Editing Grumman EA-6B Prowler (section)

==Operators==
[[File:EA-6B Prowler from VAQ-138.jpg|thumb|upright|An EA-6B Prowler from VAQ-138 carrying two wing mounted jamming pods.]]

The EA-6B Prowler was operated by the U.S. Armed Forces with squadrons in the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] and [[United States Navy|Navy]].

===USMC squadrons===
VMAQ squadrons operated the EA-6B Prowler.<ref>{{cite web |title=E/A-6B Prowler |publisher=Northrop Grumman |url=http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/products/navy_products/ea6b/ea6b.html |access-date=26 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317094150/http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/products/navy_products/ea6b/ea6b.html |archive-date=17 March 2007}}</ref> Each of the three squadrons operated five aircraft; the squadrons were land-based, although they were capable of operating aboard U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and did so in the past.<ref name="NHC">{{cite web |title=EA-6B Prowler |work=Naval Historical Center |publisher=[[United States Department of the Navy]] |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/planes/ea6.htm |access-date=1 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070407161253/http://www.history.navy.mil/planes/ea6.htm |archive-date=7 April 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=EA-6B Prowler |publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]] |url=http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/ea-6b_prowler.htm |work=Intelligence Resource Program |access-date=26 March 2007}}</ref>

In 2013, VMAQ-1 converted from an active to a training squadron as the USN stopped training on the Prowler and switched over to the Growler. The Marine Training squadron first received students for training in October 2013 and produced its first training flights in April 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.seapowermagazine.org/stories/20140415-prowler.html |title=Marine Training Squadron Produces Its First Prowler Crews |last1=Burgess |first1=Richard R. |date=15 April 2014 |website= seapowermagazine.org |publisher=SEAPOWER Magazine |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140416174913/http://www.seapowermagazine.org/stories/20140415-prowler.html |archive-date= 16 April 2014 |access-date= 16 April 2014}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Squadron Name !! class="unsortable" |Insignia !! Nickname !! Dates operated !! Senior Command!!Station
|-
|{{center|'''[[VMAQT-1]]'''}}
|{{center|[[File:VMAQ-1 patch.png|45px]]}}
|{{center|''Banshees''}}
|1992–2016
|{{center|[[Marine Aircraft Group 14|MAG-14]], [[2nd Marine Aircraft Wing|2nd MAW]]}}
|{{center|[[Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point|MCAS Cherry Point]], [[North Carolina|NC]]<ref name="VMAQ-1">{{cite web |title=Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1 |publisher=United States Marine Corps |url=http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/MAG14/vmaq1/default.asp |access-date=16 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315123040/http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/MAG14/vmaq1/default.asp |archive-date=15 March 2007}}</ref>}}
|-
|{{center|'''[[VMAQ-2]]'''}}
|{{center|[[File:MCS149.jpg|45px]]}}
|{{center|''Playboys''}}
|1977-2019
|{{center|[[Marine Aircraft Group 14|MAG-14]], [[2nd Marine Aircraft Wing|2nd MAW]]}}
|{{center|MCAS Cherry Point, NC<ref>{{cite web |title=Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2 |publisher=United States Marine Corps |url=http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/MAG14/vmaq2/default.asp |access-date=16 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311031753/http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/MAG14/vmaq2/default.asp |archive-date=11 March 2007}}</ref>}}
|-
|{{center|'''[[VMAQ-3]]'''}}
|{{center|[[File:VMAQ-3 insignia.jpg|45px]]}}
|{{center|''Moon Dogs''}}
|1992–2018
|{{center|[[Marine Aircraft Group 14|MAG-14]], [[2nd Marine Aircraft Wing|2nd MAW]]}}
|{{center|MCAS Cherry Point, NC<ref>{{cite web |title=Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 |publisher=United States Marine Corps |url=http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/MAG14/vmaq3/default.asp |access-date=16 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311031737/http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/MAG14/vmaq3/default.asp |archive-date=11 March 2007}}</ref>}}
|-
|{{center|'''[[VMAQ-4]]'''}}
|{{center|[[File:VMAQ4.jpg|50px]]}}
|{{center|''Seahawks''}}
|1981–2017
|{{center|[[Marine Aircraft Group 14|MAG-14]], [[2nd Marine Aircraft Wing|2nd MAW]]}}
|{{center|MCAS Cherry Point, NC<ref>{{cite web |title=Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 |publisher=United States Marine Corps |url=http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/MAG14/vmaq4/default.asp |access-date=16 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315123050/http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/MAG14/vmaq4/default.asp |archive-date=15 March 2007}}</ref>}}
|}

