VMAQ-2

Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2
VMAQ-2 Insignia
Active	September 15, 1952 - present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Attack and Electronic Warfare
Role	Electronic Warfare
Part of	Marine Aircraft Group 14 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Nickname	"Death Jesters" "Panthers" (1993-?) "Playboys" (1955-1993) "Widowmakers"
Motto	Can Do Easy
Tail Code	CY
Engagements	Operation Desert Storm Operation Decisive Endeavor Operation Allied Force Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom * 2003 invasion of Iraq
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol Todd "Friday" Caruso

Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2 (VMAQ-2) 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).

Mission

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.

History

Early years

An EF-10B t (BuNo 127041)of VMCJ-1 over Vietnam in 1966. This aircraft was shot down by a SA-2 missile from the North Vietnamese 61st Battalion, 236th Missile Regiment over Nghe An province on 18 March 1966 (coordinates 191958N 1050959E). The crew, Lt. Brent Davis and Lt. Everett McPherson, died. [1]

VMAQ-2 boasts a proud history of service to the Marine Corps through its predecessor squadrons flying various electronic warfare aircraft, to include: the AD-5 Skyraider, the EF-10 Skyknight, and the EA-6A Intruder. VMC-2 was the original composite squadron in Marine Corps aviation. It was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point on September 15, 1952 evolving from the former Airborne Early Warning and Electronic Counter Measures section of the Wing Headquarters Squadron. On December 1, 1955, the squadron was redesignated as VMCJ-2 after former Marine Photographic Squadron 2 (VMJ-2) was decommissioned and joined VMC-2. As 1955 was also the year Playboy magazine was first published, it soon followed that the squadron adopted the Playboy name and logo with their permission.

Since its designation in 1975, VMAQ-2 deployed detachments of EA-6A aircraft [designated Detachments Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie] and EA-6B aircraft [designated Detachments Xray, Yankee, and Zulu] on a continuous basis in support of Marine forces in the Western Pacific and in support of Fleet Commanders on aircraft carriers, including lengthy deployments on the USS Midway, Nimitz, America, and Saratoga. In 1977, the squadron transitioned to the EA-6B Prowler and now operates the Improved Capability II version of the aircraft. In 1986, a detachment of the squadron participated in U.S. raids against Libya.

The Gulf War & the 1990s

An EA-6A Intruder from VMAQ-2 flying over MCAS Cherry Point.

In 1990, VMAQ-2 deployed Detachments Yankee and Zulu to Bahrain in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, flying nearly 500 combat sorties in a six-week period. Detachment X-Ray was already forward deployed with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in the Western Pacific for their routine rotation and would remain there for a total of 410 days, the longest continuous deployment in Marine aviation history during peacetime.

On 1 July 1992, VMAQ-2, the largest tactical squadron in Marine Aviation, was reorganized into three squadrons: VMAQ-1, VMAQ-2, and VMAQ-3. In 1993, outside pressure forced the Marine Corps to direct the squadron to change their name and logo from "Playboys" to something more politically correct. After several ideas were rejected the squadron chose Panthers as the new name and began using the logo (with permission) of the National Football League's Carolina Panthers.

VMAQ-2’s next assignment led them to Aviano Air Base, Italy, in March 1996 in support of Operation Decisive Endeavor. This operation tasked VMAQ-2 with missions over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Specifically, VMAQ-2 Prowlers provided Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) support to British Harriers performing reconnaissance flights over weapons containment sites in these two areas of operation. In 1997, VMAQ-2 once again deployed to Aviano Air Base. However, this time it was in support of Operation Deliberate Guard. VMAQ-2 was tasked with flying missions over Bosnia to cover the Bosnian elections. On February 3, 1998 an EA-6B Prowler, BuNo 163045, callsign Easy 01, from VMAQ-2, struck a cable supporting a gondola in Cavalese, Italy. The cable was severed and 20 people in the cabin plunged over 80 metres to their deaths. The plane had wing and tail damage but was able to return to the base.^[1]. It was the squadron's first major mishap in over 60,000 flight hours spanning nearly fifteen years of worldwide operations.

In February 1999, VMAQ-2 received the order to again deploy to Aviano in support of Operation Noble Anvil and possible subsequent combat operations against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. After diplomatic attempts to resolve the Kosovo crisis failed, Operation Allied Force began. VMAQ-2 launched day and night sorties to provide jamming and HARM support to U.S. and NATO missions. VMAQ-2 also provided support for armed reconnaissance missions, day and night battlefield air interdiction strikes, and combat search and rescue efforts of downed allied aircrew. When Operation Allied Force came to an end, VMAQ-2 had flown 2151.5 combat hours, 464 combat sorties, and fired 57 High speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Global War on Terror

An EA-6B Prowler from VMAQ-2 over Iraq in 2004.

In February 2003, VMAQ-2 deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, initially in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and then Operation Iraqi Freedom. VMAQ-2 logged over 1000 combat hours in under 60 days during the war to liberate Iraq.

VMAQ-2 deployed to Tallil Air Base, Iraq, for Operation Iraqi Freedom II from July 2004 through January 2005 and became the first Prowler squadron to operate from Iraqi soil. The squadron logged over 2000 mishap-free combat hours and attained 10,000 Mishap Free Flight Hours during the same period. VMAQ-2 was subsequently chosen as the Marine Corps Aviation Association 2005 Prowler squadron of the year.

VMAQ-2 Deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, from January 2006 through July 2006. Again from July 2007 through January 2008. VMAQ-2 deployed again to Al Asad from September 2008 through April 2009.

In 2010 the squadron deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. On May 19, 2010 members of the squadron repelled a Taliban attack on the base, killing several insurgents who infiltrated the base perimeter. Two squadron members were wounded in the firefight.^[2]

Awards

Unit's awards include the Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with two Bronze Stars for the Cuban Missile Crisis and actions against Iraq [less Detachment Xray], the Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with two Bronze Stars, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Streamer with two Bronze Stars, the National Defense Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer with one Bronze Star for Cuban and Dominican Republic service, and the Southwest Asia Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars.

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. ^ Stamford, Lincs., U.K.: Air Forces Monthly, May 1998, Number 122, page 59.
2. ^ McCullough, Amy, "Aviation Marines engage Taliban in ground fight", Military Times, June 17, 2010.

Bibliography

External links

• VMAQ-2's official website