VAQ-142
Encyclopedia
Electronic Attack Squadron 142 (VAQ-142), also known as "The Gray Wolves", is an EA-6B Prowler
squadron of the United States Navy
. They specialize in electronic attack and are currently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
, Oak Harbor, Washington
.
The squadron's radio callsign is "Timber"
made a decision to replace the Air Force’s aging EF-111A Raven Fleet with additional EA-6B squadrons in order to meet the electronic attack needs of both services. On April 3, 1997, a new VAQ-142, the fourth of five new EA-6B squadrons was established. Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation. Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons. In the case of VAQ-142, they assumed their designation and their nickname from two different previous squadrons.
VAQ-142 made numerous detachments including Cope Thunder and Red Flag
, achieving deployable readiness levels only five months after establishment. During 1998 VAQ-142 deployed three times to Prince Sultan Air Base
, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch
and Operation Desert Fox
. The squadron received the 1998 Battle “E” and Safety “S” awards.
In 1999 the Wolves made two deployments to Incirlik Air Base
, Turkey to support Operation Northern Watch
and the “no-fly zone” in Northern Iraq. During their second deployment VAQ-142 was chosen to be the first squadron to deploy into combat with the Block 89A aircraft, the Navy’s newest generation of the Prowler. During this second deployment in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH, the Gray Wolves successfully launched the first combat HARM
launches from the new Block 89A Prowler.
In December 2003 the Gray Wolves received a short notice deployment order to Bagram Air Base
, Afghanistan to support Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Seven workdays later, four squadron EA-6Bs conducted a trans-Atlantic flight en route to Bagram Air Base, where squadron maintenance personnel were already in-place awaiting their arrival. This was the first complete Navy squadron to deploy to Afghanistan. During this deployment, VAQ-142 directly supported multiple operations resulting in the capture of several key terrorist operatives.{fact}
In October 2004, VAQ-142 deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. After a trans-Pacific crossing with five EA-6B's, flight operations were resumed within 48 hours. While at Iwakuni, VAQ-142 participated in Foal Eagle
. The squadron was relieved by VAQ-209
in April, and returned home to NAS Whidbey Island.
The Gray Wolves began their next inter-deployment training cycle in June by traveling to Eielson AFB, Alaska, for Cope Thunder, a large force exercise providing joint training for aviators from the U.S. , Great Britain , and Japan. Following that exercise, the Gray Wolves took part in a live fire HARM shoot out of NAWC Point Mugu, CA. At the end of August, the Gray Wolves traveled to Nellis AFB, NV, to take part in Red Flag. Just a week after returning home in September, the Gray Wolves returned to Nellis AFB to take part in Air Warrior and F-22 testing. In December VAQ-142 took part in Terminal Fury testing support out of NAWS China Lake, CA.
In March 2006, a squadron detachment was sent to NAWS China Lake for JATO
testing to develop tactics and techniques for use in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Gray Wolves continued training during Red Flag Alaska at Elmendorf AFB in April. At Red Flag, the Wolves participated in Large Force Exercises with the U.S. Air Force and other allies. The Gray Wolves left in mid-July for a deployment to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan and started missions within 16 hours of arriving in country. After flying missions for 187 days, the Gray Wolves headed home in late January 2007. For the Gray Wolves' performance in 2006 they were awarded the 2006 Battle "E" as well as the 2006 CNO Aviation Safety Award.
Beginning in May, the Gray Wolves began training for their next deployment at Nellis AFB and NAWS China Lake. In late May, a detachment went to NAWC Pt Mugu, CA and took part in a live fire HARM shoot over the coastal waters. In June, the Wolves went to El Centro, CA, for pod testing and tactics training to help prepare for the upcoming deployment to Iraq.
