VAQ-142

Electronic Attack Squadron 142 (VAQ-142), also known as "The Gray Wolves", is an EA-6B Prowler squadron of the United States Navy. They specialize in electronic attack and are currently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington.They are attached to Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11),deployed aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68). Their tailcode is NH and their radio callsign is "Timber".

Mission
"VAQ-142 employs fully mission capable EA-6B aircraft to conduct all-weather electronic attack operations against targets at sea or ashore, day or night."

First VAQ-142 “Grim Watchdogs”
Two distinct squadrons have been designated Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 142. The first squadron, known as the “Grim Watchdogs”, was established June 1, 1988 in response to the Navy’s requirement for a thirteenth operational EA-6B squadron. The squadron made their first and only deployment with Carrier Air Wing 6 aboard USS Forrestal (CV-59) to the Mediterranean Sea in 1989-90. In less than three years as a squadron, VAQ-142 also flew from USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), USS Independence (CV-62), USS Saratoga (CV-60) and USS Midway (CV-41). The squadron logged more than 3600 flight hours and 860 traps before being disestablished in March 1991.

VAQ-35 “Grey Wolves”
After the “Grim Watchdogs” disestablished, remaining squadron personnel were transferred to a pre-establishment detachment for VAQ-35. On June 1, 1991 the VAQ-35 “Grey Wolves” were established under the cognizance of Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group (FEWSG), with the Electronic Warfare Support mission. In their short history, VAQ-35 made over forty-two detachments to more than sixteen locations as far away as Puerto Rico, Bermuda and the Hawaiian Islands. In October 1993, due to further reductions in defense spending, VAQ-35 was disestablished, and their mission was absorbed by reserve squadrons based in the east and west coasts.

1990s
In 1994, the Department of Defense made a decision to replace the Air Force’s aging EF-111A Raven Fleet with additional EA-6B squadrons in order to meet the electronic attack needs of both services. On April 3, 1997, a new VAQ-142, the fourth of five new EA-6B squadrons was established. Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation. Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons. In the case of VAQ-142, they assumed their designation and their nickname from two different previous squadrons.

VAQ-142 made numerous detachments including Cope Thunder and Red Flag, achieving deployable readiness levels only five months after establishment. During 1998 VAQ-142 deployed three times to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Desert Fox. The squadron received the 1998 Battle “E” and Safety “S” awards.

In 1999 the Wolves made two deployments to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey to support Operation Northern Watch and the “no-fly zone” in Northern Iraq. During their second deployment VAQ-142 was chosen to be the first squadron to deploy into combat with the Block 89A aircraft, the Navy’s newest generation of the Prowler. During this second deployment in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH, the Gray Wolves successfully launched the first combat HARM launches from the new Block 89A Prowler.

2000s
In 2001 the “Gray Wolves” deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, and later in 2002 to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH. The following year, during the return from another SOUTHERN WATCH deployment and the onset of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, the squadron was en route back to Whidbey Island and was held in Sigonella, Italy for 35 days due to diplomatic clearances and overflight rights.

In December 2003 the Gray Wolves received a short notice deployment order to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Seven workdays later, four squadron EA-6Bs conducted a trans-Atlantic flight en route to Bagram Air Base, where squadron maintenance personnel were already in-place awaiting their arrival. This was the first complete Navy squadron to deploy to Afghanistan. During this deployment, VAQ-142 directly supported multiple operations resulting in the capture of several key terrorist operatives.{fact}

In October 2004, VAQ-142 deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. After a trans-Pacific crossing with five EA-6B's, flight operations were resumed within 48 hours. While at Iwakuni, VAQ-142 participated in Foal Eagle. The squadron was relieved by VAQ-209 in April, and returned home to NAS Whidbey Island.

The Gray Wolves began their next inter-deployment training cycle in June by traveling to Eielson AFB, Alaska, for Cope Thunder, a large force exercise providing joint training for aviators from the U.S., Great Britain, and Japan. Following that exercise, the Gray Wolves took part in a live fire HARM shoot out of NAWC Point Mugu, CA. At the end of August, the Gray Wolves traveled to Nellis AFB, NV, to take part in Red Flag. Just a week after returning home in September, the Gray Wolves returned to Nellis AFB to take part in Air Warrior and F-22 testing. In December VAQ-142 took part in Terminal Fury testing support out of NAWS China Lake, CA.

In March 2006, a squadron detachment was sent to NAWS China Lake for JATO testing to develop tactics and techniques for use in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Gray Wolves continued training during Red Flag Alaska at Elmendorf AFB in April. At Red Flag, the Wolves participated in Large Force Exercises with the U.S. Air Force and other allies. The Gray Wolves left in mid-July for a deployment to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan and started missions within 16 hours of arriving in country. After flying missions for 187 days, the Gray Wolves headed home in late January 2007. For the Gray Wolves' performance in 2006 they were awarded the 2006 Battle "E" as well as the 2006 CNO Aviation Safety Award.

Beginning in May, the Gray Wolves began training for their next deployment at Nellis AFB and NAWS China Lake. In late May, a detachment went to NAWC Pt Mugu, CA and took part in a live fire HARM shoot over the coastal waters. In June, the Wolves went to El Centro, CA, for pod testing and tactics training to help prepare for the upcoming deployment to Iraq.