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VAQ 132

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Active
  
1 November 1955

Branch
  
United States Navy

VAQ-132

Country
  
United States of America

Role
  
Airborne Electronic Attack

Part of
  
Commander, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMVAQWINGPAC)

Garrison/HQ
  
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island

Electronic Attack Squadron 132 (VAQ-132), the "Scorpions", is a United States Navy aircraft squadron based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, flying the EA-18G Growler. The squadron's radio callsign is "Scorp".

Contents

History

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.

During the Vietnam War detachments from VAH-2 were deployed on the following aircraft carriers operating on Yankee and Dixie Stations:

  • 5 August 1964 – 6 May 1965, Detachment M A-3Bs were embarked on USS Ranger
  • 7 December 1964 – 1 November 1965, A-3Bs were embarked on USS Coral Sea
  • 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 USS Enterprise
  • 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 USS Constellation

    • 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 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 USS Harry S. Truman.

    The EA-18G was first used in combat during Operation Odyssey Dawn by supporting efforts to enforce a UN no-fly-zone over Libya. The five EA-18Gs of VAQ-132 were redeployed from Iraq to Italy to support Libya operations.

    References

    VAQ-132 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA