Yellow Jackets head home from Iraq

By Kathy Reed • December 22, 2011 12:13 pm

Coming in for refueling from a KC-135 Strato tanker are five EA-18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 138 “Yellow Jackets,” who will be home in time to reunite with family and friends for the holidays after a six-month deployment in Iraq. Photo courtesy of NAS Whidbey Public Affairs

Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138, the Yellow Jackets, will be home just in time for the holidays.

After a six-month expeditionary deployment in Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn, VAQ-138 is scheduled to return to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Friday.

The squadron left last May on short notice, according to a release from NAS Whidbey Public Affairs, flying five EA-18G Growlers, marking only the second time an expeditionary Growler squadron has deployed.

“I had high expectations and they were exceeded,” said Cmdr. Tabb Stringer, VAQ-138 commanding officer. “The squadron’s professionalism was amazing, despite not knowing where or when we would deploy. The stress of that

uncertainty never showed in people’s attitude or performance.”
In their first deployment flying the Growler, the Yellow Jackets flew 785 missions and had more than 1,800 flight hours.

Look for details of the homecoming in the Dec. 30 issue of Whidbey Crosswind.