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Prowlers Return Home from Patrolling Northern Iraq
Story Number: NNS030103-07
Release Date: 1/3/2003 11:05:00 AM
By Staff Sgt. Les Waters, U.S. European Command Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (NNS) -- After completing their 90-day deployment at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in support of Operation Northern Watch, members of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 returned home to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
The Navy EA-6B Prowler crews were part of more than 1,400 military personnel from the United States, United Kingdom and Turkey enforcing the No-Fly Zone in northern Iraq while monitoring Iraqi compliance with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
“The EA-6B Prowler is the only tactical electronic jamming platform in the U.S. inventory,” said Lt. j.g. Buck Herdegen, a VAQ-133 electronic countermeasures officer. “We can detect radar transmissions from radar sites from both friendly and enemy countries but focus on the enemy.”
Many of the squadrons Sailors and officers have mixed emotions about the end of the deployment.
“This is my last deployment with the VAQ-133, so in some ways it is kind of sad to know that I’ll be leaving some good friends behind when we get home,” said Aviation Storekeeper 2nd Class Jennifer Price.
With VAQ-133 leaving and completing their part of the mission, another Whidbey Island unit, the “Garudas” of VAQ-134, have rolled in to take their turn patrolling in Operation Northern Watch.
Because the Prowler is an older aircraft, the squadron maintainers do a lot of work to keep the aircraft flying. The first Prowler was built in 1968 but continues to be a valuable aircraft due to many upgrades as technology has improved.
“The fact that we have been able to support every Operation Northern Watch mission we have been tasked with is really a testament to our outstanding maintainers,” said Herdegen. “They do an incredible job keeping the jets ready and able.”
Thirty years after its initial deployment to Southeast Asia, the EA-6B Prowler remains a formidable asset in the U.S. military arsenal. As part of a coalition task force of more than 50 U.K. and U.S. aircraft, the Prowlers lead missions into Northern Iraq, protecting coalition patrols.
“We go in and cover any strike package and deny the enemy their radar capabilities so they can’t see us coming,” said Herdegen. “We put out more energy than they are putting out.”
For more news from around the fleet, go to the Navy NewsStand Web site at www.news.navy.mil.
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