In recognition of the retirement of the venerable EA-6B Prowler, Whidbey Island Naval Air Station is holding an open house.

The base will also host an EA-6B Prowler Sundown event to highlight the naval history of this iconic aircraft.
The open house is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 27 at Ault Field.

The Navy is retiring the 44-year-old Prowler and replacing the long-range, all-weather electronic attack platform with the EA-18G Growler.

NAS Whidbey is the Navy’s home base for its electronic attack squadrons including a forward deployed Growler squadron in Japan. As with the Growler, all Prowler squadrons — with exception of four Marine Corps EA-6B squadrons — were based and trained at NAS Whidbey.

The public open house is an opportunity to learn about past, current and future operations at the Navy’s only air station in the Pacific Northwest and to see static displays of all its assigned aircraft.

Aircraft on display will include the EA-18G Growler, EA-6B Prowler, P-3C Orion, MH-60 Knighthawk helicopter, the new C-40 Clipper and a visiting P-8A Poseidon, which will soon replace the P-3C’s at NAS Whidbey.

There will also be other visual displays, guided bus tours, a search and rescue and K-9 Working Dog demonstrations, bouncy toys for children and a climbing wall.