U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare (VMAQ) 2 honor the deactivation of their squadron during a Sundown Ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, March 8, 2019. VMAQ-2 is the last remaining Prowler squadron in the Marine Corps to render a final farewell to the aircraft.
The Prowler has been active since 1977, flying operations in support of NATO, Southeast Asia, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve.
The Marines are assigned to VMAQ-2, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
The Prowler is a long-range, all-weather aircraft with advanced electronic countermeasures capability. The Prowler’s primary mission is “Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses” in support of strike aircraft and ground troops by interrupting enemy electronic activity and obtaining tactical electronic intelligence within the combat area, according to the U.S. Navy fact files. Both the Navy and Marine Corps flew the Prowler which has been replaced in the Navy with the EA-18G Growler, the fourth major variant of the F/A-18 family of aircraft that combines the proven F/A-18F Super Hornet platform with a sophisticated electronic warfare suite.
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