NOLF Coupeville runway 32 NOLF Coupeville runway 14 NAS Whidbey Island gate guards

NAS Whidbey Island Whidbey Island, Washington July 2024

A brief report of a two day visit which included some interviews for my next book.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler (169401) unmarked.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler (168383 'AB-502') with Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-144 'Main Battery'.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler (168937 'NL-520') with Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135) 'Black Ravens' / 'Non Videbunt'.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler (166931 'AB-500') with VAQ-144 'Main Battery'. EA-18G Growler (168898? 'NF-504') with VAQ-141 'Shadowhawks'. EA-18G Growler (169128 'NL-555') with VAQ-131 'Lancers'.

EA-18G Growler ( 'NF-504') with VAQ-141 'Shadowhawks'.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler (166938 'NL-551') with VAQ-131 'Lancers'.

EA-18G Growler (168255 'NL-510') with VAQ-138 'Rampage'.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler (168255 'NL-510', 166936 'NL-513' and 168933 'NL-514') with VAQ-138 'Rampage'.

EA-18G Growler (169216? 'NJ-503') with VAQ-129.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler (166895 'NJ-525') with Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) 'Vikings'.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler (169145 'NJ-500' and 168939 'NJ-567') with VAQ-129.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler (169132 'NJ-523', 'NJ-503' and 'NJ-555') with VAQ-129.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler (168772 'NJ-553' and 169406 'NJ-536') with VAQ-129.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler (169217 'DD-507') with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-31 'Dust Devils' from Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake.

EA-18G Growler (169401) unmarked.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler ( '526', '550') unmarked.

Left to right: EA-18G Growler (169210 '560') with VAQ-??.

Team work, preparing EA-18G Growler (168383 'AB-502') with VAQ-144 'Main Battery' for flight.

Walking to the jet, pre-flight checks and step.

The Line Shacks are in the brown cranials are in charge of the launch evolution, '5P' is doing hand signals to the pilots and final checkers.

'5O' - Aviation Ordnance handle all ordnance that going up on the jet and ensure that if the pilots need to jettison anything on the stations or pylons, the CADs (cartridge actuated devices) will go off and jettison anything on the stations. CADs are small explosive devices that actuate explosive systems to eject stores.

Preparing EA-18G Growler (166931 'AB-500') with VAQ-144 'Main Battery' for flight.

Left to right: The designated Aviation Ordnance (AO) wearing the cranial marked '5O' is checking the cannon plug connectors. The designated Plane Captain (PC) in the cranial marked '5P' is checking the vertical stabilizer and rudder for any missing fasteners, broken hinges, missing sealant, or broken bonding wire.

The '5O' - Aviation Ordnance (AO) is checking locking station 10 LAU-127 Launcher. '5O' Aviation Ordnance (AO) arming Station 2 with CADs.

Groundcrew are checking for anything that could be wrong on the jet, such as fasteners, cracks, missing sealant, or anything broken. They ensure there is no corrosion in areas that could cause the jet to go down. They will dive into the Growler's intakes to ensure there are no foreign object damage (FOD) and for cracks or dents in the intake.

Left to right: Wash down for the other EA-18G Growler ('AB-500') with VAQ-144 'Main Battery'.