VAQ-130

Electronic Attack Squadron 130
VAQ-130 insignia
Active	September 1, 1959 - Present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Role	Airborne Electronic Attack
Part of	Carrier Air Wing 3
Garrison/HQ	Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Nickname(s)	Zappers
Motto(s)	"We Can Hack It"
Mascot	Robbie the Dragon
Commanders
Current commander	Commander E.J. Sinibaldi
Aircraft flown
Attack	AD-5Q/EA-1F Skyraider EKA-3B Skywarrior EA-6B Prowler EA-18G Growler

Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), also known as the "Zappers", is an EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy based aboard Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Part of Carrier Air Wing 3, the Zappers deploy aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). VAQ-130 is the oldest electronic warfare squadron in the U.S. Navy.^[1] The cornerstones of their command philosophy are STRENGTH and HONOR.

Squadron history

VAW-13 EA-1F in 1966

VAW-13 EKA-3B at NAS Alameda in 1968

VAQ-130 Grumman EA-6B Prowler aboard USS Nimitz in 1975

VAQ-130 EA-18G launches from USS Harry S. Truman in 2014

VAW-13

The squadron was originally commissioned as Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron Thirteen (VAW-13) flying AD-5Qs in 1959.

During the Vietnam War detachments from VAW-13 were deployed on the following aircraft carriers operating on Yankee and Dixie Stations:^[2]

• 6 March-23 November 1965, Detachment EA-1Fs were embarked on USS Midway
• 5 April-16 December 1965, Detachment EA-1Fs were embarked on USS Oriskany
• 10 May-13 December 1965, Detachment EA-1Fs were embarked on USS Independence
• 21 April 1965 – 13 January 1966, Detachment EA-1Fs were embarked on USS Bon Homme Richard
• 12 May-3 December 1966, Detachment EA-1Fs were embarked on USS Constellation
• 21 June 1966 – 21 February 1967, Detachment 42 EA-1Fs were embarked on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt
• 26 January-25 August 1967, Detachment 31 EA-1Fs were embarked on USS Bon Homme Richard
• 29 April-4 December 1967, Detachment EA-1Fs were embarked on USS Constellation
• 16 June 1967 – 31 January 1968, Detachment EA-1Fs were embarked on USS Oriskany
• 29 July 1967 – 6 April 1968, Detachment EA-1Fs were embarked on USS Coral Sea
• 4 November 1967 – 25 May 1968, Detachment 61 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Ranger
• 18 November 1967 – 28 June 1968, Detachment 63 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Kitty Hawk
• 3 January-18 July 1968, Detachment 65 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Enterprise
• 27 January-10 October 1968, Detachment 31 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Bon Homme Richard
• 10 April-16 December 1968, Detachment 66 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS America
• 29 May 1968 – 21 January 1969, Detachment 64 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Constellation
• 18 July 1968 – 3 March 1969, Detachment 19 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Hancock
• 7 September 1968 – 18 April 1969, Detachment 43 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Coral Sea

VAQ-130

On October 1, 1968, the squadron was re-designated Electronic Attack Squadron 130 and placed under Tactical Electronic Warfare Wing Thirteen (VAQW-13).

VAQ-130 detachments continued to deploy in support of the Vietnam War as follows:^[2]

• 26 October 1968 – 17 May 1969, Detachment 61 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Ranger
• 1 February-18 September 1969, Detachment 14 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Ticonderoga
• 18 March-29 October 1968, Detachment 31 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Bon Homme Richard
• 14 April-17 November 1969, Detachment 34 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Oriskany
• 2 April-12 November 1970, Detachment 31 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Bon Homme Richard
• 14 May-10 December 1970, Detachment 1 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Oriskany
• 16 April-6 November 1971, Detachment 2 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Midway
• 14 May-10 December 1971, Detachment 3 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Oriskany
• 11 June 1971 – 12 February 1972, Detachment 4 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Enterprise
• 1 October 1971 – 30 June 1972, Detachment 1 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Constellation
• 10 April 1972 – 3 March 1973, Detachment 2 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Midway
• 5 June 1972 – 30 March 1973, Detachment 3 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Oriskany
• 16 November 1973 – 23 June 1973, Detachment 4 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Ranger
• 18 October 1973 – 5 June 1974, Detachment 3 EKA-3Bs were embarked on USS Oriskany

In March 1975, the Zappers relocated to their current homeport of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and transitioned to the EA-6B Prowler.

In December 2010, the Zappers returned from their last fleet deployment flying the EA-6B Prowler and began transition training in March 2011 to the EA-18G Growler; the Zappers completed transition training in November 2011. The Zappers deployed aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) in July 2013 following a rigorous year-long work-up cycle.

See also

• History of the United States Navy
• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons

References

1. VAQ-130 History
2. "Carrier, Carrier Based Squadrons and Non-Carrier Based Squadron Deployments to Vietnam" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. 1995. Retrieved 4 January 2016.

External links

• VAQ-130 official website