Vader 505, an EA-18G Growler from the “Star Warriors” of U.S. Naval Air Forces Navy Reserve Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 209, flies past Mt. Fuji during a training event in Japan.
VAQ-209 is the U.S. military’s only Reserve electronic attack squadron and is currently forward deployed to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. (Photo credit: CDR Pete Scheu, VAQ-209 Public Affairs)
Fuji has been a popular backdrop for the Navy and Marine Corps for more than 75 years.
Speaking of spectacular, the Star Warriors also recently posted this photo of one of their Growlers accelerating in afterburner during a training mission over Japan. Little wonder their callsign is “Vader.”
(Photo Credit: LCDR S. Mankins, VAQ-209)