Electronic Attack Squadron 132 (VAQ-132), the "Scorpions", is a

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 ...

aircraft squadron based at

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 ...

, flying the

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's radio callsign is "Scorp".

History

RA-5C RVAH-5 and A-3B VAH-2 on USS Ranger (CVA-61) 1965

Electronic Warfare Squadron 132 can trace its history all the way back to Patrol Squadron 911 (VP-911, later VP-29), established in 1946.

VAH-2

In November 1955, VP-29 personnel formed the nucleus of the squadron Heavy Attack Squadron Two (VAH-2) "Royal Rampants" and transitioned to the A3D Skywarrior and changed its homeport the following year to

NAS 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, on Whidbey Island, in Island County, Washington. The main portion of the base, Ault Field, is about ...

. 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 VAH-2 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: *5 August 1964 – 6 May 1965, Detachment M A-3Bs were embarked on *7 December 1964 – 1 November 1965, A-3Bs were embarked on *10 December 1965 – 25 August 1966, Detachment F A-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Ranger'' *29 July 1966 – 23 February 1967, Detachment A A-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Coral Sea'' *19 November 1966 – 6 July 1967, Detachment M A-3Bs were embarked on *26 July 1967 – 6 April 1968, KA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Coral Sea'' *4 November 1967 – 25 May 1968, Detachment 61 KA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Ranger'' *3 January-18 July 1968, Detachment 65 KA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Enterprise'' *29 May 1968 – 31 January 1969, Detachment 64 KA-3Bs were embarked on

VAQ-132

In November 1968, VAH-2 was redesignated as Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 132 (VAQ-132) and transitioned to the EKA-3B. In January 1971, they received 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 ...

and became the first operational squadron to transition to the new aircraft. On 7 November 2008, VAQ-132 held their ceremonial last flight in the Grumman EA-6B Prowler and began the transition to the brand-new, Boeing EA-18G Growler in February 2009 with flight certification in mid-2009. Initial operational capability (IOC) was achieved on 22 September 2009, making them the first operational EA-18G squadron. On 5 August 2009, EA-18Gs from VAQ-132 and Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) completed their first at-sea carrier-arrested landing (trap) aboard . The United States Navy's new Boeing EA-18G Growler ( "Grizzly" ) was first used in combat during

Operation Odyssey Dawn Operation Odyssey Dawn was the U.S. code name for the American role in the international military operation in Libya to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 during the initial period of 19–31 March 2011, which continued aft ...

by supporting efforts to enforce a UN no-fly-zone over

Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya bo ...

. The five EA-18Gs of VAQ-132 "Scorpions" were redeployed from Al' Asad Air Base, Iraq to Aviano Air Base, Italy to support Libya operations."Roughead: Ships Were Ready for Odyssey Dawn"
''American Forces Press Service (US Navy)'', 23 March 2011.

References

External links

VAQ-132 official website

History

VAH-2

VAQ-132

References

External links

See also