VAQ-137
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VAQ-137 (known colloquially as The World Famous Rooks) is the alphanumeric designation of Electronic Attack Warfare Squadron 137, a U.S. Navy carrier-based squadron currently flying ICAP III variant EA-6B "Prowlers." The Rooks are based out of NAS Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, Washington, and are currently commanded by Commander Michael Buchanan.
On May 2, 2006 The "World Famous Rooks" boarded the USS Enterprise as it left for the Mediterranean.
[edit] Squadron History
The Rooks were commissioned on 14 December 1973. They were first deployed in 1974 onboard the USS Enterprise. In 1975, they provided support for the American evacuation of Saigon, known as Operation Frequent Wind. In 1976, the Rooks provided ECM support during the evacuation of Beirut. In 1976-1978, they made two cruises with the USS America. In March 1979, a Rook crew sighted a group of 138 Vietnamese "boat people", which were in turn rescued by the USS Ranger. This action earned the ship a Humanitarian Service Medal. In 1983, the Rooks participated in air strikes in Lebanon. The Rooks were also the first EA-6 squadron to switch to ICAP II. In 1989, the Rooks flew support for operations in the Mediterranean aboard the USS America. These operations included support in the evacuation of the US's Beirut Embassy and a trip to the Arctic Circle. Rooks aboard the USS America flew vital support missions during Operation Desert Storm. These included radar jamming and neutralizing of Iraqi radar and SAM sites. Other missions participated in by the Rooks include Operation Continue Hope, in Somalia; and Operation Deny Flight, over Bosnia. The Rooks were disestablished in 1994, but were re-established in 1996. The Rooks set a record by spending 159 days at sea during Operation Enduring Freedom. The squadron is now working up to its 2006 deployment. It will also be the second Prowler squadron to transition to the ICAP III airplane.
