VAQ-133

Electronic Attack Squadron 133
Active	14 March 1969 - 1 Jun 1992, 1 April 1996 - Present (56 years)
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Electronic Attack
Role	Electronic Warfare
Part of	Carrier Air Wing 9
Garrison/HQ	NAS Whidbey Island
Nickname(s)	Wizards
Motto(s)	Push it up!
Colors	#ac1f24  #ffca0e  #000000
Engagements	Operation Desert Storm Operation Northern Watch Operation Southern Watch Operation New Dawn Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Freedom's Sentinel Operation Inherent Resolve Operation Prosperity Guardian Operation Poseidon Archer [1]
Decorations	Safety "S" (5) Battle "E" (3) Top Hook (4) Tactical Excellence Award (2) [2]
Website	https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/Electronic-Attack-Squadron-VAQ-133/
Commanders
Commanding Officer	CDR. Erik Dente
Executive Officer	CDR. Ian Chamberlin
Command Master Chief	CMDCM. Frederick J. Tuiel
Insignia
Callsign	MAGIC [3]
Modex	5XX [4]
Tail Code	NG
Aircraft flown
Bomber	KA-3B Skywarrior (1969-1971)
Electronic warfare	EKA-3B Skywarrior (1969-1971) EA-6B Prowler(1971-1992, 1996-2013) EA-18G Growler(2013-Present) [5]

Electromagnetic Attack Squadron 133 (VAQ-133) is an EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Beginning in 2013, the squadron began the transition from the EA-6B to the EA-18G. Upon completion of the transition in spring of 2014, they returned to their attachment to Carrier Air Wing Nine. The squadron's nickname is "Wizards" and its radio callsign is "Magic". ^[6]

Squadron history

There have been two squadrons designated VAQ-133. The first squadron was established 4 March 1969 at Naval Air Station Alameda, California. The squadron originally flew the EKA-3B Skywarrior. In August 1971, it relocated to NAS Whidbey Island and transitioned to the EA-6B Prowler. That squadron was disestablished in June 1992.

VAQ-133 EKA-3B, 1971

VAQ-133 EA-6B, 2005.

The current squadron, Electronic Attack Squadron 133 is the second squadron to use that designation. It was established on 1 April 1996 as a land based "expeditionary" squadron flying the EA-6B Prowler. In August 2010 it was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 9. It continues to be a carrier based squadron to the present. Following the 2012-2013 deployment of Carrier Air Wing 9 on board USS John C. Stennis, VAQ-133 was reassigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight based aboard USS George H.W. Bush. This reassignment was originally slated to occur in January 2014 but changing operational requirements accelerated this reassignment until immediately after the end of the 2012-2013 deployment. As of mid-2014, VAQ-133 made a transition from the EA-6B to the EA-18G.

In 2018 VAQ-133 embarked on an "Around the World" cruise on board the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). During this deployment they flew their first E/A-18G combat missions into Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.

VAQ-133 EA-18G at NAS Whidbey Island, July 2014.

References

1. "History". www.airpac.navy.mil. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
2. "Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ-132)". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
3. "Military Radio Callsign List". henney.com. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
4. "Milcom Monitoring Post: USN Aircraft Modex Numbers". Milcom Monitoring Post. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
5. "VAQ-133 Scorpions Electronic Attack Squadron EA-18G Growler". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
6. "Electronic Attack Squadron 133 Wizards - Squadron History". United States Navy. Retrieved 19 April 2015.

External links

• VAQ-133 official website

See also

• History of the United States Navy
• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons