The American Plane Reinvented to be Unstoppable

[@robandcheryls]

After “Flight of the intruder” I fell in love with the planes. I was lucky enough to get up close on a RCAF airbase, it is a magnificent machine. 🇨🇦 Veteran

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Agreed, twas a great film, staring a beautiful plane 👍

[@chuckpf7018]

June 1972 I joined the Grumman Prowler program. Couldn't have asked for a better start for what led to over 50 years in Aerospace. Great memories of an amazing aircraft. Thanks for producing such a fine synopsis of the long life of the EA-6B

[@robertmaybeth3434]

My dad worked there too, he was a senior engineer on Grumman, mostly on F-14, from about 1969-until they retired the F-14. His name was Norman Swagler, did you know of him by any chance?

[@OldNavyGuy]

Loved flying this jet off the boat. Landing it at night was sporty!

[@SB_TheWelder]

I was an airframe mechanic on the A6-E and EA-6B in the Marines. Great aircraft for sure.

[@crewchief5144]

One of my first AVI O's was a CWO4 that was a back-seater on EA-6Bs. He said it was crazy with four in the cockpit but still the best aircraft he had been on.

[@tikcuf39]

I was a A/C sheet metal mech at Alameda NAS from 89 to 95 and I worked on the Prowler Rewing. I was a CiV then.

[@crewchief5144]

@@tikcuf39 EW! Bay Area buckets! Just kidding. I saw a few RH-53Ds from there before they got ferried to Davis Monthan. I was a CH-53E guy so those were pretty cool. Never got up to Alameda though. Farthest I got was Point Mugu.

[@patrickpaterson4334]

vmaq-2 det y uss midway for me

[@altonmccoy8899]

That plane’s vitality in the Navy and Marines was unmatched. Used from 1971 to 2003 truly shows how not just reliable but how adaptable it was to any combat scenario that it faced. Not one ever shot down too. Remarkable.

[@dotmurphy7279]

Thanks for that info.

[@markplott4820]

Arguably the F4g wild weasel and F16cj are better

[@auburnalum9019]

I have a friend who flew these during the attack in Libya, and served in Iraq and other areas. This jet was amazing. There is so much it could do that was not mentioned in this video. The problem too with the F-18G Growler is the workload it too much for one individual. That is why they had two/three in the back. The IQ requirements for the roles surpassed those of the Pilots. Also unfortunately all the jamming technology came at a price to those that served. The gold shielding on the cockpits were supposed to protect the crew, but really did nothing in the end. All of these crew are now suffering unique health issues. God bless those that flew in this jet.

[@freddyrosenberg9288]

Dang! The radiation is not supposed to be ionizing, but powerful enough to cause damage with prolonged exposure. Kind of standing right next to a running microwave oven for hours and hours at a time.

[@beargillium2369]

​@@freddyrosenberg9288more like a running microwave that weighs two tons and doesn't have a door to shut.

[@wesleygary6651]

phonetically (comparative more phonetically, superlative most phonetically) In the way it sounds, particularly: written to describe the sound rather than the dictionary spelling. What the hell is a 'Lybia'? Figures you claim you graduated from Auburn. Go Dawgs and keep trying hard to win 5 games this year.

[@dentalnovember]

Why are you nit picking? Dyslexia is a real thing and mixing up letters is not a specific indicator for intelligence.

[@wesleygary6651]

@@dentalnovember Ok. Prove it. Spell dumbass backwards. I'll wait.

[@kenweed6919]

I served in the USN 2000-2005 as an Aviation Electricians Mate (AE). My whole enlistment with the 'Scorps' VAQ-132. Our mission was to 'fundamentally deny the enemy the use of the electromagnetic spectrum.' In english, we jammed cell phone signals because the enemy's ubiquitous use if IED's triggered by cellphones. I love this video but a couple of discrepancies. ECMO's did not do maintenance. The enlisted sailors did that. Also, nobody said E C M O s. Eck Moes is how we pronounced it. Still, I love these videos; great work.

[@nathandanner4030]

It's almost impossible to overstate how important this plane was.

[@robertmaybeth3434]

You are obviously the guy who knows a whole lot but won't let on how much he knows! Can you at least give us a hint? My Dad worked for Grumman 36 years, incl F-14 ECM and some work on the A-6 too. He never discussed what he did and if you asked he'd give us a shorter answer than your comment lol.

