Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.0 inch-77mm
ELECTRONIC ATTACK SQUADRON 132 “SCORPIONS”
Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron ONE THREE TWO was originally designated Patrol Squadron TWENTY NINE (VP-29) flying the P-2V “Neptune” at Naval Air Station North Island, California. In April 1957, the squadron was redesignated Heavy Attack Squadron TWO (VAH-2) and transitioned to the A-3D “Skywarrior.” The squadron’s homeport was changed in April 1958 to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. In November 1968, VAH-2 was redesignated Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron ONE THREE TWO (VAQ-132), transitioning to the EKA-3B at NAS Whidbey Island. The squadron was tasked with the dual missions of electronic countermeasures and in-flight refueling.
In January 1971 VAQ-132 became the first operational squadron to transition to the new EA-6B “Prowler” at NAS Whidbey Island. As the first Prowler squadron in Vietnam, VAQ-132 flew combat support flights from six different carriers on YANKEE STATION in the Gulf of Tonkin.
After Iraq invaded Kuwait, the Scorpions were on hand in the Red Sea, and so, on January 17, 1991, VAQ-132 was once again the first Prowler squadron to fight, this time in Operation DESERT STORM. In February 1994, the Scorpions were once more first on the scene when shots were fired in support of NATO’s Operation DENY FLIGHT over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
After Iraq invaded Kuwait, the Scorpions were on hand in the Red Sea, and so, on January 17, 1991, VAQ-132 was once again the first Prowler squadron to fight, this time in Operation DESERT STORM. In February 1994, the Scorpions were once more first on the scene when shots were fired in support of NATO’s Operation DENY FLIGHT over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In May 1997, VAQ-132 and CVW-17 officially became part of COMCRUDESGRU EIGHT and USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER. In June 1998, the squadron commenced another Mediterranean deployment in support of the Bosnia-Herzegovina peacekeeping effort OPERATION DELIBERATE FORGE, as well as numerous flights in the Arabian Gulf in support of OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH.
In 2000, VAQ-132, now aboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, began Operation JOINT GUARDIAN over Bosnia-Herzegovina, then again left for Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. In 2002, the squadron conducted extended duration missions over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom onboard the USS George Washington. As part of CVW-17, VAQ-132 also participated in Operation Southern Watch, providing SEAD escort for aircraft patrolling the southern no-fly zone of Iraq.
In 2004, the Squadron departed on a deployment to the Northern Arabian Gulf onboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, marking the most recent combat carrier deployment VAQ-132 has conducted to date. Afterward, the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) was being prepared for decommissioning, and so CVW-17 was temporarily split apart to be better utilized.
February 2006 saw the Scorpions deployed for 3 months to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, as they participated in various coalition training exercises. In March 2007, VAQ-132 was deployed to Al Asad AB, Iraq for a record-breaking deployment in support of OIF. Afterward in April of 2008, the squadron was placed aboard the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) with CVW-17, for Partnership of the Americas, a cruise around South America.
Shortly afterward, VAQ-132 released all of its EA-6B aircraft and gear in order to begin the transition into the new EA-18G “Growler” in February 2009. Since the transition to the EA-18G aircraft, VAQ-132 switched to an Expeditionary Squadron and has successfully completed 1 deployment to Iraq in 2011 and 2 deployments to Misawa Japan in 2012 and 2014. VAQ-132 is also the first Expeditionary Squadron to complete a Western Pacific deployment.