VAQ-132

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = Electronic Attack Squadron 132

| native_name =

| image = VAQ-132 Emblem.svg

| image_size =

| caption =

| dates = 1 November 1955 - Present
({{Age in years and months|1955|11|1}})

| country = {{USA}}

| branch = {{navy|USA}}

| type = Electronic Attack

| role = Electronic Warfare

| size =

| command_structure = {{nowrap|File:USN Electronic Attack Wing Pacific insignia.gifElectronic Attack Wing Pacific}}

| garrison = File:NAS Whidbey Island Emblem.svg NAS Whidbey Island

| garrison_label =

| nickname = Scorpions

| patron =

| motto = First to the Fleet, First to the Fight

| colors = {{Color box|#eb2426|#eb2426|border=darkgray}}{{Color box|#e9e62b|#e9e62b|border=darkgray}}

| colors_label =

| march =

| mascot = Scorpion

| anniversaries =

| equipment =

| equipment_label =

| battles = Operation Desert Shield
Operation Deny Flight
Operation Joint Endeavor
Operation Joint Guardian
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation New Dawn
Operation Odyssey Dawn
Operation Unified Protector
Operation Inherent Resolve
{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/Electronic-Attack-Squadron-VAQ-132/About-Us/History/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=www.airpac.navy.mil}}

| battles_label =

| decorations = Safety "S" (6)
Battle "E" (4)
Admiral Arthur W. Radford Award
Prowler Squadron of the Year Award
Golden Anchor Award (2)
Silver Anchor Award
Foreign Object Damage Excellence (2)
{{Cite web |title=Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ-132) |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/vaq-132.htm |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=www.globalsecurity.org}}

| battle_honours =

| battle_honours_label =

| flying_hours =

| website = https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/Electronic-Attack-Squadron-VAQ-132/

| commander1 = CDR. Nathaniel "Stray" Michael

| commander1_label = Commanding Officer

| commander2 = CDR. Kenneth “Kitty” Kapp

| commander2_label = Executive Officer

| commander3 = CMDCM. Anthony D. Bush

| commander3_label = Command Master Chief

| notable_commanders =

| identification_symbol = SCORP{{Cite web |title=Military Radio Callsign List |url=https://henney.com/chm/callsign.htm |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=henney.com}}

| identification_symbol_label = Callsign

| identification_symbol_2 = 54X{{Cite web |title=Milcom Monitoring Post: USN Aircraft Modex Numbers |url=http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/p/us-navy-aircraft-modex-numbers.html |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Milcom Monitoring Post}}

| identification_symbol_2_label = Modex

| identification_symbol_3 = NL

| identification_symbol_3_label = Tail Code

| aircraft_attack =

| aircraft_bomber = KA-3B Skywarrior (1955-1968)

| aircraft_electronic = EKA-3B Skywarrior (1968-1971)
EA-6B Prowler(1971-2009)
EA-18G Growler(2008-Present)
{{Cite web |title=VAQ-132 Scorpions Electronic Attack Squadron EA-18G Growler |url=https://www.seaforces.org/usnair/VAQ/Electronic-Attack-Squadron-132.htm |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=www.seaforces.org}}

| aircraft_fighter =

| aircraft_helicopter =

| aircraft_helicopter_attack =

| aircraft_helicopter_cargo =

| aircraft_helicopter_multirole =

| aircraft_helicopter_observation =

| aircraft_helicopter_trainer =

| aircraft_helicopter_utility =

| aircraft_interceptor =

| aircraft_patrol =

| aircraft_recon =

| aircraft_trainer =

| aircraft_transport =

| aircraft_tanker =

| aircraft_general =

}}

Electromagnetic 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.[http://www.gonavy.jp/NavalSqn03.html Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadrons] The squadron's radio callsign is "Scorp".

History

File:RA-5C RVAH-5 and A-3B VAH-2 on USS Ranger (CVA-61) 1965.jpeg on {{USS|Ranger|CV-61|6}} in 1965]]

File:EA-18G VAQ-132 CAG Bird in flight 2009.jpg

Electronic Warfare Squadron 132 can trace its history 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:{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/pdf/app26.pdf|title=Carrier, Carrier Based Squadrons and Non-Carrier Based Squadron Deployments to Vietnam|publisher=Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy|year=1995|location=Washington, D.C.|access-date=30 December 2015}}

5 August 1964 – 6 May 1965, Detachment M A-3Bs were embarked on {{USS|Ranger|CV-61|6}}
7 December 1964 – 1 November 1965, A-3Bs were embarked on {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|6}}
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|CVN-65|6}}
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|CV-64|6}}

=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.[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/vaq-132.htm Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ-132)] GlobalSecurity.org

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.[http://www.defense-update.com/features/2009/december/ef18g_frp_071209.html EA-18G Cleared for Full Rate Production]

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 {{USS|Harry S. Truman|CVN-75|6}}.{{cite journal | author= Mark L. Evans and Dale J. Gordon |date=Summer 2010 |title= Year in Review 2009 |journal= Naval Aviation News |volume= 94 |issue= 2 |pages= 24 |id= 0028-1417 |url= http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/currentissue/NAN_vol94_no2_YIR2009_feature.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101205210636/http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/currentissue/NAN_vol94_no2_YIR2009_feature.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 5 December 2010 |access-date=2010-10-12 }}

The United States Navy's new Boeing EA-18G Growler ( "Grizzly" ) was first used in combat during Operation Odyssey Dawn by supporting efforts to enforce a UN no-fly-zone over Libya.[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704021504576211690643186556 Allied Forces Attack Libya], Wall Street Journal, 20 March 2011. 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.[https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/id/63272/ "Roughead: Ships Were Ready for Odyssey Dawn"]. American Forces Press Service (US Navy), 23 March 2011.

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070624145403/http://www.vaq132.navy.mil/ VAQ-132 official website]

{{Commons category|Electronic Attack Squadron 132 (United States Navy)}}