In 2008, the USMC investigated an electronic attack role for the [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II]] to replace their Prowlers.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.usmc.mil/units/hqmc/pandr/Documents/Concepts/2008/PDF/CP08Ch3P4_Joint_Strike_Fighter_Transition_Plan.pdf |title= Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Transition Plan |website= USMC |date= 15 May 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080515105218/http://www.usmc.mil/units/hqmc/pandr/Documents/Concepts/2008/PDF/CP08Ch3P4_Joint_Strike_Fighter_Transition_Plan.pdf |archive-date= 15 May 2008}}</ref> The Marines began retiring the EA-6 in 2016 and replaced them with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Electronic Warfare (MAGTF-EW) concept, which calls for a medium to high-altitude long-endurance [[unmanned aerial vehicle]] to off-load at least some of the electronic warfare mission.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-marines-in-market-for-reaper-sized-uas-406099/ |title = US Marines in market for Reaper-sized UAS |website = Flightglobal.com |date = 14 November 2014}}</ref>

In November 2018, VMAQ-2 returned from performing the final deployed operations of USMC Prowlers. The Marines retired the aircraft on 8 March 2019, with some placed in storage and on static display at the [[Smithsonian Institution]] [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] of the [[National Air and Space Museum]] in [[Chantilly, Virginia]] and the [[Frontiers of Flight Museum]] at [[Dallas Love Field]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2019/03/08/the-saltiest-warfighter-in-the-marine-corps-the-ea-6b-prowler-retires/ |title = EA-6B Prowler, one of the saltiest warfighters in the Marine Corps, retires |website = marinecorpstimes.com |date = 8 March 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

