I just learned today that my former Marine Corps Reserve squadron, VMAQ-4 Seahawks, an electronic warfare squadron flying the EA-6B Prowler, has recently been deployed to Afghanistan. The mission is secret for obvious reasons. I am surprised they are still using the EA-6B, VMAQ-4 has been using the this variant since upgrading from the EA-6A in 1991. It is an old airplane worth about $360 million US back in 1991.
I served with VMAQ-4 back in 1991-1992 when it was still a reserve squadron at NAS Whidbey Island in Washington state. I served as a Reservist Flight Equipment Marine (MOS 6060) until the squadron was activated and sent to the east coast as an active duty squadron. I was later reassigned to another reserve unit with the Marine Corps Reserves until I received my medical discharge in late 1996.
As usual, watching a couple YouTube videos about VMAQ-4 brings back some memories. The first video is about their deployment to Afghanistan recently. The second video is a flyby of VMAQ-4 at an airshow in 2010.
Yeah that does bring back some memories. I was stationed on the USS Saratoga for almost three years and I saw a lot of E2’s. We also had F4’s, A5’s, A7’s, A3’s, S2’s and a helicopter Squadron.
I think threre were close to 100 aircraft onboard. The E2’s were always the loudest on runup at the catapults. Good looking airplane though.
I never got to see any carrier ops. My goal was to be a Marine pilot but I never had the chance due to my injuries. Maybe in another life 🙂