Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacquelin Frost | 230422-N-AN659-1008 NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Washington – Lt. Scott...... read more read more
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NORFOLK - Following an eight-and-a-half-month deployment embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) to the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, the “Patriots” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140 return to its home base of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington, April 22, 2023.
VAQ-140 operates the EA-18G Growler, an electronic attack aircraft that specializes in suppression of enemy air defenses.
While deployed, VAQ-140 participated in multiple joint exercises with international allies. These events include a NATO integration event in November in Spangdahlem, Germany, vigilance activity Neptune Strike in Romania and Hungary, and Juniper Oak – the largest force exercise with the Israeli military.
VAQ-140 operated with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, completing carrier operations in the Alboran, Tyrrhenian, Ionian, Adriatic, and Aegean Seas. The Patriots also had the opportunity to visit several ports as ambassadors of the United States, including Souda Bay, Crete; Naples, Italy; Split, Croatia; Marseilles, France; and Athens, Greece.
The Patriots began their 2022-2023 deployment under the command of Cmdr. Alan “Carl” Carlson, but following an airborne change of command on March 22, 2023, they are returning under the command of Cmdr. Erik “Squanch” Halvorson. When asked about the Squadron’s performance throughout the deployment, Halvorson said “I’m extremely proud of the performance of my squadron while deployed to U.S. Sixth Fleet. The Patriots rose to every challenge they faced and performed honorably with our international partners.”
This was the first deployment for twelve of nineteen VAQ-140 aircrew and many Patriot Sailors. First-time deployer Lt. Robert “Niceman” Curry said he “will miss my mustache and comradery amongst the air wing but am beyond excited to return to Whidbey Island.”
Throughout the deployment Patriot aircrew logged over a thousand flight hours and over 950 carrier arrested landings. Lt. Cmdr. Anthony “Chazz” Nicolas’s most memorable moment on deployment was “definitely the Blanco Brown concert. I’m a huge fan and it was amazing to see him live while underway."
The Patriots are grateful to have returned to their families and loved ones, and are grateful for the support from them throughout the deployment. They look forward to continuing to operate America’s Growlers in the Pacific Northwest.
George H.W. Bush is the flagship of CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG. CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W. Bush, CVW-7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Information Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55).
The ships of DESRON-26 completing deployment with CSG-10 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119).
The squadrons of CVW-7 embarked aboard the George H.W. Bush are the "Sidewinders" of VFA-86, the "Jolly Rogers" of VFA-103, the "Knighthawks" of VFA-136, the "Pukin Dogs" of VFA-143, the "Bluetails" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 121, the "Patriots" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, the "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, and the "Grandmasters" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46.
| Date Taken: | 04.22.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 04.22.2023 23:54 |
| Story ID: | 443116 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 723 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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