EA-6 Prowler
The Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, mid-wing electronic warfare aircraft modified from the basic A-6 Intruder airframe. The EA-6B has been in service with the U.S...
squadron of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. They specialize in electronic attack and are currently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is a naval air station located in two sections around Oak Harbor, Washington, USA. It was commissioned as an active U.S. Navy installation on 21 September 1942....
, Oak Harbor, Washington
Oak Harbor, Washington
Oak Harbor is a city located on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. The population was 22,075 at the 2010 census.Oak Harbor was incorporated on May 14, 1915.-History:Oak Harbor is Whidbey Island's largest incorporated city...
.
The squadron's radio callsign is "Timber"
Mission
"To project decisive, sustainable and rapidly deployable Electronic Attack capability --- anytime, anywhere, on demand."First VAQ-142 “Grim Watchdogs”
Two distinct squadrons have been designated Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 142. The first squadron, known as the “Grim Watchdogs”, was established June 1, 1988 in response to the Navy’s requirement for a thirteenth operational EA-6B squadron. The squadron made their first and only deployment with Carrier Air Wing 6 aboard to the Mediterranean Sea in 1989-90. In less than three years as a squadron, VAQ-142 also flew from , , , and . The squadron logged more than 3600 flight hours and 860 traps before being disestablished in March 1991.VAQ-35 “Grey Wolves”
After the “Grim Watchdogs” disestablished, remaining squadron personnel were transferred to a pre-establishment detachment for VAQ-35. On June 1, 1991 the VAQ-35 “Grey Wolves” were established under the cognizance of Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group (FEWSG), with the Electronic Warfare Support mission. In their short history, VAQ-35 made over forty-two detachments to more than sixteen locations as far away as Puerto Rico, Bermuda and the Hawaiian Islands. In October 1993, due to further reductions in defense spending, VAQ-35 was disestablished, and their mission was absorbed by reserve squadrons based in the east and west coasts.1990s
In 1994, the Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
made a decision to replace the Air Force’s aging EF-111A Raven Fleet with additional EA-6B squadrons in order to meet the electronic attack needs of both services. On April 3, 1997, a new VAQ-142, the fourth of five new EA-6B squadrons was established. Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation. Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons. In the case of VAQ-142, they assumed their designation and their nickname from two different previous squadrons.
VAQ-142 made numerous detachments including Cope Thunder and Red Flag
Red flag
In politics, a red flag is a symbol of Socialism, or Communism, or sometimes left-wing politics in general. It has been associated with left-wing politics since the French Revolution. Socialists adopted the symbol during the Revolutions of 1848 and it became a symbol of communism as a result of its...
, achieving deployable readiness levels only five months after establishment. During 1998 VAQ-142 deployed three times to Prince Sultan Air Base
Prince Sultan Air Base
Prince Sultan Air Base is an air base located at Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia.There was formerly a large United States presence there during Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The U.S. presence was predominantly that of multiple U.S. Air Force flying units, augmented by a...
, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
and Operation Desert Fox
Operation Desert Fox
The December 1998 bombing of Iraq was a major four-day bombing campaign on Iraqi targets from December 16–19, 1998 by the United States and United Kingdom...
. The squadron received the 1998 Battle “E” and Safety “S” awards.
In 1999 the Wolves made two deployments to Incirlik Air Base
Incirlik Air Base
The Incirlik Air Base is located in İncirlik, five miles east of Adana, Turkey's fifth largest city, and from the Mediterranean Sea.The U.S...
, Turkey to support Operation Northern Watch
Operation Northern Watch
Operation Northern Watch, the successor to Operation Provide Comfort, was a US European Command Combined Task Force charged with enforcing its own no-fly zone above the 36th parallel in Iraq...
and the “no-fly zone” in Northern Iraq. During their second deployment VAQ-142 was chosen to be the first squadron to deploy into combat with the Block 89A aircraft, the Navy’s newest generation of the Prowler. During this second deployment in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH, the Gray Wolves successfully launched the first combat HARM
HARM
HARM or H.A.R.M. may refer to:* AGM-88 HARM, a high-speed anti-radiation missile* Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum, a museum in Creve Coeur, Missouri, United States...
launches from the new Block 89A Prowler.
