VAQ - 135 Electronic Attack Squadron 135 ( VAQ - 135 ) is a United States Navy electronic attack squadron . Known as the " Black Ravens " , the squadron operates the EA - 18G Growler carrier - based electronic warfare jet aircraft . The squadron is permanently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island , in Oak Harbor , Washington on Puget Sound and deploys as part of Carrier Air Wing 11 ( CVW - 11 ) on board the . The squadron radio callsign is " " Thunder " " . Mission . Provide fully operational EA - 18G aircraft to perform unrestricted Electronic Attack as needed throughout the world . History . Early years . Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron One Three Five was established on May 15 , 1969 to provide electronic warfare and aerial refueling support to carrier air wings . Homeported at Naval Air Station Alameda , California , the Black Ravens first flew the Douglas EKA - 3B Skywarrior and deployed to both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets . In 1973 , VAQ - 135 relocated to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island , Washington and transitioned to their present aircraft , the Grumman EA - 6B Prowler . The squadron first deployed with the EA - 6B to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean from January to September 1976 with Carrier Air Wing 2 ( CVW - 2 ) aboard . Following that deployment , VAQ - 135 transitioned to the Improved Capability Prowler ( ICAP ) and became the first fleet EA - 6B ICAP squadron . The squadron deployed with Carrier Air Wing 8 ( CVW - 8 ) aboard from November 1977 to July 1978 to the Mediterranean Sea . In January 1979 , VAQ - 135 commenced refresher training with Carrier Air Wing 15 ( CVW - 15 ) aboard and deployed to the Western Pacific in May 1979 . During deployment , they received the Navy Expeditionary Medal for operations in the Indian Ocean during the Iranian hostage crisis , the Meritorious Unit Commendation , and their first Chief of Naval Operations Safety “ S ” Award . They again deployed with CVW - 15 aboard USS " Kitty Hawk " from April to November 1981 . VAQ - 135 participated in several major exercises throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans and received a second Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal for their participation in the rescue of Vietnamese refugees . 1980s . In May 1982 , the VAQ - 135 were assigned to the and Carrier Air Wing 1 ( CVW - 1 ) . After completing work - ups , the Black Ravens received word to transfer to and deploy to the Mediterranean Sea in November 1982 later receiving their second Chief of Naval Operations Safety “ S ” Award . In 1984 , the Black Ravens deployed with USS " America " and CVW - 1 from April until November 1984 , receiving their third Chief of Naval Operations Safety “ S ” Award . In 1985 , along with CVW - 1 they participated in Ocean Safari ‘ 85 , the largest NATO Naval Exercise to date , and received their second Meritorious Unit Commendation . On the morning of January 1 , 1986 , VAQ - 135 was “ no - notice ” deployed to support Sixth Fleet Battle Group operations in the Mediterranean Sea . Within 48 hours , they had sortied from NAS Whidbey Island , joined their new air wing Carrier Air Wing 13 ( CVW - 13 ) at sea on board and supported contingency operations underway in the central Mediterranean Sea . For the next five months , with no in theater AIMD or supply support , the squadron provided valuable electronic warfare support to U . S . naval forces operating off the coast of Libya . The squadron took part in the successful strike action in the Gulf of Sidra in March 1986 and provided key close - support jamming services in the successful strikes on the Benina / Benghazi airfields in April of that year . As a result , the squadron was awarded two Navy Unit Commendation s , the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal , the Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Association of Old Crows Outstanding Unit Award for 1986 . In November 1986 , the Black Ravens were reassigned to Carrier Air Wing 11 ( CVW - 11 ) aboard . In 1987 , VAQ - 135 completed work - ups with CVW - 11 and became the first Prowler squadron to complete the Medium Attack Advanced Readiness Program ( MAARP ) and the revised EA - 6B Defensive Air Combat Maneuvering ( DACM ) syllabus . In January 1988 , VAQ - 135 became the first EA - 6B squadron to deploy with five Prowlers . WESTPAC ‘ 88 marked the return of the squadron to the Seventh Fleet with USS " Enterprise " , providing electronic warfare support to U . S . Naval forces operating in the North Arabian Sea . The squadron received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal . In April 1988 , VAQ - 135 participated with CVW - 11 and Battle Group Foxtrot in Operation Praying Mantis , the successful action against Iranian naval surface units . The command received the Joint Meritorious Unit Award , Meritorious Unit Commendation and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal . In the fall of 1988 , the squadron transitioned to the ICAP - II version of the Prowler , acquiring the ability to fire the AGM - 88 High - Speed Anti - Radiation Missile ( HARM ) . In September 1989 , VAQ - 135 deployed aboard " Enterprise " for an around the world cruise , taking part in PACEX ‘ 89 , the largest naval exercise since World War II . In January 1990 , the squadron participated in Operation Earnest Will in defense of the Philippine government , resulting in the command receiving the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal . 