Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), also known as the "Zappers", is an

EA-18G Growler The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G replaced the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy. The ...

squadron of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

based aboard

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) is a naval air station of the United States Navy located on two pieces of land near Oak Harbor, Washington, Oak Harbor, on Whidbey Island, in Island County, Washington (state), Washington. The main p ...

. Part of

Carrier Air Wing 3 Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3), known as the "Battle Axe", is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The wing was created on 1 July 1938 and has seen service in World War II, the Korean War, the ...

, the ''Zappers'' deploy aboard the aircraft carrier . VAQ-130 is the oldest

electronic warfare Electronic warfare (EW) is any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EM spectrum) or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponen ...

squadron in the U.S. Navy.

Squadron history

In 2017, Two naval aviators attached to VAQ-130 were disciplined for drawing a phallus in the sky over

Okanogan County, Washington Okanogan County () is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington along the Canada–U.S. border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,104. The county seat is Okanogan, while the largest city is Omak. Its area is the largest in ...

VAW-13

The squadron was originally commissioned as Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron Thirteen (VAW-13) flying AD-5Qs in 1959. During the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

detachments from VAW-13 were deployed on the following aircraft carriers operating on

Yankee The term ''Yankee'' and its contracted form ''Yank'' have several interrelated meanings, all referring to people from the United States. Its various senses depend on the context, and may refer to New Englanders, residents of the Northern United St ...

and Dixie Stations: *6 March-23 November 1965, Detachment, EA-1Fs were embarked on *5 April-16 December 1965, Detachment, EA-1Fs were embarked on *10 May-13 December 1965, Detachment, EA-1Fs were embarked on *21 April 1965 – 13 January 1966, Detachment, EA-1Fs were embarked on *12 May-3 December 1966, Detachmen,t EA-1Fs were embarked on *21 June 1966 – 21 February 1967, Detachment 42, EA-1Fs were embarked on *26 January-25 August 1967, Detachment 31, EA-1Fs were embarked on USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' *29 April-4 December 1967, Detachment, EA-1Fs were embarked on USS ''Constellation'' *16 June 1967 – 31 January 1968, Detachment, EA-1Fs were embarked on *29 July 1967 – 6 April 1968, Detachment, EA-1Fs were embarked on *4 November 1967 – 25 May 1968, Detachment 61, EKA-3Bs were embarked on *18 November 1967 – 28 June 1968, Detachment 63, EKA-3Bs were embarked on *3 January-18 July 1968, Detachment 65, EKA-3Bs were embarked on *27 January-10 October 1968, Detachment 31, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' *10 April-16 December 1968, Detachment 66, EKA-3Bs were embarked on *29 May 1968 – 21 January 1969, Detachment 64, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Constellation'' *18 July 1968 – 3 March 1969, Detachment 19, EKA-3Bs were embarked on *7 September 1968 – 18 April 1969, Detachment 43, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Coral Sea''

VAQ-130

On 1 October 1968, the squadron was re-designated Electronic Attack Squadron 130 and placed under Tactical Electronic Warfare Wing Thirteen (VAQW-13). VAQ-130 detachments continued to deploy in support of the Vietnam War as follows: *26 October 1968 – 17 May 1969, Detachment 61, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Ranger'' *1 February-18 September 1969, Detachment 14, EKA-3Bs were embarked on *18 March-29 October 1968, Detachment 31, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' *14 April-17 November 1969, Detachment 34, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Oriskany'' *2 April-12 November 1970, Detachment 31, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' *14 May-10 December 1970, Detachment 1, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Oriskany'' *16 April-6 November 1971, Detachment 2, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Midway'' *14 May-10 December 1971, Detachment 3, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Oriskany'' *11 June 1971 – 12 February 1972, Detachment 4, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Enterprise'' *1 October 1971 – 30 June 1972, Detachment 1, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Constellation'' *10 April 1972 – 3 March 1973, Detachment 2, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Midway'' *5 June 1972 – 30 March 1973, Detachment 3, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Oriskany'' *16 November 1973 – 23 June 1973, Detachment 4, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Ranger'' *18 October 1973 – 5 June 1974, Detachment 3, EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Oriskany'' In March 1975, the squadron relocated to their current homeport of

and transitioned to the

EA-6B Prowler The Northrop Grumman (formerly Grumman) EA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, four-seat, mid-wing electronic-warfare aircraft derived from the A-6 Intruder airframe. The EA-6A was the initial electronic warfare version of the A-6 used by the United S ...

. In December 2010, the squadron returned from their last fleet deployment flying the

and began transition training in March 2011 to the

; the ''Zappers'' completed transition training in November 2011. The squadron deployed aboard in July 2013 following a year-long work-up cycle. In August 2020, the squadron returns from its 206-day deployment aboard the

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) USS ''Dwight D. Eisenhower'' (CVN-69) (known informally as "''Ike''") is a Nuclear marine propulsion, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier currently in service with the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1977, the ship is the second of the ten s ...

, earning the Iron Shellback status for crossing the line after 100 days without hitting a port. The deployment broke the record for longest deployment without hitting a port, breaking the last record holder to the

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'' (CVN-71) is the fourth , nuclear-powered, aircraft carrier in the United States Navy. She is named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States and a proponent of naval power. She is the f ...

with 160 consecutive days.

References

External links

VAQ-130 official website
Electronic attack squadrons of the United States Navy Military units and formations in Washington (state) {{USN-stub

Squadron history

VAW-13

VAQ-130

See also

References

External links