Aircrew from electronic attack squadron (VAQ) 132 arrived home Saturday in five EA-18G Growlers following a nearly eight-month-long expeditionary deployment.

The Scorpions were deployed in support of Operation New Dawn in Iraq and Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector with coalition forces over Libya.

The rest of the VAQ-132 maintenance and support personnel returned July 1.

This was a historic deployment for not only the squadron, but for the Electronic Attack Wing and U.S. Navy Airborne Electronic Attack, as VAQ-132 was the first EA-6B Prowler squadron to transition to the Boeing-built Growler platform.

VAQ-132 was also the first Growler squadron to deploy when it left for Iraq last November.

The Scorpions achieved another milestone as the Growler crews flew the new aircraft into combat when it joined coalition forces to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya in March. In all, Growler crews flew more than 2,800 hours and 700 combat missions over the course of their deployment.

“The response to our support was very positive across the board,” said Lt. Dan Kovalcik in a release. “They were grateful we were there and had the opportunity to help. I’m proud that we got to serve something greater than ourselves.”

As a result of the squadron’s hard work, VAQ-132 earned the 2010 Commander, Naval Air Forces Battle “E” (efficiency) and Chief of Naval Operations Safety “S.”

The electronic attack mission is critical in the U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command areas of responsibility, protecting numerous U.S. and coalition military assets and personnel