2000s
In 2001 the “Gray Wolves” deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, and later in 2002 to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH. The following year, during the return from another SOUTHERN WATCH deployment and the onset of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, the squadron was enroute back to Whidbey Island and was held in Sigonella, Italy for 35 days due to diplomatic clearances and overflight rights.In December 2003 the Gray Wolves received a short notice deployment order to Bagram Air Base
Bagram Air Base
Bagram Airfield, also referred to as Bagram Air Base, is a militarized airport and housing complex that is located next to the ancient city of Bagram, southeast of Charikar in Parwan province of Afghanistan. The base is run by a US Army division headed by a major general. A large part of the base,...
, Afghanistan to support Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Seven workdays later, four squadron EA-6Bs conducted a trans-Atlantic flight en route to Bagram Air Base, where squadron maintenance personnel were already in-place awaiting their arrival. This was the first complete Navy squadron to deploy to Afghanistan. During this deployment, VAQ-142 directly supported multiple operations resulting in the capture of several key terrorist operatives.{fact}
In October 2004, VAQ-142 deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. After a trans-Pacific crossing with five EA-6B's, flight operations were resumed within 48 hours. While at Iwakuni, VAQ-142 participated in Foal Eagle
Foal Eagle
Foal Eagle is an annual combined Field Training Exercise conducted between the Republic of Korea and United States armed forces under the auspices of Combined Forces Command within the Korean Theater of Operations . It is one of the largest military exercises conducted annually in the world...
. The squadron was relieved by VAQ-209
VAQ-209
Electronic Attack Squadron 209 is a United States Navy Reserve electronic attack squadron. Known as the "Star Warriors", the squadron operates the Grumman EA-6B Prowler carrier-based electronic warfare jet aircraft. Based at Naval Air Facility Washington D.C...
in April, and returned home to NAS Whidbey Island.
The Gray Wolves began their next inter-deployment training cycle in June by traveling to Eielson AFB, Alaska, for Cope Thunder, a large force exercise providing joint training for aviators from the U.S. , Great Britain , and Japan. Following that exercise, the Gray Wolves took part in a live fire HARM shoot out of NAWC Point Mugu, CA. At the end of August, the Gray Wolves traveled to Nellis AFB, NV, to take part in Red Flag. Just a week after returning home in September, the Gray Wolves returned to Nellis AFB to take part in Air Warrior and F-22 testing. In December VAQ-142 took part in Terminal Fury testing support out of NAWS China Lake, CA.
In March 2006, a squadron detachment was sent to NAWS China Lake for JATO
JATO
JATO is an acronym for jet-fuel assisted take off. It is a system for helping overloaded aircraft into the air by providing additional thrust in the form of small rockets....
testing to develop tactics and techniques for use in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Gray Wolves continued training during Red Flag Alaska at Elmendorf AFB in April. At Red Flag, the Wolves participated in Large Force Exercises with the U.S. Air Force and other allies. The Gray Wolves left in mid-July for a deployment to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan and started missions within 16 hours of arriving in country. After flying missions for 187 days, the Gray Wolves headed home in late January 2007. For the Gray Wolves' performance in 2006 they were awarded the 2006 Battle "E" as well as the 2006 CNO Aviation Safety Award.
Beginning in May, the Gray Wolves began training for their next deployment at Nellis AFB and NAWS China Lake. In late May, a detachment went to NAWC Pt Mugu, CA and took part in a live fire HARM shoot over the coastal waters. In June, the Wolves went to El Centro, CA, for pod testing and tactics training to help prepare for the upcoming deployment to Iraq.
See also
- History of the United States NavyHistory of the United States NavyThe history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was also notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy", the result of a modernization effort that began in the...
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons