Prowlers squadron to return to Whidbey on Tuesday

Published 11:07 pm Sunday, October 5, 2008

OAK HARBOR — Another squadron of Navy EA-6B Prowlers is set to return to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

This time, the four electronic attack jets from squadron VAQ-131 are coming in from serving seven months of service with the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Everett-based carrier was supporting operations in Iraq.

The four VAQ-131 Prowlers are scheduled to arrive at noon Tuesday at the air station, followed Wednesday evening by the arrival of support and maintenance personnel, NAS Whidbey spokeswoman Kimberly Martin said.

The USS Abraham Lincoln will return to Everett sometime this month, Navy spokesman Rick Huling said. The exact date won’t be released until the ship is only a few days away.

The 180-member squadron left in March to join the Lincoln in the Arabian Gulf and the North Arabian Sea, where temperatures on the flight deck often reach 130 degrees. The squadron logged thousands of hours of combat and support maneuvers.

Among those visiting the squadron aboard the carrier were chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen and Army Gen. David Patraeus. The squadron also made port visits to Singapore, Dubai and Thailand, Martin said.

Prowlers from another squadron, VAQ-134, were returned Saturday after a six-month deployment in support of combat operations in Afghanistan.

Also returning home this week are 23 members of the Sea Operational Detachment from Fleet Readiness Center Northwest. They provide technical support to keep the jets in top condition, Martin said.

The Prowler is scheduled to be phased out by 2013 and gradually replaced by the EA-18 Growler jet.