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Copyright
A-3
Skywarrior
Association
1998-2007
WHALE LANDINGS
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TACTICAL
ELECTRONIC WARFARE
SQUADRON ONE TWENTY-NINE
VAQ-129 "VIKINGS"
When VAH-10, the last Skywarrior HATRON, was
redesignated VAQ-129 on September 1, 1970, at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, its Det 38
was aboard the USS Shangfi La on Yankee Station. Thus, on its commissioning day the new
squadron already had a detachment on the line as the personnel and KA-3Bs of Det 38
remained aboard the Shangri La for another 15 weeks following their paper transfer to
VAQ-129. While preparing for the arrival of its EA-6Bs, the new squadron continued to
operate KA/EKA-3Bs for a few months and sent Skywarrior detachments aboard the USS Hancock
(CVA-19) for operations in the Gulf of Tonkin and aboard the USS Saratoga (CVA-60) for a
Med cruise. Meanwhile the first EA-6B was received at Whidbey Island in January, 1971, and
thereafter VAQ-129 became the Prowler Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS).
TACTICAL
ELECTRONIC WARFARE
SQUADRON ONE THIRTY
VAQ-130 "ZAPPERS"
Commissioned at NAS Agana, Guam, on September 1,
1959 and transferred to NAS Alameda, California, in July, 1961, Carrier Airborne Early
Warning Squadron Thirteen flew a variety of aircraft during its first eight years. In the
spring of 1967 this unit received the first EKA-3Bs and KA-3Bs and soon began to deploy
its Skywarriors to provide aerial refueling and electronic countermeasures while
continuing to operate Douglas EA-1Fs until November, 1970. From November, 1967, until
March, 1969, six VAW-13 detachments operated EKA-3Bs aboard the USS America (CVA-66), Bon
Homme Richard (CVA-31), Constellation (CVA-64), Enterprise (CYAN-65), Hancock (CVA-19),
and Ranger (CVA-61).
On October 1, 1968, the squadron was
redesignated VAQ-130 and 14 of its detachments served aboard carriers in the Gulf of
Tonkin until the return of Det 4 in June, 1973. From May to October, 1974, VAQ-130 Det 4
made the final EKA-3B peacetime deployment aboard the USS Ranger (CVA-61). Following the
decommissioning of VAH-123 in February,1971, VAQ-130 also took over the responsibility for
training A-3 crews. VAQ-130 stood down on June 30,1974 and, moving to NAS Whidbey,
Washington, began its transition to the EA-6B.
CARRIER AIRBORNE
EARLY
WARNING SQUADRON THIRTEEN
VAW-13 "ZAPPERS"
See
history of VAQ-130.
TACTICAL
ELECTRONIC WARFARE
SQUADRON ONE THIRTY-ONE
VAQ-131 "HOLLYGREEN"
 
VAQ-131 came into existence on 1
November 1968 when VAH-4 was re-designated. Homeport for the new TACELRON
was NAS Alameda, California. The mission of VAQ-131 was to conduct
electronic warfare and to provide air-to-air refueling in support of Attack
Carrier Task Force operations. In conducting this mission, VAQ-131 utilized
KA / EKA-3B models of the Douglas A-3 “Skywarrior” aircraft. The new
TACELRON deployed their Skywarriors to the Gulf of Tonkin aboard the USS
Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) with CDR T. L. Jackson as their first CO.
In September 1970, with CDR S.M.
Corey, Commanding, the squadron was in a period of training preparing for an
impending deployment. VAQ-131 was aboard the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy
(CVA-67) as a member of Attack Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) preparing to
undergo an Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) when due to the Mid-East
Crisis the ship was directed to proceed immediately to the Mediterranean.
For participation in this
crisis, the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy and her embarked Air Wing (CVW-1) were
awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.
VAQ-131 ended its 1970–71
deployment, with the squadron returning to it’s home port of Alameda,
California, on 28 February 1971. The squadron then commenced stand-down in
preparation to transition to the EA-6B aircraft community home ported at NAS
Whidbey Island, Washington. (Details provided by Bill Laux ADCS, USN
Ret.)
