About this Unit
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2 (VMAQ-2) was a United States Marine Corps aviation unit established in 1952 as VMC-2 and later redesignated VMAQ-2 in 1975. The squadron specialized in electronic warfare, flying the EA-6A Intruder and later the EA-6B Prowler to conduct electronic attack, jamming enemy radar, and gathering electronic intelligence. VMAQ-2 participated in major conflicts including the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and the Global War on Terror, providing critical support to Marine and joint forces. The squadron was deactivated in March 2019 as the Marine Corps retired the EA-6B, marking the end of an era in Marine electronic warfare.
Historical Facts
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Origins in Electronic Warfare: Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2 (VMAQ-2) was originally established as VMC-2 in 1952, making it one of the earliest dedicated electronic warfare units in the U.S. military.
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Nickname "Playboys": The squadron adopted the "Playboys" moniker in the late 1950s, complete with the famous rabbit insignia, although they later changed it due to copyright issues.
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Vietnam War Operations: VMAQ-2 played a vital role in electronic countermeasures and reconnaissance missions during the Vietnam War, using the EA-6A Intruder to jam enemy radar and protect strike aircraft.
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Transition to the EA-6B Prowler: In the late 1970s, the squadron became the first Marine Corps unit to operate the EA-6B Prowler, a state-of-the-art electronic warfare aircraft.
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Gulf War Contributions: VMAQ-2 deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, providing critical electronic warfare support to coalition air forces.
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Global Deployments: The squadron was unique for its frequent "split-site" operations, with detachments deployed simultaneously to different global hotspots, including NATO operations in Kosovo and the Balkans.
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Distinguished Unit Honors: VMAQ-2 earned multiple Navy Unit Commendations and Meritorious Unit Commendations for its performance in numerous conflicts and crisis responses over several decades.
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Callsigns and Sub-Units: Over the years, VMAQ-2 was subdivided into detachments with their own callsigns, such as "Death Jesters," "Playboys," "Panthers," and "Moondogs," each with a distinct patch and identity.
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Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan: The squadron deployed repeatedly in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, conducting electronic attack missions to suppress enemy communications and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
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Final Deactivation: After more than 65 years of service, VMAQ-2 was deactivated in March 2019, marking the end of the Marine Corps' dedicated EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare squadrons.
