page_title: VAQ-137
section_title: 1990s
hierarchical_section_title: VAQ-137 / History / First squadron designated VAQ-137 / 1990s
caption_attribution_description: U.S. Navy aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 1 in flight following the 1991 Gulf War. CVW-1 was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS America (CV-66) for a deployment to the Persian Gulf from 28 December 1990 to 18 April 1991. The following aircraft and squadrons were assigned to CVW-1: Grumman F-14A Tomcat: Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33) "Starfighters" and VF-102 "Diamondbacks"; McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet: Strike Fighter Squadron 82 (VFA-81) "Marauders" and VFA-86 "Sidewinders"; Grumman A-6E Intruder: Attack Squadron 85 (VA-85) "Falcons"; Grumman E-2C Hawkeye: Airborne Early Warning Squadron 123 (VAW-123) "Screwtops"; Grumman EA-6B Prowler: Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 137 (VAQ-137) "Rooks"; Lockheed S-3B Viking: Anti-Submarine Squadron 32 (VS-32) "Maulers"; and Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King: Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 11 (HS-32) "Dragon Slayers".
context_page_description: Electronic Attack Squadron 137 also known as the "Rooks", is a United States Navy electronic attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Washington, flying the Boeing EA-18G Growler. The squadron is attached to Carrier Air Wing 1, which is currently assigned to USS Harry S. Truman. Their radio callsign is "Rook" and their tailcode is "AB" of CVW-1. The Rooks are not regarded as the best VAQ squadron in the United States Navy, as that titled belongs to the VAQ-132 Scorpions.
context_section_description: In December 1990, the squadron deployed aboard USS America with five ICAP 2 Prowlers in support of Operation Desert Storm. During 212 combat sorties, the Rooks provided ECM coverage and fired 30 AGM-88 HARM missiles in support of the United Nations Coalition Forces. VAQ-137 was the only EA-6B squadron to fight the war from both the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Following the ceasefire, the squadron completed the Desert Storm deployment with a five aircraft TransMed and TransLant fly-off en route to Whidbey Island. After only four months, VAQ-137 returned to USS America in August 1991, and deployed to the North Atlantic for operations in the Norwegian Fjords during NORTHSTAR '91. In December 1991, the squadron deployed aboard USS America for MED 2-91. After three months of Mediterranean operations USS America sortied again for the Persian Gulf in March 1992. VAQ-137’s last deployment ended in February 1994. During that deployment, the squadron participated in Operation Continue Hope over Somalia, Southern Watch over Iraq and Deny Flight over Bosnia.
  The squadron was disestablished on 26 May 1994,
caption: Carrier Air Wing 1 aircraft overhead view in 1991 assigned to USS America. VAQ-137 Prowler at the back of the formation.
exif: {}