What aircraft are at Whidbey Island?
Welcome to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Adding to the depth and capability of the air station are eight Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance squadrons flying the P-3 Orion, P-8 Poseidon and EP-3E Aries.
Who is Ault Field named after?
Commander William B. Ault
A year later, on 25 September 1943, the land plane field was named Ault Field, in memory of Commander William B. Ault, missing in action in the previous year’s Battle of the Coral Sea.
How big is Whidbey Naval Base?
168 square miles
The base is over 168 square miles and contains the 3rd-largest fleet concentration in the U.S. Located in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest, NAS Whidbey Island is a posting that sailors with PCS orders are going to love.
Where should I live when stationed at Whidbey Island?
Best Places to Live Near NAS Whidbey Island
- Bellingham is the county seat of Whatcom County, and about a 50-minute drive from base.
- Mount Vernon is another county seat, this time of Skagit County.
- La Conner is a town for those who like to slow things down.
How many VAQ squadrons are there?
Electronic Attack Squadrons (VAQ) There are 12 operational Navy electronic attack squadrons at Whidbey and one operational squadron, VAQ-141, permanently forward deployed to the Western Pacific on board USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), home ported in Japan.
What does a VAQ squadron do?
Known as the “Vikings”, they are a Fleet Replacement Squadron, or FRS, and are charged with training all EA-18G aviators and developing standard operating procedures for the maintenance and operation of the aircraft.
What is NAS Whidbey Island?
NAS Whidbey Island is the premier naval aviation installation in the Pacific Northwest and home of all Navy tactical electronic attack squadrons flying the EA-18G Growler. Adding to the depth and capability of the air station are eight Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance squadrons flying the P-3 Orion, P-8 Poseidon and EP-3E Aries.
What happened to the Navy seaplane patrol at NAS Whidbey Island?
On 1 March 1970, VP-1 transferred to NAS Barbers Point, ending seaplane patrol operations by active forces at NAS Whidbey Island. This also brought Fleet Air Wing Four to an end on 1 April 1970, leaving Patrol Squadron Sixty-nine (VP-69), a Naval Air Reserve squadron, as the sole remaining maritime patrol squadron at NAS Whidbey Island.
What is Naval Air Station Whidbey Island known for?
The Naval Air Station mission includes all squadrons which fly the EA-18G Growler, plus P-3 Orion, P-8 Poseidon and EP-3E Aries missions. It’s also home to the Navy’s Electronic Attack Weapons School. Whidbey Island is actually made up of two locations a few miles apart.
How many Electronic Attack Squadrons are at Whidbey Island?
There are 12 operational Navy electronic attack squadrons at Whidbey and one operational squadron, VAQ-141, permanently forward deployed to the Western Pacific on board USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), home ported in Japan. Each squadron typically has four aircraft assigned and averages 30 officers and 170 enlisted personnel.