History Up Close with the EA-6B Prowler

We’re LIVE for History Up Close series with CAPT Sterling Gilliam, USN (Ret.) Director of the National Naval Aviation Museum as he spotlights the EA-6B Prowler.
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www.navalaviationmuseum.org
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[@gunndish]

Being a 30 year career carrier Ordie/Gunner ... the EA-6B was the only aircraft that would literally rattle my bones at full military power while in tension on the cats! Incredible power and quite a machine. Always fondly referred to as, "Mom, Dad, and the kids!"

[@papatonysworkshop6584]

My first Skipper( VAQ 138) CDR William Hawk Flew the First EA6-B to NAS Whidbey Island in 1971. I have and still look back if fond memories of watching these aircraft flying over head as a kid, Not long after my Graduation from Oak Harbor High School , I found myself going through boot camp and A school and working on The Most Awsome Aircraft with the most Awsome People I have ever had the pleasure of working with!!!

[@rockhopper01]

As a young Marine I was a COM/NAV tech on first the A-6E with VMA-332, then the EA-6B with VMAQ-4. I just had quite the flashback when you dropped that boarding ladder! I miss working on these birds.

[@marclederman6206]

Great video! Thanks. VMAQ-2 and Prowlers Forever! CY - Can Do Easy!

[@carlwheeler3403]

My dad transitioned from the A-3D to the EA-6B back in 1971. He was a Lt Cdr at the time and assigned to VAQ-129 as a student. He later went on to command VAQ-133 before retiring. Our family spent most of our Navy years at NAS Whidbey, what a great place to live, I have many fond memories of Oak Harbor.

[@jonwatkins254]

Excellent Presentation! Thank You Sir!

[@darrellpowell-zu3mc]

Great video. I was in VAQ134 on the Connie in 73. AT working on the computers. They off loaded us at Cubi Pt. Because ship board power was not stable enough for the testing equipment. Great times. I miss my airplane and the Connie.

[@richardfoust1801]

I was an AT in VAQ-136 77-80 (Indy, Sorry Sara, and Midway), then VAQ-135 80-81 (Kittyhawk), visited 4 carriers who else could do that with 4.5 years at sea, Only in a VAQ outfit. I worked on the com/nav/radar along with the EW systems. It was quite an Adventure. Those were the days my friends, we thought they would never end. But Then they did, and we have the memories.. Nice presentation... To Bad the Government is still stupid in some ways and no one (vets or civilians) can get to see the various place like Pen. oh well...

[@Dave-nt3kz]

Hey Sterling, long time, no see. Congratulations on a great career, and retirement! 👍

[@warshipsdd-2142]

Might want to include a mention of the EA-6A two-seater that flew during the early Vietnam period, and replaced the aging EF-10b. I served 63-67 attached to VMCJ-2. We operated the RF-88, RF-4B the EF-10B and the EA-6A all at the same time in 1965. Fond memories of P'cola, hope to visit soon and keep up th good work.

[@jameseast7966]

Me too.VMCJ-2 USS FORRESTAL,SARATOGA,AMERICA 1970-71 Med cruise Det A.also was avionics chief VMA(AW)533 USS JOHN F KENNEDY 1986-87.

[@thedarkknight803able]

The Prowler is Awesome 😎👍🏾

[@timgoette8579]

Wow awesome to see you do this Mr. Gilliam, I served on this community for 20 years and still miss the old girls , and the time I served with you sir

[@mikemmm48]

I checked into VAQ-129 July 6 1971. I ended up in VAQ-134 working in the vans. In the early days there was a moral problem with some enlisted personnel including myself. Many of my senior E-6 and E-7's had flown their entire careers as ecm operators in EA-3B squadrons and were not allowed to fly in the Prowlers. I had flown aircrew in my first squadron and as a AT I thought I was a good candidate to be an Ecmo. I was standing a ramp watch early one morning and the ASDO was bored and came down to talk with me, I brought up the subject of enlisted flying. He told me not a good idea because and enlisted man may panic in combat. He didn't know I had flown 598 combat mission as a Seawolf door gunner . He said it was technically challenging. He was wearing his NFO wings and the national defense ribbon. He also told me he a degree in physical education. It really galled the skipper to hand out my second through 26 Air Medals plus 3 other combat decoration to a new E-4. I say handed out because there was no award ceremony. I did get out of the Navy after my enlistment was over.

[@thomasfx3190]

CAPT Gilliam, great presentation! I was a reservist from 86-88 @ Whidbey Is NAS and loved it!

[@robchapman5366]

Capt. Gilliam, Thank you for being you and thank you for your service. This was a great VID. Thanks again.

[@rocketman48]

What a great presenter.

[@greasyflight6609]

As a little kid in the 1960s this plane looked space age...so did the RAF Vulcan...thank you for both your service and brilliant content.

[@allgood6760]

Thanks for this!

