VAQ-142 Returns to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Montemarano | 171204-N-WX604-0231 OAK HARBOR, Wash. (Dec. 4, 2017) Lt. Joel Stevens, from Fruitland Id., assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, the Gray Wolves, returns to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island during a two day fly-in, December 4-5. The Gray Wolves completed a six-month deployment, operating in U.S. 5th Fleet, with Carrier Air Wing 11 onboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph E. Montemarano/Released)  

OAK HARBOR, WA, UNITED STATES

12.04.2017

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph Montemarano 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Det. Northwest

OAK HARBOR, Wash. (NNS) -- Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, the Gray Wolves, returned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) during a two day fly-in, December 5-6.

The Gray Wolves returned to NASWI after an approximately six-month deployment, operating in U.S. 5th Fleet, with Carrier Air Wing 11 onboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

“The deployment was an amazing experience (and) to see a group of junior officer aviators with no deployment experience grow the way that they have and see us come together as a team," said Lt. Patrick O’Hara, a native of Baltimore, Md., assigned to VAQ-142. "I think the growth in the beginning of workups until now was exponential.”

With a crew of more than 160 maintainers and support personnel and 22 aircrew personnel, the Gray Wolves completed 175 Operation Inherent Resolve missions with a 100 percent completion rate.

“The maintainers directly allowed us to have a 100 percent sortie completion rate,” said O’Hara. “They worked day-in and day-out to make sure our jets were ready, working in 140 degree heat on the flight-deck in the middle of summer in the Arabian Gulf.”

The squadron conducted a rare three-carrier strike group exercise in the Sea of Japan, along with aircraft carriers USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Also, the Gray Wolves participated in Operation Malabar, the trilateral joint-operation, with India and Japan.

“Great leadership from our commanding officer down, by implementing good training that we capitalized on during missions, helped us overcome the challenges of deployment and stay focused for the task at hand,” said Lt. Joel Stevens, from Fruitland, Id.

The Sailors of VAQ-142 were welcomed back during the fly-in by their friends, colleagues and families waiting for their return at the flight-line.

“Being able to fly-in, in a six-ship formation and seeing our friends and family waiting in the hangar for us to get back in is incredible,” said O’Hara. “I’ve never experienced anything like this.”

For more news from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, visit www.navy.mil/local/naswhidbey/

• Date Taken: 12.04.2017
• Date Posted: 12.05.2017 13:20
• Story ID: 257497
• Location: OAK HARBOR, WA, US