Electronic Attack Squadron 138 (VAQ-138), also known as the "Yellowjackets", is an
EA-6B Prowler squadron of the
United States Navy based at
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island,
Washington. The squadron is part of
Carrier Air Wing 9 and deploys aboard the .
Squadron history
1970s – 1990s
VAQ-138 was established as an operational squadron in February 1976 and made its first deployment aboard
USS Saratoga (CV-60) to the
Mediterranean Sea. The squadron completed three more deployments to the Mediterranean Sea aboard
USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) and
USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Following an around-the-world deployment in 1982 aboard
Kennedy the squadron joined
USS Ranger (CV-61) for a deployment to the
Western Pacific and
Indian Ocean in 1983. After 1984, the
Yellow Jackets made eight deployments aboard
USS Nimitz (CVN-68) participating in Central American operations in 1985, the Libyan counter-terrorist operation in 1986, Operations
Desert Storm and
Provide Comfort in 1991, and
Operation Southern Watch in 1993, 1996, and the 1997-1998 around-the-world deployment.
November of 1996 saw the selection of the Yellow Jackets to fill a two month gap in EA-6B coverage at
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni,
Japan. Upon their return, workups were started for an around-the-world cruise on the
USS Nimitz (CVN-68). The conclusion of the 1997-1998
Persian Gulf deployment again found the
Yellow Jackets recognized for superior performance and awarded the 1997 Admiral
Arthur W. Radford Award, the 1997
Battle Efficiency Award, the 1997
CNO Aviation Safety Award, and the 1998 Golden Anchor Award.
In April 1999, VAQ-138 deployed to
Aviano Air Base,
Italy to conduct combat operations over
Serbia and
Kosovo during
Operation Allied Force. While deployed to Aviano, the squadron flew over 500 combat sorties and fired more than 60
AGM-88 HARM against Serbian targets. Three weeks after returning from Italy, the squadron began work-ups on board
Stennis culminating in a Western Pacific and Persian Gulf deployment, including two and a half months of missions in support of
Operation Southern Watch.
War on Terror
The
September 11, 2001 attacks found the squadron underway for work-ups aboard
Stennis, and resulted in an accelerated commenced work-up cycle and deployment to the North Persian Gulf. The squadron commenced combat operations in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom on December 17, 2001 and included missions in support of
Operation Anaconda. The squadron returned to NAS Whidbey Island following seven months of deployment in June 2002.
September 2002, the squadron again commenced work-ups ultimately resulting in an eight-month deployment to the Western Pacific from January though September 2003. During this time, the squadron transitioned to the Block 89A configuration of the EA-6B, becoming the first operational deployment of the Block 89A. During the deployment, the squadron conducted detachments to
Kadena Air Base,
Okinawa; MCAS Iwakuni, Japan;
Andersen Air Force Base,
Guam, and
Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan and participated in Exercise Foal Eagle in
Korea.
The Yellow Jackets departed San Diego in February 2005 and sailed into Norfolk, VA, on the last day of July after flying over 300 combat sorties and amassing over 1600 combat flight hours during four months of supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The VAQ-138 Yellow Jackets departed
Naval Air Station North Island,
Coronado,
California on 18 January 2007 for the ‘’Stennis’’ to begin their 7 month Western pacific 2007 deployment with Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9). During which they supported the ongoing operations in
Afghanistan and
Iraq.
The Yellow Jackets amassed over 650 flight hours consisting of combat missions over Afghanistan and Iraq and also contributed to vital security operations ongoing in the Persian Gulf. During their 2007 WESTPAC the four EA-6B ICAP III Prowlers of VAQ-138 logged over 1,700 flight hours, and the Yellow Jacket Maintenance team was instrumental to aircrew reaching a 96% combat sortie completion rate.
See also