[@guysmith3996]

I enjoyed this video. First I want to thank you for your service. Me and my Uncle Robert. F Smith had the honor of serving on the Enterprise as you did. My Uncle was on the Enterprise in the late 60s. He was in the original E=MC2 photo in the letter E. He was also on board when the ship had its Forestal level fire and survived. I served on board the Enterprise in the early 80s with the Wizards of VAQ-133. The prowler is no stranger to me. I finished up my 2nd and last enlistment with the Vikings of VAQ-129. During my time in VAQ-129, I became a plane captain. A lot of great memories I have of the prowler. I think the only bad memories I had as an AT were doing phase inspections of the rear avionics rack in the birdcage and removing all the dang screws on the football to do phase inspections on the receivers. All those screws were a total pain.

[@svenred6eard757]

It's cool how he is so used to the aircraft that he can walk around it backwards without bashing his head lol

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

The Prowler and it's step brother, the EF111, were incredible aircraft!

[@bmwlane8834]

Wow, great tour....the aircraft commander seems like a great dude! Lots of info!

[@rearendspecialist]

This brings back fond memories. I was an AT for VAQ-138 back in 75-77. I served under Cmdr. O'Neal. First planes in/last planes to leave.

[@Wade-50]

Proud to of been a “Scorp” with VAQ-132. Loved working on the Prowler and 132 was my favorite command.

[@codyschnabel4935]

In my time with famous VMAQ3 MoonDogs we called them WARPIGS

[@thomaskline5164]

Vmaq2 1980-84 " The Bunny Lives!"

[@AA-xo9uw]

Long before Q-3 existed the Prowler was known as the SkyPig.

[@spannerturnerMWO]

Funny, during my time in Q-3 (94-99), we called it the Skypig. We still had too many old A-6 mechanics (and pilots) to refer to the Prowler as a Warpig...

[@swim2kill]

If you've never been to the naval aviation museum in pensacola, let me tell you it is worth the visit. It's an incredible museum

[@waltsmith9583]

Thank you Sir. Outstanding.

[@masonjarhillbilly]

Sterls. Great to see a face from the past. You went all gray. I went gray and fat. I was in the AT shop in VAQ-139 Cougars on the 1996 Lincoln cruise with you. You are a true all around professional. From not mentioning what the maintainers called the IFR probe to being humble on the bolters. You forgot to mention that those happened at night and the sea. state.

[@eddietat95]

Great stuff. PLEASE do a History Up Close with the S-3B in the background. If I'm not mistaken, that's the one George W. Bush flew in!

[@bradcollier7249]

It's been a few days but are you sure about the timing on the ejection sequencing or did they change it after 89... Its been a long time and I didn't sit in them I just worked on them >>vaq135

[@spannerturnerMWO]

Timing and sequence are correct as stated by Stirls. I was required to know this as a PC with VMAQ-3.

[@dave.lawrence.3894]

One of the great aircraft (EA6-B) good work horse...

[@johnmarlin4661]

Take a look at the EA1F hanging in the background !! Four crew in the Skyraider , pilot ,nfo and two enlisted ECM Operators . Analog tech from the 50's But used in vietnam on Yankee Station

[@michaelmoi654]

A great mystery resolved about the position of the refuelling probe. My model Prowler' probe appeared bent to the right when it first arrived by post. Now I know understand the logic. Thank you ! Great insight into this exceptional aircraft.

[@hughmarloweverest1684]

I really enjoyed this presentation.

[@adamespenscheid2255]

VERY INTERESTING

[@bluangl9wingman]

Thank you for your service Sir! 2 years ago I wintered on the gulf coast and visited the museum several times a week for 2 months. This year I was there again and to my great dismay discovered that the museum is still off limits due to the base being closed to visitors. What a disappointment...

[@robertmannel4446]

Good Job Cap! Alexandria LL opening day yesterday. Going to get down there to see you one of these days!

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Great video...👍👍

[@yxeaviationphotog]

In the A-6 video, I noticed the A-7E in the background. Would love to see a presentation on it, considering it flew on the last A-7 deployment and Desert Storm.

[@scottb721]

Lots of great questions 😁

[@pugs11ful]

Nivce job Sterl - Had no idea you were down running the museum - Pugs

[@reggieziet]

great vid..rare first hand info

[@AvengerII]

The biggest mistakes naval aviation made in the 1990s were retiring the Grumman planes (F-14 and A-6) without appropriate follow-on planes. That's going to cost the Navy sooner or later if it hasn't already. What this did was halve the striking range ability of naval aviation -- you have to move the carrier CLOSER to target and aerial refuel more often -- and reduces the argument for larger supercarriers if you don't have strike planes with range and payload that justify the carrier building program. Personally, I don't think we can afford 10 supercarriers. Not if they're going to be bloated monsters with basic systems (elevators, catapults) that don't work as well as their predecessors. They tried to innovate too much with the Gerald R. Ford and that ship is well behind schedule. Who knows when it's going to be fully operational and living up to what the Navy required of it?!? My personal belief is the Navy needed an A-6 replacement that was more reliable, less maintenance-intense but retained the older plane's range and most of the payload capacity. They never fielded one and wasted a lot of money and time on stealth planes instead of practical RCS reductions while maintaining performance and range.

