Hobby Master Archive

Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-136 “Gauntlets” was formed at NAS Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington on April 6, 1973. In 1978 they moved to Atsugi, Japan and assigned to the USS Midway of Carrier Wing 5. The “Gauntlets” were the first Prowler squadron to launch assaults against Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. In 2008 VAQ-136 cross-decked from the USS Kitty Hawk" to the USS George Washington. On March 11, 2011 a tsunami hit Japan so VAQ-136 deployed to Guam and from June until November 2011 they were on the USS George Washington.