{"id":18163,"date":"2018-05-16T16:42:47","date_gmt":"2018-05-16T16:42:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/16\/the-corps-is-down-to-one-final-ea-6b-prowler-squadron\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:38:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:38:44","slug":"the-corps-is-down-to-one-final-ea-6b-prowler-squadron","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2018\/05\/16\/the-corps-is-down-to-one-final-ea-6b-prowler-squadron\/","title":{"rendered":"The Corps is down to one final EA-6B Prowler squadron"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Corps\u2019 aging electronic attack aircraft, the EA-6B<\/a>, is now down to one last squadron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its final years, the aircraft was highly productive in a fight over Syria, jamming militants and protecting U.S. pilots from enemy air defense systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 11, Marine Electronic Attack Squadron<\/a>, or VMAQ-3, based out of Cherry Point, North Carolina, held its deactivation ceremony, leaving VMAQ-2 as the last EA-6B Prowler squadron in the Corps. VMAQ-3 will complete its deactivation May 31, according to Capt. Sarah Burns, a Marine spokeswoman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last remaining EA-6B squadron<\/a> in the Corps will begin its deactivation in October 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVMAQ-2\u2032s deactivation in FY19 will mark the end of the EA-6B\u2019s service in the Marine Corps, as well as its continuous employment as a joint tactical Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) asset,\u201d Burns told Marine Corps Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EA-6Bs from VMAQ-3 are headed for Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, commonly referred to as the Boneyard, where they will be stored and preserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the sun setting on the Corps\u2019 legacy electronic attack aircraft, the Prowlers put up a hell of a fight in its final years deployed overseas in support of Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS militants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
EA-6B Prowlers assigned to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s Prowler Squadrons (VMAQT-1, VMAQ-2, 3, and 4) conduct an aerial refuel and formation flight near Cherry Point, N.C., March. 1, 2016. The flight was the first time in several years that all 4 EA-6B Prowler squadrons flew together. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jodson B. Graves\/Released)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft has been important asset to coalition forces for its ability to jam ISIS communications, roadside bombs and suppress enemy air defenses in Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EA-6B was one of the first aircraft on scene in the lead-up to U.S. strikes against ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2014, VMAQ-3, \u201cthe Moondogs,\u201d deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, to support operations in the United States Central Command area of operations. VMAQ-4 subsequently began operations over the skies of Syria that August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Moondogs carried out one final deployment from Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, spanning April to September 2017, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mission: to \u201cconduct airborne electronic warfare in support of operations, to include suppressing enemy radar and surface-to-air missiles utilizing electronic jamming and high-speed anti-radiation missiles, as well as collecting tactical intelligence in a passive electronic support role,\u201d a command release states.<\/p>\n\n\n\t