VAQ-130

Electronic Attack Squadron 130
Electronic Attack Squadron 130
	VAQ-130 insignia
Active	1 September 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", "Fly Fast, Talk Trash, E.A."
Mascot(s)	Robbie the Dragon
Commanders
Current; commander	CDR Matthew "Shakes" Voss
Ceremonial chief	LT Ryan "Pi" McDonnell
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 aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. VAQ-130 is the oldest electronic warfare squadron in the U.S. Navy.^[1]

Squadron history

In 2017, Two naval aviators attached to VAQ-130 were disciplined for drawing a phallus in the sky over Okanogan County, Washington^[2]

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:^[3]

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, Detachmen,t 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 1 October 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:^[3]

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 squadron relocated to their current homeport of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and transitioned to the EA-6B Prowler.

In December 2010, the squadron 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 squadron deployed aboard USS Harry S. Truman in July 2013 following a year-long work-up cycle.

In August 2020, the squadron returns from its 206-day deployment aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), earning the Iron Shellback status for crossing the line after 100 days without hitting a port. The deployment broke the record for longest deployment without hitting a port, breaking the last record holder to the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) with 160 consecutive days.