VMAQ-1

Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1
VMAQ-1 insignia
Active	July 1, 1992 - present
Country	United States
Branch	USMC
Type	Attack
Role	Electronic Warfare
Part of	Marine Aircraft Group 14 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Nickname	Banshee
Motto	"Tairngreacht Bas" "Death Foretold"
Tail Code	CB
Engagements	Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Northern Watch Operation Southern Watch Operation Allied Force Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom * 2003 invasion of Iraq
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant Colonel Chandler P. Seagraves
Aircraft flown
Attack	AD-4 Skyraider
Electronic warfare	EA-6B Prowler EA-6A Electric Intruder EF-10B Skynights
Fighter	RF-8A Crusaders RF-4B Phantom II’s

Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1 (VMAQ-1) is a United States Marine Corps electronic warfare squadron consisting of EA-6B Prowler jets. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW). The VMAQ-1 logo is the Banshee, an Irish mythological figure foretelling death. Its motto is “Tairngreacht Bas,” Gaelic for “Death Foretold.”

Mission

Conduct airborne electronic warfare in support of Fleet Marine Force operations or other units as the Joint Force Commander directs. This includes suppressing enemy radar and surface-to-air missiles utilizing electronic jamming and High-Speed Anti-Radiation (HARM) missiles, as well as collecting tactical electronic intelligence in a passive electronic support role.

History

Korean War

Marine Composite Squadron One (VMC-1) was activated on September 15, 1952 at Pohang (K-3), Korea, in support of Marine Air Control Group 2, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) conducting airborne early warning and electronic countermeasures in support of combat operations. On June 16, 1953, a United States Marine Corps AD-4 Skyraider from VMC-1 piloted by Major George H. Linnemeier and CWO Vernon S. Kramer shot down a Soviet-built Polikarpov Po-2 biplane, the only documented Skyraider air victory of the war.^[1]. The squadron continued support in defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone through March 1955. Following the Korean War, VMC-1 was redeployed to MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and re-designated as VMCJ-1 after merging with Marine Photographic Squadron One (VMJ-1).

Vietnam War

Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, VMCJ-1 saw extensive service during the Vietnam War. From April 14, 1964 to December 16, 1965, the squadron flew its RF-8A Crusaders in photoreconnaissance missions from the USS Ticonderoga, USS Constellation, USS Coral Sea, and the USS Oriskany. In April 1965, VMCJ-1 took its EF-10B aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan and joined Marine Aircraft Group 16 at Danang to combat the increase of surface-to-air missiles in Vietnam. In July of that same year, six VMCJ-1 EF-10B Skynights supported the first strike against a surface-to-air missile site in history. In November 1966, the Grumman EA-6A Electric Intruder was introduced at Danang and flew combat missions as far north as Hanoi and Haiphong and eventually phased out the EF-10Bs. VMCJ-1 retired its RF-8A Crusaders and received RF-4B Phantom II’s to accomplish the photoreconnaissance mission. Again VMCJ-1 carried out a major portion of the area reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions for USMACV, just as it did for 5th AF in the Korean War with its photographic reconnaissance. VMCJ-1 provided escort for B-52s, support for tactical air strikes, and collection of all forms of electronic intelligence. On the photorecon side, VMCJ-1 was operating in a science which had become much more sophisticated and was now called "imagery intelligence."

After the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam, VMCJ-1 was again flying missions from Navy aircraft carriers. During the fall of South Vietnam from September 11, 1973 to December 31, 1975, VMCJ-1 and VMCJ-1 Det 101 conducted missions from the USS Midway.

EF-10B Skyknight of VMCJ-1

An EA-6A Intruder of VMCJ-1 at Da Nang, 1970

Post Vietnam & the 1980s

EA-6A Intruder of VMAQ-2

After Vietnam, the composite community was again reorganized and split into Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Two (VMAQ-2) and Marine Photo-Reconnaissance Squadron Three (VMFP-3). Personnel and aircraft from each of the VMCJ’s were divided and re-designated as detachments Alpha through Charlie within the larger VMAQ-2/VMFP-3 squadrons. VMAQ-2, Detachment A, flying the EA-6A, rotated with its sister detachments in support of the USS Midway Carrier Air Wing conducting operations from the Gulf of Tonkin to Korea.