[@tedwojtasik8781]

Important to what, we lost the war.

[@lordraydens]

@@robertmaybeth3434 they should've made a jammer version of the f-14, god knows it has enough room for gear

[@robertmaybeth3434]

@@lordraydens Actually this stuff is exactly what my late dad spent 36 years designing and fixing. And we almost got sent to Iran by my dad's company in 1978 too! But that's a different story.

[@lordraydens]

@@robertmaybeth3434 yeah i've read up on iran and f-14s and it was crazy. shame we assed out the shah like we did

[@robzilla60]

It's about time someone did a video of this incredible aircraft. I served in the US Navy as an AD assigned to VAQ-138 based at Whidbey Island, 'The Rock', home to all of the Navy's Prowlers. Made 3 Med deployments from '79 to '82 aboard IKE and JFK with the Yellowjackets during that timeframe and have some permanent hearing loss due to it's extremely loud engines at military power. Working as the Powerplants Flight Deck Troubleshooter has that effect. It was a challenge keeping our 4 aircraft up and mission capable, and a lot of the time we were down to 3, with one being a hangar queen parts house. But we still made the missions. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.

[@John-wd5cb]

So you got cancer and deafness and you still think joining the USN that primarily works abroad to kill innocents was a great idea. You people deserve everything you will be getting. ❤ from Greece.

[@LRRPFco52]

What would you say the maintenance man hours per flight hour were on average?

[@4ndywy4ll]

@@LRRPFco52 Worked airframes in VAQ-142, we were up to 90 maint man hrs per flight hr at one point.

[@LRRPFco52]

@@4ndywy4ll Holy crap. I thought the Tomcat was bad at 40-60hrs. Did that include the pods, or was that just airframe, engines, and air vehicle systems?

[@Tyrannosaurus_STFU_III]

West-Pac widows! Woo hooo... I was there for C school in 98'

[@SaylerT]

I was with VMAQ-2 for the last deployment of the Prowler, aka The Final Prowl. Very happy to see this video.

[@marbleman52]

I was in an ECM.. Electronic Counter Measures Navy squadron...VAQ-33, in 1971-75. We were a permanent land based squadron at N.A.S., Norfolk, Va. We had four ERA-3B Skywarriors, similar to the ones shown in this video starting at 2:05. I was a Plane Captain for our ERA-3B's. The ERA-3B's had all kinds of counter measures equipment...jamming pods, chaff dispensers, radars, and other stuff. We also had four A-4 Skyhawks, two F-4 Phantoms, and one gorgeous EC-121 Super Constellation that had a tall radome on top and a big round one underneath. The squadron trained the fleet in how to identify and counter electronic warfare from the enemy. I loved working with the ERA-3B's. They were big and each had it's own personality and quirks and I took a great deal of pride and seriousness in my work.

[@madman671000]

A-3 (all versions) mechanic AMH at VAQ-33 in KeyWest, we had EA-4s, EA-6As, ERA, TA, KA-3s, EA-7L's and EP-3's. 86-90

[@marbleman52]

@@madman671000 Good morning. I have been posting on so many channels for so many years and have gotten so few responses from other VAQ-33 guys, so this is neat. Right after I got out...should've stayed in....the squadron moved to Oceana. We all knew this was going to happen. The runway at Norfolk was short and even with a fast opening chute the A-3 pilots had to really push hard on the brakes, so Oceana was a lot easier and safer for the planes. I didn't hear til many years later that the squadron went to Key West. Dang It..!! I should've stayed in...lol..!! Wow...y'all added a few more kinds of planes. Question: Key West sounds like a constant vacation, but how was it really for y'all?

[@madman671000]

@@marbleman52 The station was spread out over several Bases. Boca-Chica is where we lived (barracks) and worked, the commissary was on another base on the island of KeyWest, they closed the hospital but there was a sick call on the air station. Once I got married, I lived on a manmade island (Sigsbee I think) where some housing was (that was spread across KeyWest too). The A-3 school was over on the hydrofoil base. It was ok to work and live there, had a lot of fun fishing, first duty station for me. Hot and humid, I worked night check for my entire tour so it wasnt to bad. Left for VR-24 in sig in 90.

[@johnrust592]

Great episode. As someone who writes action/adventure novels, my focus is usually on fighter planes and bombers. While EW aircraft are not sexy and glamorous, they play a vital role on the battlefield and, as you said, have saved countless lives without bullets and bombs. Hail to the Prowler and everyone who flew on it.

