During the next five deployments, the squadron operated over the northern and western Pacific and Indian Oceans. In 1988, the squadron supported Operation Earnest Will, the escort of oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq War.
In 1990 and 1991, VAW-114 upgraded to the E-2C+ version and made two drug-interdiction deployments to Howard Air Base in Panama. The squadron returned to the Kitty Hawk in 1991 for the newly refurbished carrier's transit around Cape Horn for her return to San Diego. The Hormel Hawgs' last two deployments were to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf in support of Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and Operation Southern Watch over Iraq. On 19 January 1993, VAW-114 supported CVW-15 aircraft as they struck targets in Iraq in retaliation for Iraqi antiaircraft fire.
The Navy's decision to cut CVW-15 as part of post-Cold War reductions marked the end of the Hormel Hawgs. The squadron was officially disestablished on 31 March 1995, after almost 28 years of service.