>>3677611 (last bread)
And Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of bronze, he lived.
Numbers 21:9
VAQ-209 was established at Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia (USA), on 1 October 1977. It was part of the U.S. Navy Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20 (CVWR-20). Originally the squadron was equipped with the Grumman EA-6A Electronic Intruder.
1990s
VAQ-209 relocated to Naval Air Facility Washington, on Andrews Air Force Base in May 1990 and began transition to the EA-6B Prowler. The event marked not only the significant upgrading of CVWR-20's electronic attack capability, but also the first assignment of the U.S. Navy's EA-6B aircraft to be home ported outside of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island,
In 1999 the squadron received a 96 hour to prepare to deploy order for Operation ALLIED FORCE (OAF). VAQ-209 deployed in accordance with JCS directive on April 16, 1999 with two aircraft, arriving in Aviano AB, Italy on April 17 via Lajes, Azores. VAQ-209 provided sole maintenance support for VAQ-209, 138, and 140 EA-6B translant aircraft, accompanying the aircraft to Lajes and remaining there until April 20 to support follow-on movement of NAS Whidbey Island Prowlers.
2000s
In March 2000, the squadron deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey, with 4 aircraft to again support Operation Northern Watch. While in Turkey, VAQ-209 aircrew flew 75 combat sorties and over 250 mishap free flight hours returning to NAF Washington in early May 2000. During the year 2000, VAQ-209 continued its excellent safety record, achieving 23 years and 24,000 hours or mishap free flying.
In the spring of 2001 the squadron deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (PSAB) in support of Operation Southern Watch (OSW). This was the first deployment of a reserve EA-6B squadron to the Area of Operations. VAQ-209 completed the 45-day deployment to PSAB, during which they flew 59 combat sorties and 191 flight hours, with a 100% sortie completion rate.
In August 2002, VAQ-209 deployed for the third time to Incirlik AB, Turkey for OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH. This time VAQ-209 flew 88 combat sorties and over 300 flight hours before returning home in October. The squadron went on to set a calendar year flight record of 1539.4 flight hours, a truly notable accomplishment for a reserve squadron.
The Star Warriors deployed to the PACOM theater from April to June 2005. The deployment proved invaluable for training and readiness. Soon after their return from Japan, the Star Warriors once again learned that their combat expertise would be required in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. In June 2006, VAQ-209 deployed to Al-ASAD Air base, Iraq. There the squadron continued its exemplary record flying over 300 combat sorties for a combined total of more than 1500 flight hours.
Less than two years later, VAQ-209 returned to combat, this time over the skies of Afghanistan. The squadron deployed to support Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from January to March 2008 and once again from March to May 2009. Operating out of Bagram Air Base, the squadron executed over 2000 combat hours of flight time supporting US and ISAF forces on the ground. For their exemplary combat performance, the squadron was recognized as the CNAFR squadron of the year.
The Star Warriors of Electronic Attack Squadron 209 (VAQ-209) returned to Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility (NAF) Washington Nov. 4 2011 following an 85-day deployment in Afghanistan. During deployment, the Star Warriors flew 193 combat sorties with a mission completion rate of 100 percent, delivering 769 hours of electronic combat suppression against the enemy while the VAQ-209 maintenance department accomplished a combat sortie completion rate of 99.51 percent. The Star Warriors also serviced more than 226 joint tactical air support requests (JTASR).
VAQ-209 relocated to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Washington to begin their transition to the E/A-18G Growler.
http://www.seaforces.org/usnair/VAQ/Electronic-Attack-Squadron-209.htm
Good one.
Cops were never that great.
Wow. he tweeted that. That's balls.