1990s . In September 1990 , the Black Ravens deployed aboard . Their two - month maiden voyage took them from Naval Station Norfolk , Virginia , around Cape Horn to the " Lincoln ' s " new homeport of Naval Air Station Alameda , California . In May 1991 , they deployed to the Western Pacific aboard the " Lincoln " and participated in Operation Fiery Vigil , the evacuation of Air Force and Navy personnel from Subic Bay , Philippines . While on station in the Persian Gulf , the squadron took part in peacetime Operation Desert Storm , Exercise Beacon Flash with Oman and annual exercise operations with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force s . In February 1992 , the squadron received the 1991 AIRPAC Safety “ S ” award in recognition of the squadron ’ s outstanding safety record of over 12 years and 21 , 000 hours mishap free . In the fall of 1992 , the RAVENS started another work - up cycle for their second deployment on the " Lincoln " and participated in the squadron ’ s first HARM shot over the desert skies of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake . On June 15 , 1993 they deployed to the Western Pacific participating in Operation Southern Watch , enforcing the southern no - fly zone in Iraq where they shot two HARM missiles to protect air wing aircraft from enemy surface to air missiles and received their second Southwest Asia Service Medal . In addition , the squadron participated in Operation Restore Hope , while USS " Lincoln " was stationed off the coast of Somalia , receiving the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal . In November 1993 , the squadron celebrated another safety milestone , fourteen years mishap free , just prior to returning home to NAS Whidbey Island . In April 1995 , VAQ - 135 deployed to the Western pacific on board the " Lincoln " participating in Exercise Inspired Alert with the Pakistan Air Force , Exercise Nautical Artist , an exercise with Saudi Air and Naval Forces and Operation Southern Watch , receiving their third Southwest Asia Service Medal . The Ravens returned from deployment and started an aggressive 12 month turnaround aboard the USS " Kitty Hawk " participating in RIMPAC 96 ’ . The squadron deployed in October 1996 and again participated in Operation Southern Watch receiving their fourth Southwest Asia Service Medal . After returning from deployment in April 1997 , the squadron participated in several exercises including Exercise Red Flag . In February 1998 the squadron was redesignated Electronic Attack Squadron 135 , and the aircraft ’ s side numbers were changed to 500 series . During the summer of 1998 the squadron deployed aboard and participated in RIMPAC ’ 98 . The squadron deployed to the Western Pacific in November 1998 , participating in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Desert Fox , a four - day campaign consisting of several air strikes . The squadron fired two HARM ’ s supporting air wing strike aircraft . The squadron returned from deployment in May 1999 . In September 1999 , the Black Ravens participated in exercises Red Flag and Spirit hawk in preparation for their deployment to Incirlik , Turkey in August 2000 . 2000s . From May through July 2000 , the Black Ravens successfully flew missions in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH on station at Incirlik Air Base , Turkey while supporting in a Joint Expeditionary role for Commander Electronic Attack Wing U . S . Pacific Fleet . In March 2001 , the squadron deployed to the Western Pacific in support of Operation Southern Watch . Following the September 11 , 2001 attacks , the " CARL VINSON " and CVW - 11 took station off of the coast of Pakistan and conducted air strikes in support of coalition air and ground forces in Afghanistan during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM . The squadron returned home in January 2002 and received the Chief of Naval Operations Safety “ S ” Award , Battle Efficiency Award and the Old Crows Award as the most tactically proficient Prowler squadron . In March 2003 , they deployed aboard the " Nimitz " and participated in the initial air strikes of Operation Iraqi Freedom . Following an extended eight - month deployment , supporting two separate contingency operations , the squadron returned home in November 2003 . In July 2004 , the Ravens participated in Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment ( JEFX ) at Nellis Air Force Base , Las Vegas , Nevada , the first of five 2004 detachments in preparation for the 2005 WESTPAC deployment . The squadron completed 2004 with a two - month detachment aboard the " Nimitz " for TSTA / Computex and received the CVW - 11 Golden Wrench for maintenance excellence . In 2005 , they continued their high - tempo operations in preparation for their WESTPAC deployment with detachments to Naval Air Station Fallon , Nevada , Naval Air Station Lemoore , California , Naval Air Station North Island , California and several exercises aboard " Nimitz " . On May 7 , 2005 , the Black Ravens deployed aboard " Nimitz " as part of Carrier Strike Group 11 . During the 2005 deployment , VAQ - 135 conducted operations in the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf , again participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom from the Persian Gulf and Al Asad Air Base , Iraq , providing critical support to Multi - national Ground Forces in Iraq . The squadron received the CVW - 11 / CVN - 68 Teamwork Award twice during the deployment , initially for the first line period and again at the end of deployment . Additionally , VAQ - 135 received the CVW - 11 Golden Wrench Award for deployment , as the finest Maintenance Department in CVW - 11 . The Black Ravens departed April 2007 , for a six - month WESTPAC deployment to include supporting both Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM . They returned in early October 2007 . The Black Ravens returned from a subsequent Pacific deployment in June 2008 after a four - and - a - half - month deployment aboard " NIMITZ " . The Black Ravens departed July 2009 , for an eight - month WESTPAC deployment , aboard USS Nimitz , in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM . The returned in March 2010 . On 1 November 2010 , VAQ - 135 commenced transition from the EA - 6B Prowler to the EA - 18G Growler , achieving " safe for flight " designation in the new aircraft on 17 June 2011 .