Now flying the EA-6B, detachment A was renamed detachment X. During Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, detachment X-ray was called upon to extend its normal six-month rotation to thirteen months in order to maintain a watch over the Western Pacific.

Following Operation Desert Storm, the criticality and shortage of electronic attack assets was finally recognized. The decision was made to reorganize back to the original three electronic warfare squadrons. In addition, a fourth squadron was gained by activating the reserve Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Four (VMAQ-4). While deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, VMAQ-2 detachment X-ray was re-commissioned as Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1 on July 1, 1992 with the mission to conduct electronic warfare in support of Marine Forces and Joint/Combined operations.

The 1990s

• September 1995, VMAQ-1 deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy for six months supporting Operations Deny Flight and Decisive Endeavor over Bosnia-Herzegovina until March 1996.
• July 1997, VMAQ-1 established the first six-month EA-6B deployment to Incirlik Air Base in support of Operation Northern Watch (ONW) flying over 1,000 hours and 200 combat sorties.
• December 1998, VMAQ-1 again deployed to Incirlik Airbase in support of ONW for seven months flying over 1,100 hours and 236 combat sorties. While deployed, VMAQ-1 was called upon to re-deploy to Aviano Airbase to reinforce VMAQ-2 in support of Operation Allied Force.
• September 2000, VMAQ-1, deployed to Prince Sultan Airbase, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch (OSW) as part of the overall Joint EA-6B deployment schedule.
• August 2001, VMAQ-1 deployed to Incirlik Airbase in support of Operation Northern Watch. The squadron logged over 530 hours and 160 combat sorties. During this time VMAQ-1 supported several strikes on Iraqi air defense sites.

VMAQ-1 Prowler on the tarmac at Al Asad Air station in Western Iraq in January of 2006

• April 2004, VMAQ-1 deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.

Global War on Terror

• February 2003, VMAQ-1 deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base to support Operation Southern Watch and shortly after arrival, to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. In seven weeks the squadron’s aircrew and aircraft flew 1129 combat hours and 197 combat sorties.
• The squadron again deployed to Al Asad, Iraq in August 2005 as part of II MEF to provide nonkinetic firepower to protect Marines and Soldiers on the ground. The Prowler attacks by disrupting communications or disabling the enemy's capabilities using specialized equipment on board. During this deployment they flew over 800 combat missions, racked up more than 3000 combat flight hours and their maintenance crews provided more than 41,000 maintenance hours. The squadron returned to MCAS Cherry Point by early February 2006.^[2].
• The squadron again deployed to Al Asad, Iraq in January 2007.
• The squadron deployed to Al Asad again in July 2008
• The squadren then deployed to Bagram Afghanistan for the first time in July 2009.
• The Squadron deployed to Aviano AB, Italy in support of Operation Unified Protector in 2011

Unit awards

A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. VMAQ-1 has been presented with the following awards:

Ribbon	Unit Award
	Presidential Unit Citation
	Navy Unit Commendation with 3 Bronze Stars
	Meritorious Unit Commendation
	National Defense Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
	Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
	Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Silver and 3 Bronze Stars
	Korean Presidential unit Citation
	Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Streamer
	Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Action Medal
	Iraq Campaign Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Other awards

• Marine Corps Aviation Association "Squadron of the Year": 1995, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010.
• II MEF CG "Chesty Puller Award" for Outstanding Leadership: 2006 (both 1st and 2nd half FY06).
• Association of Old Crows "Outstanding Unit": 1994, 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
• Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award: 1995, 2002, 2006, 2008, and 2010.

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

• List of United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
• United States Marine Corps Aviation

References

Notes

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

1. ^ Grossnick and Armstrong 1997
2. ^ Snead, Cpl Micah (2006-01-25). ""Banshees" prepare to prowl home". Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps. http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/455DAB78691DC90A85257101005ABDBE?opendocument. Retrieved 2006-06-17. ^{[dead link]}

Bibliography

• Grossnick, R. and Armstrong W.J. (1997). United States Naval Aviation, 1910-1995. Naval Historical Center. ISBN 0-16-049124-X. 

External links

• VMAQ-1's official website
• Globalsecurity.org