[@naradaian]

And the crews health issues passed you by?

[@JonnyBabyaka]

There’s a lot sexy about flying in on low deck and turning the bad guys lights out before they know what happened. It’s like the power of God.

[@smokeonthewater5287]

The flight of the intruder is one of my favorite movies, where they performed the 'iron hand' missions against enemy SAMs...

[@johndjenssen]

I love that movie "This is the end of Devil 505, say goodbye A-hole!" "Goodbye A-hole!"

[@CarltonFrye]

I was a Grumman Plane Captain (crew chief) on these aircraft...loved sitting 10 feet in front of the intakes at high power LOL!!!

[@muskaos]

I was in VAQ-140 2003-2007. I did 3 deployments, with my last one in 2006-2007 being split, with 2 aircraft at Al Asad supporting Iraq, with the other 2 on the carrier off the coast of Pakistan supporting Afghanistan. Very busy deployment, all 4 jets were flown hard, and right at the end, our CO got relieved for fraternizing with one of our personnel sailors. Prowlers were a very high demand asset, and were getting very hard to maintain at the end of their career. Their engines were a constant source of problems, and required very close monitoring of oil samples to catch worn bearings before they seized. A seized bearing caused the last crash. There was nothing that radiated that the EA-6B could not jam the paste out of, including the fancy new radar that the F-22 has.

[@Tyrannosaurus_STFU_III]

I was a I level CDI/QAR and worked the oil lab in Iwakuni. Maintenance was a nightmare. Got out in 03'....

[@robertmaybeth3434]

Thanks for the fantastic comment. I sure would like to know the juicy gossip about your randy CO and the personnel sailor, that sounds like a hell of a story lol

[@williamzackii912]

This aircraft was louder than its supersonic cousins powered up on the catapult. It made the fillings in my teeth vibrate. However, it was worth it. This plane protected countless allied operational lives.

[@420BulletSponge]

There is NOTHING louder than a Prowler on the flight deck. It was always a relief to get them in the air and far far away. With insertable foam earplugs and over the ear hearing protection the sound is still painfully loud.

[@nathandanner4030]

I told this to an FA-18 pilot once and he tried to argue with me. I wasn't having it though.

[@forresttm]

Shame you'll never get to experience a vulcan. They hurt your stomach at take off.

[@williamzackii912]

This was the only plane I would not just hang around for shits and giggles for a launch. It made the fillings in my teeth vibrate.

[@nathandanner4030]

@@williamzackii912 My theory was that it was the Curve in the intake that made it extra noisey but, IDK if that is Scientific.

[@IncogNito-gg6uh]

It was loud below deck also. Our compartment was on the O-3 level beneath the 3-4 wire. There was no doubt when an Invader or Prowler trapped.

[@fredrick965]

To any young people here considering joining the service. AND you wish to learn a skillset that will empower your future, try to go for Electronic Countermeasures Technician in the Air Force or Navy. You will have to be pretty bright but will learn more about computers, electronics, and microwaves than is possible anywhere else. And when you get out you will be a decade ahead of your peers. Do one hitch and get out. For me it lead to a degree in Architecture at a time (90's) when computer technology was taking over all all industries. They asked me to stay and teach when I graduated with honors. USAF 1981- 1985, ECM on B52s and F4G Wild Weasels. Amazing cutting edge technology. Can't imagine what they have now.

[@naradaian]

And make sure you have any children before you get in the cockpits

[@dwaneanderson8039]

I was a Navy jammer tech from '89 to '92. I worked on equipment in the EA6B specifically. It didn't help my later employment in any way, but maybe that's just me.

[@fredrick965]

@@dwaneanderson8039 Were you stuck on flightline duty only? Ever work in the shop?

[@dwaneanderson8039]

@@fredrick965 I never worked the flightline. I was attached to AIMD, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Division. So I just worked in a shop.

[@amazingblue1955]

Was with VMAQ-2 as an ECM tech 1977-1980. Semper Fi

[@bdphourde]

Then you worked on the 'A's. I was in J-2/Q-2 from '71-'87, and J-3/J-1 before that.

[@amazingblue1955]

@@bdphourde I worked on the A's till they switched over to the B's. Was on Det A3 which was the last with the A's. Then I worked on the B's till I left in Oct 1980

[@anvilsvs]

I trained as a 26K20 Electronic Warfare Equipment Repair tech in 1965. It's all magic.

[@sgrisafi]

I was an AD in the navy between 1983 to 1987 with VAQ 129

[@nattersting976]

One of my favorite aircraft of all time.

[@matrix2zzge]

Thank you for giving support aircraft some ❤!

[@keithnoneya]

I worked on three version of these Jammers. EA-6A's, EA-6B's EXCAP and ICAP. It carried the ALQ-99 for Radar Jamming and the the ALQ-92 for Communications Jamming. The ALQ-99 worked fairly well but the ALQ-92 was kind of a pig and never really seemed to work well, at least in our squadron. Our country for decades has never gone to war or a major aircraft strike without Electronic Warfare. The basic tactic is to have Supersonic aircraft inbound and the Prowlers already at a stand off position just outside of AA range, then just before the Strike aircraft break into enemy fire control range we jam all enemy radars. As soon as that happens the enemy knows they're going to get hit, but they don't know from where or what direction. After the strike the team departs and the Jammers are turned off. The enemy got hit but except for a general direction they don't know from where we came or what direction we left. To put it bluntly for our side, a strike force with Jammers is "Quite a lovely gathering". The only error I heard in the video was at time index 4:35, and that is the ECMO's do NOT maintain or work on the equipment, the Enlisted Technicians do all the maintenance and loading of the Jammer Pods and equipment. The ECMO's do however Operate and do program data on a module that they bring with them from the briefing and then install it in the aircraft computer for the mission on hand. DATA includes maps, routes and known radar signatures in the area, to include Early Warning and Known Anti-Aircraft Systems. Thanks for sharing. It was an amazing aircraft and a vital part for the survival of the strike group. Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith Noneya AT1 USN/USNR-TAR Retired

[@madman671000]

EA-6A's, where was you stationed, I worked at VAQ-33 in KeyWest and we had these.

[@keithnoneya]

@@madman671000 I was stationed at Whidbey Island at VAQ-309 a reserve outfit.

[@madman671000]

@@keithnoneya A-3 (all versions) mechanic AMH at VAQ-33 in KeyWest, we had EA-4s, EA-6As, ERA, TA, KA-3s, EA-7L's and EP-3's. 86-90

[@keithnoneya]

@@madman671000 Wow what a squadron, would have been great to be an AT in that squadron. Couldn't imagine the C schools for that squadron. Never heard of half of those planes, EA-4, ERA, KA-3 and the EA-7L's. Send some links my way I'd love to check them out.

[@madman671000]

@@keithnoneya Each aircraft type had their own shop (AMU), I was in AMU-5, the A-3 shop, all the PODs were repaired in what we called the vans behind the squadron, you can google the squadron.

[@jameseast7966]

During the 60s to early 70s, three USMC units VMCJ-1 VMCJ-2 VMCJ-3 WERE THE ONLY SQUADS FLYING EA6As. The Navy had EA-3s.I served in J 2 on the USS FORRESTAL, THEN SARATOGA, then for one month on USS AMERICA , in 1971 med. Stayed in J2 till 1973. EA-6As never get enough creds for leading the way for prowlers and growlers. Semper Fi playboys of J2.

[@bdphourde]

Semper Fi! Served in all three VMCJs and stayed with Q-2 until '87

[@amazingblue1955]

I was with the Playboys VMAQ-2 1977-1980. ECM tech. Semper Fi

[@michaelmondary2564]

I was in VMCJ-1,VMCJ-2,and VMAQ-2, working in the electric shop on the EA6A.

[@johnasti7429]

I don't know how this play could be undetected anywhere. This was the LOUDEST jet I've ever heard. I lived in Aurora Colorado in the 80's to the end of 1990's and the AFB lived close to was Buckley field And you could ALWAYS tell when an A6 was taking off or in the sky. This was the without a doubt, other than the F4 Phantom, the A6 could be heard in the next hemisphere!!!! Even during the build up in Desert Storm when the F117 came in to land at dusk, they weren't 1/2 as loud as A6

[@chrislong3938]

I got buzzed once by two F-4s in Twentynine Palms! They passed over us so low that they kicked sand up and you could smell JP-4!!! All I saw were four jet exhausts flying away! I was amazed that the truck windows didn't shatter. I couldn't relax for another hour at least! I'll bet those bastard pilots were laughing their heads off! God, those jets are loud!!!

[@Kriss_L]

You wouldn't hear an A-6 until it was on top of you. You would hear an EA-6B as soon as it was rolling down the runway, but had no idea which direction it was coming from.

[@jam00723]

When a Prowler was getting ready to launch off the flight deck the engines blasting off the JBD’s made your molars rattle. One of the loudest aircraft and slowest to fuel on the deck.

[@kylieTXgirl]

They kicked up a lot of non-skid too! Always loved being next to them as the powered up on the cats.

[@eugenechustz3426]

As a former Air Force metallurgist I just love this keep bringing it

[@ethanboyd7843]

This 4 seater is so unbelievably cool.

[@lanedexter6303]

Enjoyed the brief shot of the simulator about 5 min. in. Had a buddy in VAQ129 in Prowlers. He got me a session in the simulator. Back then, it ran on two 486 processors. I grew up an airport brat, but “flying” the simulator to a carrier landing is a lot harder than it looks. Great fun. Great respect to those guys.

[@johnnyh3653]

My mother worked at NAS Whidbey and managed to get me 30 minutes in the simulator. I was only successful landing it on the carrier once.......unfortunately it ended up being one de k below the flight deck on the maintenance level.😮

[@lanedexter6303]

@@johnnyh3653 LOL! Great fun!😄

[@jackharle1251]

Love that hideous monster. - Ground Recon

[@rossbabcock3790]

I worked avionics for the 'Mini-Van". VMAQ-2 78-82!

[@peterjp4]

I was learning to fly at the on-base flight club on NAS Whidbey. There was one time my instructor and I taxied our Piper Cherokee out and requested take-off clearance. There was a squadron of Prowlers doing pattern work. They launched and landed so frequently that, after about ten minutes waiting, we decided to call it quits. It was nice having that front row seat to the action though.

[@Tyrannosaurus_STFU_III]

I was a "I" level engine mech for 5 years 98'-03'. Last turbojet in the inventory, they haven't made new parts since the 90's. EVERYTHING had to be safety wired. 2 GOOD mechs if they had parts, which was rare, can tear down and rebuild a J-52 in a workweek. The operational tempo for these planes was so high we worked 80+ hours a week for almost 2 years. Still love it though. Amazing platform.

[@williammoore5277]

That's why they taught AD,E,Ms to tie wire. And Powerplants were one of the few systems the Navy had plenty of. Stacked on the hangerbay.

[@marstondavis]

The number of American and allied lives saved in incalculable. It's one of my favorite airplanes.

[@fartinthewind933]

I got to say the prowler and its little brother the Intruder are cool looking aircrafts.

[@ut000bs]

ECMO, Electronic Counter-Measures Officer, is pronounced "EK-mo". Served 12 years with Prowlers at NAS Whidbey Island in Washington state. Went to Desert Storm with VAQ-132, did a shore tour with VAQ-129, then went and stood up (commissioned) VAQ-137 again with CDR Plucker. Once a Prowler AT, Always a Prowler AT. Prowlers forever.

[@Laserblade]

Howdy sailor! I'm a plank owner of VAQ-137. ADJ working AIMD aboard Enterprise, stationed at Whidbey NAS.

[@ut000bs]

@@Laserblade Were you in 137 with me in the 90s?

[@Laserblade]

@@ut000bs no, my friend, I was ADJ there 72 to 75. Beautiful country, I'd like to get back up to the northwest once more.

[@ut000bs]

@@Laserblade I've lived up here since 1986 and the weather has not changed a bit.

[@ModernCowboy78]

Flight of the Intruder was one of my favorite movies as a kid.

[@paulwoodman5131]

VAQ-132 Scorpions flew these in CVW7 on Eisenhower. Heavy beasts, fun to watch on launch. Loud! Make a great Family Truckster for the family that has everything.

[@ET-vj4vz]

What sets it apart was its engines ability to produce an ear shattering noise... Once you hear one you can't unhear it.

[@Kriss_L]

EA-6Bs didn't get to Vietnam until 1972. The two-seat EA-6A flew most of the missions in Vietnam.

[@greenyoshi777]

Since everyone wanted to fly the fighters? F-14, F-15, F-16 and F-18's? I don't think the EA-6 gets enough love.

[@keithgold9666]

Let’s not forget the F4 Wild Weasel.

[@BeingFireRetardant]

YGBSM

[@pb68slab18]

Or EF-111 Raven.

