VAQ - 209 Electronic Attack Squadron 209 ( VAQ - 209 ) is a United States Navy Reserve electronic attack squadron . Known as the " Star Warriors " , the squadron operates the Grumman EA - 6B " Prowler " carrier - based electronic warfare jet aircraft . Based at Naval Air Facility Washington D . C . ( USA ) , it is assigned to the Tactical Support Wing . Mission . " To safely train to attain and maintain mobilization readiness for immediate employment in event of war or national emergency . " History . Creation . VAQ - 209 was established at Naval Air Station Norfolk , Virginia ( USA ) , on 1 October 1977 . It was part of the U . S . Navy " Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20 ( CVWR - 20 ) " . Originally the squadron was equipped with the Grumman EA - 6A " Electronic Intruder " . 1990s . VAQ - 209 relocated to Naval Air Facility Washington , on Andrews Air Force Base in May 1990 and began transition to the EA - 6B Prowler . The event marked not only the significant upgrading of CVWR - 20 ' s electronic attack capability , but also the first assignment of the U . S . Navy ' s EA - 6B aircraft to be home ported outside of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island , Washington . In 1995 , the " Star Warriors " were mobilized for combat operations over Bosnia and participated in both Operation Deny Flight and Operation Deliberate Force . A four - plane detachment was deployed aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt , as part of Carrier Air Wing Eight from 22 March to 22 September 1995 . In 1998 , VAQ - 209 Deployed to Incirlik AB , Turkey with 3 EA - 6B aircraft to conduct combat operations in direct support of Operation Northern Watch . The squadron maintained 100 % mission coverage and a 96 % sortie completion rate . VAQ - 209 was the first " Prowler " squadron to deploy with only 3 aircraft and not miss a single ONW mission , the first Navy Reserve Squadron to deploy to Incirlik in support of ONW , and the first EA - 6B squadron to carry HARM into the Tactical Area of Responsibility ( TAOR ) . Additionally it was the first EA - 6B squadron to develop specific Prowler HARM and jamming tactics for ONW operations and ROE , and the first EA - 6B squadron to be overall Mission Commander for entire ONW strike packages . In 1999 the squadron received a 96 hour to prepare to deploy order for Operation ALLIED FORCE ( OAF ) . VAQ - 209 deployed in accordance with JCS directive on April 16 , 1999 with two aircraft , arriving in Aviano AB , Italy on April 17 via Lajes , Azores . VAQ - 209 provided sole maintenance support for VAQ - 209 , 138 , and 140 EA - 6B translant aircraft , accompanying the aircraft to Lajes and remaining there until April 20 to support follow - on movement of NAS Whidbey Island Prowlers . VAQ - 209 entered combat operations on April 17 , 1999 and continued until hostilities ended on June 21 , 1999 . The Star Warriors redeployed on 25 June 1999 through RAF Mildenhall , NAS Keflevic ( RON ) , Sonder Stromfjord ( Greenland ) , Goose Bay CFB , and NAS Brunswick ( RON ) , arriving in NAF Washington on June 27 , 1999 . The squadron completed 150 combat sorties and over 550 combat flight hours with a 98 % sortie completion rate and no injuries . 2000s . In March 2000 , the squadron deployed to Incirlik AB , Turkey , with 4 aircraft to again support Operation Northern Watch . While in Turkey , VAQ - 209 aircrew flew 75 combat sorties and over 250 mishap free flight hours returning to NAF Washington in early May 2000 . During the year 2000 , VAQ - 209 continued its excellent safety record , achieving 23 years and 24 , 000 hours or mishap free flying . In the spring of 2001 the squadron deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ( PSAB ) in support of Operation Southern Watch ( OSW ) . This was the first deployment of a reserve EA - 6B squadron to the Area of Operations . VAQ - 209 completed the 45 - day deployment to PSAB , during which they flew 59 combat sorties and 191 flight hours , with a 100 % sortie completion rate . In August 2002 , VAQ - 209 deployed for the third time to Incirlik AB , Turkey for OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH . This time VAQ - 209 flew 88 combat sorties and over 300 flight hours before returning home in October . The squadron went on to set a calendar year flight record of 1539 . 4 flight hours , a truly notable accomplishment for a reserve squadron . The Star Warriors deployed to the PACOM theater from April to June 2005 . The deployment proved invaluable for training and readiness . Soon after their return from Japan , the Star Warriors once again learned that their combat expertise would be required in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM . In June 2006 , VAQ - 209 deployed to Al - ASAD Air base , Iraq . There the squadron continued its exemplary record flying over 300 combat sorties for a combined total of more than 1500 flight hours . Less than two years later , VAQ - 209 returned to combat , this time over the skies of Afghanistan . The squadron deployed to support Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from January to March 2008 and once again from March to May 2009 . Operating out of Bagram Air Base , the squadron executed over 2000 combat hours of flight time supporting US and ISAF forces on the ground . For their exemplary combat performance , the squadron was recognized as the CNAFR squadron of the year . The Star Warriors of Electronic Attack Squadron 209 ( VAQ - 209 ) returned to Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility ( NAF ) Washington Nov . 4 2011 following an 85 - day deployment in Afghanistan . During deployment , the Star Warriors flew 193 combat sorties with a mission completion rate of 100 percent , delivering 769 hours of electronic combat suppression against the enemy while the VAQ - 209 maintenance department accomplished a combat sortie completion rate of 99 . 51 percent . The Star Warriors also serviced more than 226 joint tactical air support requests ( JTASR ) .