On March 12, 2019 the Dallas based Frontiers Of Flight Museum welcomed in its collection, an EA-6B Prowler (BuNo 162228) from the U.S. Marine Corps VMAQ-2 “Death Jesters” squadron. Some retired Prowlers are making their way to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, commonly referred to as “the boneyard.” But a few of the EA-6Bs will rest at the Frontiers Of Flight Museum in Texas and the Smithsonian near our nation’s capital.
After supporting combat operations for the Marine Corps in nearly every conflict throughout the past 40 years, the Marines’ electronic attack aircraft, the EA-6B Prowler, will fly its final flight mid-March. Last Friday a deactivation ceremony for the Corps’ final Prowler squadron, Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2, or VMAQ-2.
The deactivation marks an end of an era and a storied history that has seen the Prowler jamming enemy communications and systems in conflicts to include operations El Dorado Canyon, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Deny Flight, Decisive Endeavor, Deliberate Guard, Allied Force, Northern and Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Unified Protector, and most recently Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel, a command release detailed. It’s predecessor, the EA-6A Electric Intruder, even saw action in the Vietnam War.
The Business Jet Center located at Dallas Love Field was chosen for the delivery of the The EA-6B “Prowler,” from the U.S. Marine Corps VMAQ-2 “Death Jesters.” The Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2 (VMAQ-2) was a United States Marine Corps electronic warfare squadron in service from 1952 to 2019. It was the last squadron flying the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler. Its mission was to support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commander by conducting airborne electronic warfare, day or night, under all weather conditions during expeditionary, joint, or combined operations. The squadron was based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina and fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW).
Currently, over 30 aircraft and extensive display galleries draw aviation buffs, schools, family members to the Frontiers Of Flight Museum. Popular collections include early biplanes, historically important military and general aviation aircraft, the World War II exhibit, the extensive history of Southwest Airlines exhibit area, numerous commercial airline artifacts, the iconic Chance Vought V-173 “Flying Pancake” and the Apollo 7 command module. Visitors can take a chronological walk through the development of human flight from the Leonardo da Vinci parachute to space exploration. For more information, visit www.flightmuseum.com
Thanks to Erik Johnson for the beautiful photos of the EA-6B Prowler. Visit Erik’s Facebook page for more information.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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