[@kenmarsh2668]

I remember when the first Prowler showed up at NAS Whidbey, VAQ-129; saw her in the hanger. I was an A-6 stick then and and latter; in your vid I saw my old squadron VA-145 in some captions. Prowler was a great platform and I knew many of the crewmen in that community.

[@polaris5250]

I was at NAS Whidbey Island in 88-89 with VA-128 FRAMP. Every night, their touch-and-go sorties were right next to our barracks. Lovely! 😂

[@wmprice1]

I was in Iwakuni, JA from 95' - 96' that sound was distinct I will never forget it, so much more visceral than the AV-8B, F/A-18's and the infrequent visit by the AF F-15's and F-16's showing off with their bunners (can't blame them though with all of us jarheads their).

[@johnnyh3653]

I lived in Oak Harbor from 67-88. You learned to stop your conversation when an Intruder or Prowler was flying overhead. As a kid, at night, I could see the crews doing "touch-and-goes" from our living room.

[@polaris5250]

@@wmprice1 I was at Iwakuni from 98-03. I agree with you. MCAS Futenma off and on for 6 years before that.

[@terryevans1976]

@@johnnyh3653 "Pardon our noise, it's the sound of freedom."

[@MichaelBethel]

The first squadron I was attached to was Marine Air Station El Torro, VMA 242 for the A6 Intruder in 1976.

[@kellywilson8440]

I did a med-cruise on board the USS Coral Sea 87/88 with our f-18 squadron , Willie McCool was one of the 4 man crew in VAQ-133 Wizards in our cag and went on to be part of the Columbia shuttle crew that was lost in 2003 !

[@The333]

These posts are so well done and informative - thank you!

[@FloydMaxwell]

The Prowler + its fixed refueling nozzle = The Angler fish

[@peteyoung7126]

Another excellent video. Thank you.

[@Chuck8541]

I've always liked the look of the Prowler.

[@CrackedCandy]

I loved the Flight of the Intruder. This plane based on that frame, in part

[@RV4aviator]

Great content , images, and production again Dark Skies. Your videos always broaden my knowledge on the subject..Cheers...!

[@christopherbayne9061]

Love that design.

[@yeoldesaltydog7415]

Loudest Aircraft Carrier plane. My cranial was blown off while at Cat 3's catwalk. I had it strapped, but that didn't matter. JCS 2000-2005

[@TheFunkhouser]

The Prowler was one of the best planes in PS1's Air Combat. Loved it 😆😅🥰

[@MPADAD1]

Line of Death ops, libya. Cat down for the last EA-6B. Left one attack craft without a dedicated jammer. Missile inbound to the fighter, nothing for him to do but tell the net to tell his wife and kids he loved them. Then the EA-6B pilot spoke up and said, "you will see them again," and jammed the crap out of the incoming missile while burning his own engines up to get there, and melted the circuits just ms before the missile passed through the rear fuselage and out the other side. No damage other than the entry and exit wounds on the fighter. We were all in tears after that below, defying the "Line Of Death!" Damn fine plane! Oh, and the Saratoga sent 3 S-3's to find the Achille Lauro, Not EA-6B's. Sent one North, NW and South along the coast. about 3-4am we found her steaming towards Port Said.

[@BeingFireRetardant]

You Will See Them Again Holy shit...

[@joecoupon8299]

From what squadron?

[@MPADAD1]

@@joecoupon8299 I do not recall.

[@WallaceTheRed]

I had the privilege to lay in a rack and try to sleep in Whidbey Island while a squadron of these did night operations. It was one of the loudest aircraft in our arsenal.

[@polaris5250]

I was at NAS Whidbey Island in 88-89 with VA-128 FRAMP. Every night, their touch-and-go sorties were right next to our barracks. Lovely! 😂

[@tonybenjamin4670]

I don't miss the rumble and roar while trying to sleep there

[@Laserblade]

Pwered by 2 Pratt & Whitney J-52 engines We ADJ's did a lot of hot-section inspections on those aboard Enterprise AIMD. Plank owner of VAQ-137 "Rooks". After rebuilding they had to be trimmed @ 100% on a test stand. Standing an arm's length from those engines are so loud turning 100% made my nose bleed. The sound goes right through you. WESPAC 74-75.

[@Verity_Auger]

This thing stops something as small as garage door openers!? Insane! What a cool plane!

[@Sammydx1]

One of my favorites

[@padroooo]

The EA-6A was the predecessor to the EA-6B and only had one ECM operator.