TACTICAL
ELECTRONIC WARFARE
SQUADRON ONE THIRTY-TWO
VAQ 132 "SCORPIONS"
(Editors note: This is indeed the original Scorpion Whale
patch. The previously displayed patch was the EA-6 Prowler version. The scorpion was facing
right and skinny)
VAQ-132 came into existence on November 1, 1968, when VAH-2 was
redesignated. Homeport for the new TACELRON was NAS Alameda, California, but already the
squadron had a detachment on Yankee Station as it inherited Det 64 aboard the USS
Constellation (CVA-64).
While equipped with (2) KA-3B’s and (3) EKA-3B’s VAQ-132 made
two more combat cruises with CVW-9, one each aboard the USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) and the
USS America (CVA-66). The Enterprise cruise was complicated when the ship underwent a
catastrophic fire at sea off Hawaii on January 14,1969. VAQ-132 lost one aircraft (EKA-3B
138918) and one squadron member to the fire. After repairs in the Naval Shipyard in Hawaii
the cruise continued on March 7, 1969, arriving on Yankee Station on March 31, 1969. On
April 16, 1969 the entire carrier group was sent north in response to an EC-121 being shot
down off North Korea. The carrier group returned to Yankee Station on May 31, 1969 and
completed its combat responsibilities on June 16, 1969 and proceeded back home. The five
VAQ-132 KA/EKA-3B’s disembarked at Subic Bay, Philippines and transpacted back to NAS
Alameda.
For the latter (USS America), two of the squadron’s KA-3B’s
went aboard the carrier in Norfolk, Virginia, for the ocean voyage around South Africa
after stopping at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while three EKA-3B’s transpacted and
rejoined the carrier at Subic Bay in the Philippines. Staying aboard the carrier after
seven months of combat operations, VAQ-132 returned to Alameda by way of the Pacific Ocean
and the South Atlantic making stops in Sydney, Australia and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and
finally her homeport of Norfolk. VAQ-132 aircraft launched off the ship in
the Caribbean, prior to the ship reaching Norfolk, and flew home to NAS
Alameda, California.
On January 15, 1971, VAQ-132 moved to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington,
and soon thereafter transitioned to the EA-6B.
TACTICAL ELECTRONIC
WARFARE
SQUADRON ONE THIRTY-THREE
VAQ-133 "WIZARDS"
Commissioned at NAS Alameda, California, on
March 4, 1969, VAQ-133 was the fourth squadron created for the primary mission of
detecting and jamming hostile radar signals. For the next 29 months, VAQ-133 flew
KA/EKA-3Bs and during that period deployed twice to the Gulf of Tonkin, once aboard the
USS Constellation (CVA-64) and once aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63). Beginning in
August, 1971, the squadron stood down for one year. On August 4, 1972, it was reactivated
at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, as a Prowler squadron.
TACTICAL
ELECTRONIC WARFARE
SQUADRON ONE THIRTY-FOUR
VAQ-134 "GARUDAS"
Established on June 17, 1969, at NAS Alameda,
California, VAQ-134 flew KA-3Bs and EKA-3Bs for 25 months. During this period it made two
combat cruises aboard the USS Ranger (CVA-61). The Garudas stood down in July, 1971, and
moved to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, in May, 1972, to fly EA-6Bs.
TACTICAL
ELECTRONIC WARFARE
SQUADRON ONE THIRTY-FIVE
VAQ-135 "BLACK RAVENS"
 
On May 15,1969, one of VAQ-130 detachments was
enlarged into a new TACELRON, VAQ-135, homeported at NAS Alameda, California. The new unit
first deployed to Southeast Asia aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) in September, 1969. In
July, 1970, as other TACELRONs were transitioning to the EA-6B, VAQ-135 was reorganized
into a permanently shore-based component and five sea-going detachments. From November,
1971, until January, 1974, these detachments deployed to Yankee Station twice aboard the
USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) and USS Hancock (CVA-19), and once aboard the USS Kitty Hawk
(CVA-63). VAQ-135 detachments also deployed to the Med aboard the USS F. D. Roosevelt
(CVA-42), USS Forrestal (CVA-59), USS America (CVA-66), and USS J. F. Kennedy (CVA-67).
Moving to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, in September, 1973, VAQ-135 received its first
EA-6Bs in July, 1974.
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