Electronic Attack Squadron 137 (VAQ-137) also known as the "Rooks", is a United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 electronic attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is a naval air station located in two sections around Oak Harbor, Washington, USA. It was commissioned as an active U.S. Navy installation on 21 September 1942....

 Washington.

The "Rooks" are an operational fleet squadron that flies the EA-6B Prowler. The "Rooks" are attached to Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1), which is currently assigned to the . Their radio callsign is "Rook" and their tailcode is AB.

History

The Rooks were commissioned on 14 December 1973. They first deployed in 1974 aboard USS Enterprise

USS Enterprise (CVN-65)

USS Enterprise , formerly CVA-65, is the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth US naval vessel to bear the name. Like her predecessor of World War II fame, she is nicknamed the "Big E". At , she is the longest naval vessel in the world...

. In 1975, they provided support for Operation Frequent Wind

Operation Frequent Wind

Operation Frequent Wind was the evacuation by helicopter of American civilians and 'at-risk' Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, on 29–30 April 1975 during the last days of the Vietnam War...

, the American evacuation of Saigon. In 1976, the Rooks provided Electronic Counter-Measures (ECM) support during the evacuation of Beirut

Beirut

Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...

. In 1976-1978, they made two cruises aboard USS America (CV-66)

USS America (CV-66)

The USS America was one of four Kitty Hawk-class super carriers built for the United States Navy in the 1960s. Commissioned in 1965, she spent most of her career in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, but did make three Pacific deployments serving in the Vietnam War. She also served in operations...

. In March 1981, a Rook aircrew sighted a group of 138 Vietnamese "boat people", which were in turn rescued by USS Ranger (CV-61)

USS Ranger (CV-61)

The seventh USS Ranger is one of four Forrestal-class supercarriers built for the US Navy in the 1950s. Commissioned in 1957, she served extensively in the Pacific, especially the Vietnam War, for which she earned 13 battle stars. Near the end of her career she also served in the Indian Ocean and...

. This action earned the ship a Humanitarian Service Medal. In 1983, the Rooks participated in air strikes in Lebanon

Lebanon

Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...

. The Rooks were also the first EA-6 squadron to upgrade to the ICAP II. In 1989, the Rooks flew support for operations in the Mediterranean from USS America. These operations included support in the evacuation of the US's Beirut Embassy and a trip to the Arctic Circle. Rooks aboard America flew support missions during Operation Desert Storm. These included Suppression (SEAD

SEAD

Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses , also known as "Wild Weasel" and "Iron Hand" operations in the United States, are military actions to suppress enemy surface-based air defenses , primarily in the first hours of an attack.One fourth of American combat sorties in recent conflicts have been SEAD...

) of Iraqi Air Defense radar and Surface to Air Missile (SAM) sites. The Rooks also participated in Operation Continue Hope in Somalia

Somalia

Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...

, and Operation Deny Flight

Operation Deny Flight

Operation Deny Flight was a North Atlantic Treaty Organization operation that began on April 12, 1993 as the enforcement of a United Nations no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina...

 over Bosnia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...

. The Rooks were disestablished in 1994, but were re-established in 1996. The Rooks set a record by spending 159 days at sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. VAQ-137 was the second EA-6B squadron to transition to the ICAP III version of the Prowler.
On May 2, 2006 The Rooks deployed aboard USS Enterprise

USS Enterprise (CVN-65)

USS Enterprise , formerly CVA-65, is the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth US naval vessel to bear the name. Like her predecessor of World War II fame, she is nicknamed the "Big E". At , she is the longest naval vessel in the world...

to the Mediterranean and Middle East. On July 7, 2007 the "Rooks" deployed again to the Mediterranean and Middle East on the USS Enterprise. On January 13, 2011 the "Rooks" deployed aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) from Norfolk, Virginia to the Mediterranean and Middle East.

See also

• History of the United States Navy
  History of the United States Navy
  The history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was also notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy", the result of a modernization effort that began in the...
  
  
• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons