On Monday, Nov. 7, four Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-135 Black Ravens jets flew over NAS Whidbey Island, marking an end to a six-month deployment aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) that began in May.

The following day all Black Ravens Sailors and remaining aircrew returned to Whidbey Island where friends and family welcomed the squadron with much excitement.

The Black Ravens deployed as part of Carrier Wing Eleven (CVW-11) on board Nimitz. After two months supporting Seventh Fleet operations in the Western Pacific, the Ravens and the rest of CVW-11 flew for three months in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

The environment in the Arabian Gulf saw daily flight deck temperatures reach well over 120 degrees and the operations tempo was high. The Black Ravens flew multiple missions each day, each averaging more than six hours long, to support multi-national ground forces in Iraq.

The Prowler mission is unquestionably one of the most critical in the Central Command area of responsibility and Raven maintainers and aircrew sustained the legacy of dependability and mission accomplishment set by previous NAS Whidbey Island Prowler squadrons.

Despite the long and hot days, the entire squadron continued to meet every challenge and performed superbly. Throughout the deployment, Raven maintainers distinguished themselves, keeping 25-plus year old airframes fully mission capable and flying over 1,300 hours in support of OIF. Overall, VAQ-135 flew over 150 combat missions supporting ground forces in OIF.

The line division and troubleshooters spent countless hours on the flight deck preparing the jets for daily combat sorties and played a critical part in keeping 100 percent of the available assets flying everyday. Power plants performed superbly, changing more than ten engines during the deployment. As part of Carrier Strike Group Eleven, VAQ-135 operated under the Chief of Naval Operations directed Optimal Manning Experiment (OME).

As part of this test, VAQ-135 deployed with the smallest number of personnel for an EA-6B squadron deployment in recent memory. As part of OME, the Black Ravens played a key role in testing future manpower requirements for the Navy. This required new efficiencies in procedures, organizations and technologies to be developed and tested.

Under OME, the Raven AME shop distinguished itself with sustained superior performance while being undermanned by almost 50 percent for the majority of the deployment. The VAQ-135 administration and personnel departments were tasked to develop a consolidated carrier air group administration department.

They too performed superbly, leading the way in the integration of six squadron administration departments and developing new processes and manning requirements that will be briefed at the highest levels of Navy leadership.

The result of all this hard work was reflected in the Black Ravens’ 98.7 percent combat mission completion rate in support of OIF. The squadron also passed with flying colors during a two-plane detachment with VAQ-141 aircrew and VMAQ-1 to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq achieving a 100 percent combat mission completion rate. At the completion of the Al Asad detachment, VAQ-135 aircrew flew over 1,000 miles from Iraq, through the Arabian Gulf to rejoin Nimitz and the rest of CVW-11 in the Indian Ocean.

The Ravens continued to meet operational challenges during the last months of the deployment. After port visits to Perth, Australia and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a crossing the line ceremony and an unprecedented aggressive flying schedule during the transit home, VAQ-135 remained ready to respond.

The world famous Black Ravens of VAQ-135 are happy to be home with their families in time for the upcoming holiday season and are proud of the reputation and accomplishments they established during the deployment.