VAQ - 142 Electronic Attack Squadron 142 ( VAQ - 142 ) , also known as " The Gray Wolves " , is an EA - 6B Prowler squadron of the United States Navy . They specialize in electronic attack and are currently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island , Oak Harbor , Washington . They are attached to Carrier Air Wing 11 ( CVW - 11 ) , deployed aboard USS Nimitz ( CVN - 68 ) . Their tailcode is NH and their radio callsign is " " Timber " " . Mission . " VAQ - 142 employs fully mission capable EA - 6B aircraft to conduct all - weather electronic attack operations against targets at sea or ashore , day or night . " Pre - history / Related squadrons . First VAQ - 142 “ Grim Watchdogs ” . Two distinct squadrons have been designated Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 142 . The first squadron , known as the “ Grim Watchdogs ” , was established June 1 , 1988 in response to the Navy ’ s requirement for a thirteenth operational EA - 6B squadron . The squadron made their first and only deployment with Carrier Air Wing 6 aboard to the Mediterranean Sea in 1989 - 90 . In less than three years as a squadron , VAQ - 142 also flew from , , , and . The squadron logged more than 3600 flight hours and 860 traps before being disestablished in March 1991 . VAQ - 35 “ Grey Wolves ” . After the “ Grim Watchdogs ” disestablished , remaining squadron personnel were transferred to a pre - establishment detachment for VAQ - 35 . On June 1 , 1991 the VAQ - 35 “ Grey Wolves ” were established under the cognizance of Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group ( FEWSG ) , with the Electronic Warfare Support mission . In their short history , VAQ - 35 made over forty - two detachments to more than sixteen locations as far away as Puerto Rico , Bermuda and the Hawaiian Islands . In October 1993 , due to further reductions in defense spending , VAQ - 35 was disestablished , and their mission was absorbed by reserve squadrons based in the east and west coasts . History of current VAQ - 142 “ Gray Wolves ” . 1990s . In 1994 , the Department of Defense made a decision to replace the Air Force ’ s aging EF - 111A Raven Fleet with additional EA - 6B squadrons in order to meet the electronic attack needs of both services . On April 3 , 1997 , a new VAQ - 142 , the fourth of five new EA - 6B squadrons was established . Officially , the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation . Often , the new squadron will assume the nickname , insignia , and traditions of the earlier squadrons . In the case of VAQ - 142 , they assumed their designation and their nickname from two different previous squadrons . VAQ - 142 made numerous detachments including Cope Thunder and Red Flag , achieving deployable readiness levels only five months after establishment . During 1998 VAQ - 142 deployed three times to Prince Sultan Air Base , Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Desert Fox . The squadron received the 1998 Battle “ E ” and Safety “ S ” awards . In 1999 the Wolves made two deployments to Incirlik Air Base , Turkey to support Operation Northern Watch and the “ no - fly zone ” in Northern Iraq . During their second deployment VAQ - 142 was chosen to be the first squadron to deploy into combat with the Block 89A aircraft , the Navy ’ s newest generation of the Prowler . During this second deployment in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH , the Gray Wolves successfully launched the first combat HARM launches from the new Block 89A Prowler . 2000s . In 2001 the “ Gray Wolves ” deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base , Saudi Arabia in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH , and later in 2002 to Incirlik Air Base , Turkey in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH . The following year , during the return from another SOUTHERN WATCH deployment and the onset of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM , the squadron was en route back to Whidbey Island and was held in Sigonella , Italy for 35 days due to diplomatic clearances and overflight rights . In October 2004 , VAQ - 142 deployed to MCAS Iwakuni , Japan . After a trans - Pacific crossing with five EA - 6B ' s , flight operations were resumed within 48 hours . While at Iwakuni , VAQ - 142 participated in Foal Eagle . The squadron was relieved by VAQ - 209 in April , and returned home to NAS Whidbey Island . The Gray Wolves began their next inter - deployment training cycle in June by traveling to Eielson AFB , Alaska , for Cope Thunder , a large force exercise providing joint training for aviators from the U . S . , Great Britain , and Japan . Following that exercise , the Gray Wolves took part in a live fire HARM shoot out of NAWC Point Mugu , CA . At the end of August , the Gray Wolves traveled to Nellis AFB , NV , to take part in Red Flag . Just a week after returning home in September , the Gray Wolves returned to Nellis AFB to take part in Air Warrior and F - 22 testing . In December VAQ - 142 took part in Terminal Fury testing support out of NAWS China Lake , CA . In March 2006 , a squadron detachment was sent to NAWS China Lake for JATO testing to develop tactics and techniques for use in Iraq and Afghanistan . The Gray Wolves continued training during Red Flag Alaska at Elmendorf AFB in April . At Red Flag , the Wolves participated in Large Force Exercises with the U . S . Air Force and other allies . The Gray Wolves left in mid - July for a deployment to Bagram Air Base , Afghanistan and started missions within 16 hours of arriving in country . After flying missions for 187 days , the Gray Wolves headed home in late January 2007 . For the Gray Wolves ' performance in 2006 they were awarded the 2006 Battle " E " as well as the 2006 CNO Aviation Safety Award . Beginning in May , the Gray Wolves began training for their next deployment at Nellis AFB and NAWS China Lake . In late May , a detachment went to NAWC Pt Mugu , CA and took part in a live fire HARM shoot over the coastal waters . In June , the Wolves went to El Centro , CA , for pod testing and tactics training to help prepare for the upcoming deployment to Iraq .