===USN squadrons===
While in U.S. Navy service four EA-6B Prowlers were typically assigned to a Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron. These Navy Electronic Attack squadrons carried the letters VAQ (V-fixed wing, A-attack, Q-electronic); most of these squadrons were [[Aircraft carrier|carrier]]-based, while others were "expeditionary" and deployed to overseas land bases.<ref name=US_Navy_fact_file>{{cite web |title=EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft |work=USN Fact File |publisher=United States Navy |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=900&ct=1 |date=5 February 2009 |access-date=24 August 2015 |archive-date=12 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912005148/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=900&ct=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:100%;"
! Squadron Name !! class="unsortable" | Insignia !! Nickname !! Dates Operated !! Carrier air wing !! Station !! Notes
|-
| '''[[VAQ-129]]''' || [[File:VAQ-129 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Vikings'' || 1971–2015 || [[Fleet Replacement Squadron]] || [[Naval Air Station Whidbey Island|NAS Whidbey Island]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vaq-129.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/ |title=VAQ-129 Vikings |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=6 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805220455/http://vaq-129.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/ |archive-date=5 August 2008}}</ref> || Trained both Marine, Air Force, and Navy crews <br />in the EA-6B and the [[EA-18G]]
|-
| '''[[VAQ-130]]''' || [[File:VAQ-130 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Zappers'' || 1975–2011 || [[CVW-3]] || NAS Whidbey Island<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vaq130.navy.mil/history/history.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403023803/http://www.vaq130.navy.mil/history/history.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 April 2013 |title=History – Electronic Attack Squadron 130 |work= Electronic Attack Squadron 130 |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=23 June 2012}}</ref> || EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|-
| '''[[VAQ-131]]''' || [[File:VAQ-131 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Lancers'' || 1971–2015 || [[CVW-2]] || NAS Whidbey Island<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vaq131.navy.mil/ |title=VAQ-131 Lancers Command History |work=VAQ-131 Lancers |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=1 January 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080717061754/http://vaq131.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/lancer_home_page.htm |archive-date= 17 July 2008}}</ref> || EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|-
| '''[[VAQ-132]]''' || [[File:VAQ-132 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Scorpions'' || 1971–2009 || [[CVW-17]]|| NAS Whidbey Island<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/Electronic-Attack-Squadron-VAQ-132/ |title=VAQ-132 Scorpions official website |work=VAQ-132 Scorpions |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref> || EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|-
| '''[[VAQ-133]]''' || [[File:VAQ-133 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Wizards'' || 1971–2014|| [[CVW-9]] || NAS Whidbey Island<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vaq133.navy.mil/ |title=VAQ-133 official website |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=13 December 2015 |archive-date=5 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705180015/http://www.vaq133.navy.mil/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> || EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|-
| '''[[VAQ-134]]''' || [[File:VAQ-134 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Garudas'' ||1972–2015 || CVW-8 || NAS Whidbey Island<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vaq-134.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/ |title=VAQ-134 official website |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=6 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080810002627/http://vaq-134.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/ |archive-date=10 August 2008}}</ref> ||EA-6B replaced by EA-18G.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seapowermagazine.org/stories/20140811-vaq.html |title=Navy Delays Formation of Expeditionary EA-18G Squadron |author=BURGESS, RICHARD |date=25 October 2014 |website= Seapowermagazine.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025103945/http://www.seapowermagazine.org/stories/20140811-vaq.html |archive-date=25 October 2014}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[VAQ-135]]''' || [[File:VAQ-135 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Black Ravens'' || 1973–2010 || || NAS Whidbey Island<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vaq135.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/ |title=VAQ-135 official website |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=6 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221030314/http://vaq135.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/ |archive-date=21 December 2008}}</ref> || EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|-
| '''[[VAQ-136]]''' || [[File:VAQ-136 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Gauntlets'' || 1973–2012 || || NAS Whidbey Island<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thenorthwestnavigator.com/news/2012/mar/02/gauntlets-transition-begins/ |title=Northwest Navigator |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=3 July 2012}}</ref> || EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|-
| '''[[VAQ-137]]''' || [[File:VAQ-137 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Rooks'' || 1973–2012 || [[CVW-1]] || NAS Whidbey Island<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vaq137.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/ |title=VAQ-137 official website |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=6 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008112518/http://vaq137.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/ |archive-date=8 October 2008}}</ref> || EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|-
| '''[[VAQ-138]]''' || [[File:VAQ-138 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Yellow Jackets'' || 1976–2009 || || N/A<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vaq138.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/ |title=VAQ-138 official website |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=11 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220212133/http://vaq138.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/ |archive-date=20 February 2011}}</ref> || EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|-
| '''[[VAQ-139]]''' || [[File:VAQ-139 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Cougars'' || 1983–2011 || [[CVW-17]] || NAS Whidbey Island<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vaq-139.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/|title=VAQ-139 official website|publisher=United States Navy|access-date=6 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921214012/http://vaq-139.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/|archive-date=21 September 2008}}</ref> || EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|-
| '''[[VAQ-140]]''' || [[File:VAQ-140 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Patriots'' || 1985–2014|| [[CVW-7]] || NAS Whidbey Island<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vaq140.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/|title=VAQ-140 official website|publisher=United States Navy|access-date=6 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301034717/http://vaq140.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/|archive-date=1 March 2009}}</ref> || EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|-
| '''[[VAQ-141]]''' || [[File:VAQ-141 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Shadowhawks'' || 1987–2009|| [[CVW-5]] || Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnic.navy.mil/Japan/NewsAndCurrentInfo/PressReleases/CNICP_A283918/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016222319/https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Japan/NewsAndCurrentInfo/PressReleases/CNICP_A283918 |title=EA-18G Growlers to replace EA-6B Prowlers |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=18 February 2013 |archive-date=16 October 2012 |date=3 February 2012}}</ref>||EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|-
| '''[[VAQ-142]]''' || [[File:VAQ-142 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Gray Wolves'' || 1997–2015 || [[CVW-11]] || NAS Whidbey Island<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vaq-142.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/|title=VAQ-142 official website|publisher=United States Navy|access-date=6 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010154509/http://vaq-142.ahf.nmci.navy.mil/|archive-date=10 October 2008}}</ref> ||EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|-
| '''[[VAQ-209]]''' || [[File:VAQ-209 Emblem.svg|40px]] || ''Star Warriors'' || 1977–2013 || Reserve [[Tactical Support Wing]] ||NAS Whidbey Island||EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
|}

====Disestablished Squadrons====
'''[[VAQ-128]]''': Established as an expeditionary squadron in October 1997, utilizing the insignia and heritage of the former [[A-6 Intruder]] Fleet Replacement Squadron at NAS Whidbey Island.  Disestablished in September 2004 due to budget reductions.

'''[[VAQ-309]]''': Established as a Naval Air Reserve Force squadron at NAS Whidbey Island in 1979 with EA-6A aircraft, transitioning to the EA-6B in 1989 as part of Carrier Air Wing Reserve THIRTY (CVWR-30).  Disestablished on 31 Dec 1994 following the decommissioning of CVWR-30 due to budget cuts; aircraft returned to the Regular Navy.