Electronic Attack Squadron 131 (VAQ-131), also known as the "Lancers," 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 ...

tactical jet aircraft squadron specializing in kinetic and non-kinetic Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). They are 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, on Whidbey Island, in Island County, Washington. The main portion of the base, Ault Field, is about ...

, 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. ...

. Their radio callsign is "Skybolt."

History

VP-931

VAQ-131 was originally established as Patrol Squadron 931 (VP-931). From 1946 through 1955, VP-931 flew the

P2V Neptune The Lockheed P-2 Neptune (designated P2V by the United States Navy prior to September 1962) is a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. It was developed for the US Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and P ...

VAH-4

In 1956, the squadron transitioned to the

A-3 Skywarrior The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior is a jet-powered strategic bomber that was developed and produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It was designed by Douglas on behalf of the United States Navy, which sought a carrier-capable strategic bomber. Durin ...

and was redesignated as Heavy Attack Squadron 4 (VAH-4). During the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by 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 Vietnam a ...

detachments from VAH-4 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 S ...

and Dixie Stations: *1 August 1963 – 10 March 1964, Detachment G A-3Bs were embarked on for a Western Pacific deployment *28 January-21 November 1964, Detachment E A-3Bs were embarked on *21 October 1964 – 29 May 1965, Detachment L A-3Bs were embarked on *10 May-13 December 1965, Detachment 62 A-3Bs were embarked on *28 September 1965 – 13 May 1966, Detachment B A-3Bs were embarked on *19 October 1965 – 13 June 1966, Detachment C A-3Bs were embarked on On 12 April 1966 the

People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

claimed to have shot down a U.S. aircraft over the

Leizhou Peninsula The Leizhou Peninsula, alternately romanized as the Luichow Peninsula, is a peninsula in the southernmost part of Guangdong province in South China. History Qing naval forces were stationed at the Leizhou Peninsula. During the 19th centur ...

. The aircraft was identified as being squadron KA-3B #142653 which disappeared en route from

Naval Air Station Cubi Point U.S. Naval Air Station Cubi Point was a United States Navy aerial facility located at the edge of Naval Base Subic Bay and abutting the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. When the base closed, the air station became the Subic Bay International ...

to the ''Kitty Hawk'' with four crewmen onboard. *26 October 1965 – 21 June 1966, Detachment M A-3Bs were embarked on *29 May-16 November 1966, Detachment G A-3Bs were embarked on *15 October 1966 – 29 May 1967, Detachment E A-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Ticonderoga'' *5 November 1966 – 19 June 1967, Detachment C KA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Kitty Hawk'' *5 January-22 July 1967, Detachment B A-3Bs were embarked on *26 January-25 August 1967, Detachment 31 A-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' *16 June 1967 – 31 January 1968, Detachment G/34 KA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Oriskany'' *18 November 1967 – 28 June 1968, Detachment 63 KA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Kitty Hawk'' *28 December 1967 – 17 August 1968, Detachment 14 KA-3Bs were embarked on USS ''Ticonderoga'' In addition to the carrier deployments, in 1966 a detachment of KA-3Bs was also sent to operate from NAS Cubi Point and Da Nang Air Base.

VAQ-131

In November 1968, VAH-4 received the EKA-3 version of the Skywarrior and was redesignated as Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 131 (VAQ-131). In 1971, they became the second squadron in the U.S. Navy to receive the ''Standard'' version of 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 ...

. The squadron transitioned to the ''Expanded Capability (EXCAP)'' version of the Prowler in 1976, to the ''Improved Capablility (ICAP)'' Prowler in 1978, and to the ''ICAP II'' Prowler in 1984.VAQ-131 official website
/ref> In May 2014, they transitioned to the

Boeing 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 ...

, which they currently operate. The

EA-18G 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. T ...

expanded the squadron's capabilities to enable more effective prosecution of radar and Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) sites in an Integrated Air Defense System (IADS), both through air-to-ground weapon employment and precision

electronic attack An electronic countermeasure (ECM) is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar, or other detection systems, like infrared (IR) or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting info ...

, the latter being the Growler's niche capability. The EA-18G is also a capable

air-to-air combat Air combat manoeuvring (also known as ACM or dogfighting) is the tactical art of moving, turning and/or situating one's fighter aircraft in order to attain a position from which an attack can be made on another aircraft. Air combat manoeuvres ...

platform.

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports: *

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 t ...

History

VP-931

VAH-4

VAQ-131

Home port assignments

Aircraft Assignment

References

External links

See also