[@pb68slab18]

The latest jammer pods from Raytheon do not use those old style pods, so maybe you can get some for display.

[@MrPopc]

My dad told me about the EA team Growler my dad was red carpet from Florida they called him Mr. T 2 trainer You may have known him his name was Chuck Fadden or CJ

[@totally_notascam795]

You made me fall asleep f for presentation

[@rodneytomich1636]

I had an uncle Grover C. Walker that ran same museum

[@filipinowhiteboy]

hehehe so, I dunno about you guys, But when I played Ace Combat 5, I selected this aircraft for a character called Chopper who dies in a tragic part of the game. In game, you can clearly see that that the cockpit is fully manned with an ECMO 1, 2 and 3 yet their never acknowledged in game. They never talk and the characters never mention them so when Chopper dies, everyone is sad for him and nobody else. Kinda morbid but also kinda funny.

[@andrewtestin9080]

Hello if the two back seaters were eliminated did the length change or was the space used for new technology? I appreciate your service!

[@kennappier3608]

It was called the A6 Intruder in my day. I knew airdales attached to the squadrons and I did learn a thing or two. It was one of the most expensive planes we had. Very dependable.

[@jackshittle]

Is there a P-3C on display down there? I went through Naval Aircrewman Candidate School in July-Aug 1990. I haven't stepped in a P-3C since March 1995 & would love the chance to do it one more time.

[@pb68slab18]

I was an aircrew Ordnanceman in P-3Bs many years before.

[@jackshittle]

@@pb68slab18 I was an inflight ordnanceman as well.

[@MiturBinEsderty]

When Grumman went bust because of the end of the f-14 the economy of Long Island suffered. Long Island lost Republic in 1987 after the A-10 ended and then Grumman. It was horrible the economic loss.

[@robertaubrey4038]

6444/6467 here 8 yrs

[@geologist_luna]

While in the Marines, I was an AME on the EA-6B with VAQ-129 Vikings and VMAQ-4 Seahawks. Great to see these old birds being honored.

[@AA-xo9uw]

"VMAQ-129 Vikings"(sic) VAQ-129 the squids' FRS.

[@geologist_luna]

@@AA-xo9uw Yes, VAQ-129....

[@svenred6eard757]

It would be cool to take off in this plane listening to the song 'Prowler' by Iron Maiden.

[@jspafford]

360p is the highest resolution uploaded? Should have shot it with a mobile phone from 1995.

[@dandydon3834]

3 decades, damn Steril, you’re old.Then again the four man electronic van is old too.😂

[@johnthomas2485]

Are any of your planes in flying condition? Why not just put a sheet metal mockup of the underwing pods? Were they fl9wn on the Syria mission

[@kblackav8or]

Captain.. did you only produce daughters by chance. Pilots of certain platforms seem to be blessed with only daughters.

[@rockhopper01]

Ha. I was an avionics tech for the Intruder and the Prowler. It was certainly a universally known legend that we technicians only had daughters! For the record though, I had two sons, the first of which was born 3 years after I got out, so maybe my sperm had gotten back to normal. 😆

[@kblackav8or]

@@rockhopper01 SH-60B pilots and crew have that tendency and legend too. Sitting on top of the APS-124 for years.

[@cwguy8960]

@@rockhopper01 Two daughters here - AT2 1985-1991, VAQ-129, VAQ-135

[@Kaledrums]

EF-111A did this with two people. Long before the Growler.

[@jameseast7966]

Ea6A and Ef111 were very equal in capabilities, but only the A6 could go world wide on an aircraft carrier.

[@AA-xo9uw]

The Raven's effectiveness as an EA platform did not equal that of the Prowler.

[@jupiterjunk]

Too bad civilians can't visit the museum.

[@timtim8468]

Telling 7 year old children, they responded to 9II by sailing with their carrier to Pakistan. So far the facts here.

[@dbranson7511]

It's HOwdy 🤠 jak mia PARt nerd 🤓 Doo Doo 😛🤣😌🙏❤️🙏 DUTea Over

[@davidkoon767]

NO OFFENSE CAPABILITY AND SLOW

[@thomaskline5164]

Radar and radio move at the speed of light. The prowler made you see shadows in the dark

[@AA-xo9uw]

"NO OFFENSE CAPABILITY "(sic) Incorrect. The AGM-88 is an offensive weapon. "AND SLOW"(sic) Nearly the same speed as the Growler.