Ronald de Roij of Karo-Aviation
visits Whidbey Island NAS
Pictures by the
author
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is the Navy’s premier naval aviation
installation in the Pacific Northwest. The air station is the home for
all of the Navy’s tactical electronic attack aircraft squadrons as well
as home to four anti-submarine and maritime surveillance squadrons and a
single intelligence reconnaissance squadron. NAS Whidbey Island also has
one fleet logistics support squadron and complement of search and rescue
helicopters.
Planning for NAS Whidbey Island started in 1941 as a base for the
re-arming and refuelling of Navy patrol planes operating in defence of
Puget Sound. The plane consisted out of a seaplane base, of which Parts
can still be found in Oak Harbour, and a dedicated fixed wing air base.
With the seaplane base constructed first, squadrons of PBY Catalina’s
started from the Seaplane Base in December 1942.
NAS Whidbey Island is home to the majority of the Navy's
VAQ squadrons flying the Boeing EA-18G Growler.
There are 12 operational Navy electronic attack squadrons at
Whidbey Island and one squadron Atsugi in Japan.
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Along with the seaplane base an airfield was built on
the other side of Oak Harbour called Ault field. In the following years
Ault field became operational followed by an Outlying Landing Field near
Coupeville became operational for Carrier Landing Practice training
operations; together the three formed Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
After the Second World War NAS Whidbey Island became more and more in
the heavy attack role first flying the Douglas A-3D Skywarrior. The
Skywarrior was the backbone of attack aviation until the arrival of the
Grumman A-6A Intruder in August 1966.
The Grumman A-6 Intruder served with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps as
their primary all-weather attack aircraft for more than 30 years.
Brought into service during the Vietnam War, the Intruder saw action in
every major crisis since, most recently the Gulf War. The aircraft
immediately developed a reputation for reliability, durability and
accuracy that persisted throughout its long years of service. The Marine
Corps fazed the Intruder out of its inventory shortly after Operation
Desert Storm. In all, 16 Navy squadrons maintained and operated this
flying workhorse. At one time, NAS Whidbey Island had as many as 125 A-6
aircraft assigned to it.
With the departure of Whidbey-based Douglas A-3D Skywarrior that served
in the electronic role, the Grumman EA-6B Prowler came into prominence
here. In October 1970, VAH-10 was re-designated Tactical Electronic
Warfare Squadron 129, the Navy’s first Grumman EA-6B Prowler squadron
and the training squadron for Prowler crews.
From its initial deployment to Southeast Asia in 1972, the Grumman EA-6B
Prowler supported the strike forces by destroying enemy radar and
command and control capability, enabling safe passage of friendly strike
aircraft. With the introduction of the Grumman EA-6B Prowler, NAS
Whidbey Island has evolved into the Navy’s premier training centre for
electronic attack and patrol and reconnaissance aircraft platforms.
Carrier Landing Practice training operations, as well as a training area
for search and rescue and parachute operations. NAS Whidbey Island also
oversees the Northwest Range Training Complex off the northwest Pacific
Coast.
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 consist of four
Maritime Patrol Aviation Squadron and the Fleet Air
Reconnaissance squadron VQ-1 flying the EP-3.
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Today NAS Whidbey Island is the main operating base for the Boeing
EA-18G Growler squadrons. At the moment NAS Whidbey Island supports 14
Growler squadrons, 10 of which deploy to aircraft carriers, three
expeditionary squadrons not assigned to carrier air wings and one
Whidbey-based training squadron. One squadron, VAQ-136, permanently
forward deployed to the Western Pacific at Atsugi NAS.
The replacement aircraft for the Grumman EA-6B Prowler made its first
appearance April 9, 2007. The rollout began June 3, 2008, as the first
Boeing EA-18G Growler arrived on station. The airborne electronic attack
aircraft combines the, F/A-18F Super Hornet with the Grumman EA-6B
Prowler Improved Capability III system to provide next-generation
electronic attack capability. Being the base for the Boeing EA-18G
Growler it also houses the Electronic Attack Weapons School, providing
formal training to the Boeing EA-18G Growler aircrew and extensive
weapons-related training to the ordnance and maintenance personnel.
Alongside Alongside the Growler squadrons there is the Maritime Patrol
and Reconnaissance Wing 10. Formed from squadron relocated to NAS
Whidbey Island when there former bases where closed. It consist out of
three patrol squadrons VP-1, VP-40, VP-46 flying the Lockheed P-3C Orion
and Fleet Reconnaissance Squadron VQ-1 flying the Lockheed EP-3E Aries
II.
The air station maintains a Search and Rescue Unit, flying three
Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters and VR-61 a support squadron is
now flying the Boeing C-40 Clipper after the retirement of the C-9
Skytrain a few weeks earlier.
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