[@keithnoneya]

Quite correct, I worked on the ones for VAQ-309 before we transitioned to the EA-6B's with the ICAP II package at NAS Whidbey Island.

[@LRRPFco52]

Now there's an aircraft I haven't heard of in a long, long time.

[@amazingblue1955]

I worked on both with VMAQ-2. ECM tech

[@frogbones1976]

Awesome...building a 1/48 scale model while listening.

[@gusgone4527]

It's pleasing to look at too. Nice lines and cures.

[@briancooper2112]

Underrated airplane!

[@CallsignEskimo-l3o]

The natural predator of cable cars.

[@IncogNito-gg6uh]

To this day I have an undying respect for those guys who worked on the flight deck. No one worked harder.

[@jameseast7966]

Most dangerous place in the world. I always seemed to be assigned to flight deck. 71 cruise on Forrestal, Saratoga, and America. 86 cruise on Kennedy, as flt deck coord for VMA 533. Night crew was worse. Folks who had the assignment know what I'm talking about. Semper Fi.

[@ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy]

The A6 was SO LOUD. It was unreal just how LOUD those things were. You did not need radar to detect them, because you could HEAR them. Jamming the radars only served to prevent you from shooting them down.

[@michaelvs.scorpio7676]

I have always liked the A6 Intruder and the EA6B Prowler!! They are such GOOD-LOOKIN' Aircrafts!! Their PHYSICAL APPEARANCE is somewhat UNIQUE-looking because of the fuselage being very FAT or THICK at the FRONT or FORWARD end and then tapering off to a MUCH THINNER size at the REAR end (kind of like an ELONGATED TEAR DROP)!! I think this might be WHAT I have always found to be so APPEALING to me about its PHYSICAL APPEARANCE!! Their PHYSICAL APPEARANCE and of course, their ELECTRONIC WARFARE CAPABILITIES make them such COOL aircrafts!!

[@emilschneider9974]

That was very enjoyab, thank you. The Intruder is one of my favourites!

[@conradnelson5283]

That was very informative. Had no idea it’s Service life was so long.

[@EyesWideOpen1969]

I know these planes are old, but they are just cool looking.

[@user-ex4si2md6r]

An absolutely incredible & indispensable aircraft 👍

[@groovydude8863]

I produced HARM missiles in the 80's and when the Navy would come by to visit the plant...they would bring movies shot from Intruders and Prowlers showing HARMs in action. (night vision also, but that was another cost center.)

[@stevewaters6812]

I did some work on the prowler as a contractor, even got a golf shirt.

[@bdphourde]

Had a career in Marine Airborne Reconnaissance in both Photo and Electronic. (VMCJ). Had time in the EF-10B, which was replaced by the EA-6A, which was replaced by the EA-6B. All did well enough for their level of sophistication and what they went up against. Electronic Warfare has only become more important as time goes on. I have my doubts as to the overall effectivness of the EFA-18G Growler. We won't see a report on it, though, until it retires.

[@jameseast7966]

In 66 I reported to VMA 225 at Cherry Point. Next hanger over was VMCJ2. On the flight line was EF10Bs, RF8Cs, EA6As, and RF4Bs.J2 WAS transitioning out of the F10s and F8s. EF10 was called Willy the whale. Semper Fi.

[@johndunkelburg9495]

Shot down, no. Crashed while practicing low-level flight maneuvers, yes. My NG unit got called out to initially secure the crash site of a Prowler out of NAS Whidbey Island in NE Oregon in 2006.

[@williammoore5277]

They would fry a lot of AL ALQ 126s before launching. Air Boss wanted them turned on on the catapult. Sure wish McNamara bought more than 3per CV and 11 Spares

[@johnmoran8805]

Thanks!

[@Kdschaak]

Just a heads up. Electronic Counter Measures Officer. ECMO is pronounced "Eck-mo.

[@TheStabbyCyclist]

Hearing ECMO spelled out rather than said as an acronym is painful. Otherwise, excellent video.

[@horusfalcon]

This is one of your better videos, and should serve as an exemplar for videos to come. It helps that the EA-6B was a fascinating aircraft, but this was well done!

[@rickbogdanich3471]

VMCJ2 with EA6A VMAQ2 with EA6B

[@amazingblue1955]

I was ECM tech VMAQ-2 in 1977 with the EA-6A and then the EA-6B's till I got left in 1980.

