VMAQ-1

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1
VMAQ-1 Insignia
Active	December 15, 1952
Country	United States
Branch	USMC
Type	Attack
Role	Electronic Warfare
Part of	Marine Aircraft Group 14 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Nickname	"Banshee"
Motto	"Tairngreacht Bas" "Death Foretold"
Battles/wars	Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Allied Force Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant Colonel Ronald D. Neff

Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1 (VMAQ-1) is a United States Marine Corps electronic warfare squadron consisting of EA-6B Prowler jets. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina and is attached to Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14), 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW). The VMAQ-1 logo is the Banshee, an Irish mythological figure foretelling death. Its motto is “Tairngreacht Bas,” Gaelic for “Death Foretold.”

1 Mission
2 History
3 Awards
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Mission

The mission of VMAQ-1 is to conduct airborne electronic warfare in support of Fleet Marine Force operations or other units as the Joint Force Commander directs. This includes suppressing enemy radar and surface to air missiles utilizing electronic jamming and High-Speed Anti-Radiation (HARM) missiles, as well as collecting tactical electronic intelligence in a passive electronic support role.

[edit] History

[edit] Korean War

Marine Composite Squadron One (VMC-1) was activated on September 15, 1952 at Pohang (K-3), Korea, in support of Marine Air Control Group 2, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) conducting airborne early warning and electronic countermeasures in support of combat operations and continued support in defense of the Demilitarized Zone through March 1955. Following the Korean War, VMC-1 was redeployed to MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and re-designated as VMCJ-1 after merging with Marine Photographic Squadron One (VMJ-1).

[edit] Vietnam War

Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s VMCJ-1 saw extensive service during the Vietnam Conflict.

[edit] Post Vietnam & the 80s

After Vietnam, the composite community was again reorganized and split into Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Two (VMAQ-2) and Marine Photo-Reconnaissance Squadron Three (VMFP-3). Personnel and aircraft from each of the VMCJ’s were divided and re-designated as detachments Alpha through Charlie within the larger VMAQ-2/VMFP-3 squadrons. VMAQ-2, Detachment A, flying the EA-6A, rotated with its sister detachments in support of the USS Midway Carrier Air Wing conducting operations from the Gulf of Tonkin to Korea.

During Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, detachment X-ray was called upon to extend its normal six-month rotation to thirteen months in order to maintain a watch over the Western Pacific.

Following Operation Desert Storm, the criticality and shortage of electronic attack assets was finally recognized. The decision was made to reorganize back to the original three electronic warfare squadrons. In addition, a fourth squadron was gained by activating the reserve Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Four (VMAQ-4). While deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, VMAQ-2 detachment X-ray was re-commissioned as Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1 on July 1, 1992 with the mission to conduct electronic warfare in support of Marine Forces and Joint/Combined operations.

[edit] The 90s

September 1995, VMAQ-1 deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy for six months supporting Operations Deny FLight and Decisive Endeavor over Bosnia-Herzegovina until March of 1996.
July 1997, VMAQ-1 established the first six-month EA-6B deployment to Incirlik Air Base in support of Operation Northern Watch (ONW) flying over 1,000 hours and 200 combat sorties.
December 1998, VMAQ-1 again deployed to Incirlik Airbase in support of ONW for seven months flying over 1,100 hours and 236 combat sorties. While deployed, VMAQ-1 was called upon to re-deploy to Aviano Airbase to reinforce VMAQ-2 in support of Operation Allied Force.
September 2000, VMAQ-1, deployed to Prince Sultan Airbase, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch (OSW) as part of the overall Joint EA-6B deployment schedule.
August 2001, VMAQ-1 deployed to Incirlik Airbase in support of Operation Northern Watch. The squadron logged over 530 hours and 160 combat sorties. During this time VMAQ-1 supported several strikes on Iraqi air defense sites.

VMAQ-1 Prowler on the tarmac at Al Asad Air station in Western Iraq in January of 2006

[edit] Global War on Terrorism

February 2003, VMAQ-1 deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base to support Operation Southern Watch and shortly after arrival, to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. In seven weeks the squadron’s aircrew and aircraft flew an incredible 1129 combat hours and 197 combat sorties.
The squadron again deployed to Al Asad, Iraq in August of 2005 as part of II MEF to provide nonkinetic firepower to protect Marines and Soldiers on the ground. The Prowler attacks by disrupting communications or disabling the enemy's capabilities using specialized equipment on board. During this deployment they flew over 800 missions, racked up more than 3000 flight hours and their maintenance crews provided more than 41,000 maintenance crews. The squadron is due to return to MCAS Cherry Point by early February of 2006.^[1].