Detached to Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada in early December was EA-18G Growler BuNo 168266/AB500, the latest CAG-bird operated by Electronic Attack Squadron 137 (VAQ-137) ‘Rooks’. Based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, VAQ-137 has been assigned to Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) since 1989, transitioned from the EA-6B Prowler to the EA-18G in 2013 and made its maiden Growler deployment aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in March 2015. The aircraft is adorned with the squadron’s black and white colours, CVW-1 titles on the inner faces of the vertical stabilisers and the unit’s emblem, a stylised Rook bird, on the outer faces. Of note is the CATM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile captive training round loaded on the outer wing station. Kevin Whitehead