[@jameseast7966]

VMCJs were composite squadrons flying EA-6As and RF-4Bs.

[@amazingblue1955]

VMAQ-2 had EA6A's at MCAS Cherry Point when got there in1977. Then they switched to the B's . I was Q2 1977-1980 ECM tech.

[@dutchman7216]

That was awesome. Thankyou for making this video.

[@jeromethiel4323]

The Prowler was a very sexy aircraft. It looked good just sitting still.

[@jerryhammack1318]

Was stationed at NAF El Centro CA. Got to see them up really close! Very loud! As an airframer great aircraft! Personally I liked the F-14 old school flying multi level redundancy! My primary was F-18 s A though F ! Desert Rattlers ! ❤

[@williammoore5277]

F14s 'Old school'? Go Crusader Community! 1 seat, 4 cannons, and a leather towstrap to pull it down the catapult. Now that is Old School

[@williammoore5277]

F18 can't do a 360 at 85 Knots

[@donaldsmith1055]

A Black and White camouflage pattern is not shown in the presentation. Officers do not do maintenance only operate and then give debriefs on system condition. I would say the wings were mid mounted not high mounted. High mounted wing would be like on the A7, RA5C, F8, A3. low mounted would be like on the F4 and A4. Dark Skies got thing wrong again.

[@Idahoguy10157]

Not fact checked by subject experts. Interesting videos but to be used not for references

[@bdphourde]

@@Idahoguy10157 I hope you spend as much time and effort criticizing the MSM! They deceive ON PURPOSE, not by accident.

[@Jay-yn6or]

If money was no issue, I would want a de-mil'd A-6 for civilian use. I have always loved to look of it.

[@phillipnichols4125]

We need a video on the intruder! 😎

[@katout75]

Quite a tribute to not only the Grumman Bethpage division and it's people responsible for the EA-6B but also the Litton Amecom division and it's people that designed and developed the EA-6B's AN/ALQ-99 ECM suite.

[@PocketBrain]

I remember watching these launch from Vulture's Row.

[@ReaperOperator]

Amazing breakdown awesome videos thank you

[@callumhatton599]

I personally think its one of the most beautiful looking military aircraft around, the others got to be C130, Spitfire, C17, B17 and Lancaster Bomber

[@coldwarkid6611]

I absolutely love this channel and the other Dark spinoffs. Interesting content and to the point. I really like information presented this way.

[@daystatesniper01]

No Prowler shot down ,that says it all

[@stephenchappell7512]

When is Dark Skies gonna cover its contemporary the Blackburn/Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer?

[@WardenWolf]

They should have reinvented the A-4 Skyhawk. With a new engine such a sleek airframe could easily go supersonic. It was lightweight, nimble, and carried a heavy bomb load. Even the Blue Angels used it for a time.

[@bobwright5253]

However asbcool as the A4 was, it still wouldn't have been close to the growler as an ecm platform

[@kdrapertrucker]

Lockheed Martin kinda did, they souped Argentina's surviving A-4s with more powerful engine, and radar system from the F-16. Creating the F/A-4 fighting hawk.

[@williammoore5277]

They used F7Us for a while too, back when you had to be able to fly whatever you had

[@williammoore5277]

​@@kdrapertruckerF16 radar no! F15E yes!

[@gordonlawrence1448]

The HARM was put into active duty in 1985. Before that the missiles used were things like Shrike and AGM-78 Standard missile. That said cluster munitions and allsorts were used.

[@grega2362]

Not on the EA6B. I was the electrician (6333 USMC) on det on the Pax River det that launched the first one.

[@adriaandeleeuw8339]

I live in Darwin Australia and have been lucky to see many aircraft from many nations due to the many exercises that I have seen over the last fifty years, I remember seeing a flight of A6 and EA6 aircraft come into Darwin low and slow during their landing pattern. Just so we are clear there are few major aircraft types that the US flies that have not flown here.SR71 U2 F117 and f22are about all I haven't seen. I was lucky to see a B2 take off last year. And Airforce one landing in 2012 The strangest sight though was a Mig 29and an f15 take off one after each other.

[@WarrensAdventures]

VMAQ-1 2007-2011

[@charlesc6954]

You didn't mention all the times the EA-6Bs had onboard fires from electronics packages, forcing crew to eject. KSA 1998

[@paranoidandroid6711]

My ears are still ringing from the Prowler at full military power on the flight deck.