Good lord that’s the base I served on from 2002-2006 . My squadron was VAQ-139. Back then our jets were the EA-6B Prowler before the technology was moved to the F-18 :) I did 3 carrier deployments and I’m an Iraqi War veteran. I was enlisted and not an officer :) I was a Plane Captain and worked many many tough and grueling hours with these jets on land and on the carriers. So weird to see this now in 2022, so much time has passed since 2006 :)
First and foremost thank all of you for your service and being the type of people that will carry the torch on the new generation. I did it from 1980 to 2008. I started in Yokosuka Japan on the best Carrier in the fleet
I got to see 139 in action on the Nimitz last year. Watching them pull some murderous fly bys is something I won’t forget along with all of the other squadrons
A EWO, Electronic Warfare Officer, runs the weapons system. The Pilot flys. That’s the detailed picture of course is more complicated. The EWO is also highly trained in Air Defense Systems and the radars/Comms systems that make the Air Défense. By the way the EF-111A only had two people as well.
I flew EF-111As then went to Whidbey Island as initial cadre for the VAQ-128 Fighting Phoenix. My tour with the Navy was 4 years much of it in combat. I successfully employed the HARM in Northern Iraq back in 2000. I went back to the Air Force to fly the F-15E.
I was in the squadron VAQ-134 Garudas, 1981-1985. Our aircraft numbers at the time were 604, 605, 606, and 607. NAS Whidbey Island was the best place to be stationed, imho.
EA-6B Prowler brings back some memories. I used to work at NADEP Alameda and we performed the depot-level maintenance on the Prowlers. It was a common sight to see these aircraft stripped down to the bare frame, then see them slowly being built back to flying condition. I would often stop and gaze at the aircraft in its half-built state and marvel at the complexity of design of the internal structure and mechanisms, and bundles of electrical cabling, and try to make sense of it, as it seemed so complicated to me. Luckily I wasn’t the one building the aircraft back up, as personnel more skilled than me were tasked in bringing them back to mission readiness!
Having been stationed there in the 80’s this is actually a very informative tour.this was made pre covid. This fellow is now at the Seattle museum of flight
Served with the Fourrunners of VAH-4 from 1961 to 1964, 3 det cruises, A3D and P2 V’s was the name of the game back then, the seaplane base was several miles from Ault field, I believe they flew the P5M over there!
My dad was with VAH-4 at Whidbey about the same time, he flew A3D's back then. He transitioned to the EA6B in the 70's and was XO of VAQ-134 and CO of VAQ-133.
I would like to hear how the pilots both have flown the ea6 and f18, it must have been a exciting transition, the f18 is like the hotrod of electronic jamming!
I spent 1 year on Whidbey. 1959. I was a Seabee on the seaplane base. Still two seaplanes on base. The air base was flying P2V Neptunes. One went down just after takeoff.
I never got that saying, "Every marine, a rifleman." i think that goes for multiple branches if not, but at least 2. The marines and the army. You have to keep and secure and qualify with your rifle in badic training. I was an army infantryman and then switched my mos to 19D. But our medics, cooks, and fuel personnel were all riflemen , and all of them earned their CABS on our small outpost in Afghanistan. Always getting our wake-up call with small arms fire.
Several years ago, I saw what was probably the last deployment of the EA-6B's, awaiting takeoff at the end of runway here at MCAS Yuma for, Arizona for WTI. I wish I would have stopped and taken a picture. They looked awesome.
J52-P408 engines can keep up with a F-14 until he goes into afterburner. Did that on board USS Nimitz on cruise that we tried to rescue the hostages in Iran 79-80
Nice tour and explanations of the hardware & locations. The AE-6Bs were engineered, designed & built by Grumman (also designed & built the F-14 Tomcats of Cold War era, F4F Wildcats & F6F Hellcats WW-II Pacific, and the 8-9 LEMs of Apollo) in Calverton & Bethpage Long Island, NY.
I haven’t been to the Wings Museum since around like middle school…I was allowed to tour the inside of the B52 at that time. Now 35, I’m gonna have to bring my sons
When I was a plane captain for the prowler I would handle launching the jets on land or at sea and one of the steps was to have the “trainees” remove landing gear pins before take off. They were a safety feature in case the hydraulic system failed. Not sure what you are taking about
I was stationed up at Whidbey Island back in the 60s. Our squadron VAH-8 flew the KA3B Skywarrior configured as a tanker. Our squadron had five of these on USS Constellation. Also on the base was the Grumman A-6 Intruder. No back seat on that bird, two pilots sat up front. Dang if the front-on ground picture of it did not look just like a mosquito, with its proboscis sicking up, and with the ladders unfolded and sticking out at that angle... well, I wanted to fetch a fly swatter. Our squadron was decommissioned after the '67 cruise, and I went to NAS Miramar Naval Air Station, to serve with VF-161 for my next two cruises to Yankee Station aboard USS Coral Sea. I hear the jarheads got that base back.
That HUD on the head helmet. You think that somebody would need to be especially fit for that. Measurements and such. Kind of like a live-action coordinate measuring machine. Or CMM in the machining industry. Had a brief stint there. I really wish I could utilize my skills.
This video also spews out a lot of what reminds me of behind enemy lines, wonder if whidbey deploys the 18 on reconnaissance missions during deployment, bet someone who have served would know…
Just for people not in the know lol! The refueling probe is called a “donkey dick”. Many Airman(sailors) who worked directly with the old Prowler more than likely stood on the nose of the plane while straddling the probe for obvious reason lol! I myself have a photo of me doing that :)
I’ve read mixed reviews on the growler versus the prowler from former air force cadre. Some say the prowler was more superior in jamming aspect because it had a crew of four which allowed more hands and minds for the tasks involved in suppression missions. Now they say the growler has more mission capabilities for attacking but the downside is there is only two crew so fewer people can work on suppression missions.
I know that you're an "Airplane Guy/Channel", but why not check out PSNS Bremerton, and Bangor Sub Base on the Kitsap Peninsula of Washington State while your in the neighborhood?...
@@Dog.soldier1950 thank you God. Your comments are appreciated. Not much time to think about these RU-vid comments while trying to save everything the old boys built-in to the fold Golden however. Fish Tank's LOL 🇺🇲🥇💯🔱
@@Dog.soldier1950 well you're not above me then. Thanks for your service. I hope you don't get sick of hearing it cuz I never get sick of seeing it. And saying it.
They flew him in on a CH-53E SuperSeaStallion because they need a heavy lift platform to handle all the lies and bullshit he, Rumsfeld and Cheney were slinging. The Bush and Clinton Crime families some of the greatest traitors to occupy the Whitehouse.
Oh You like wars??? Why? So the plane has been in the war? What?? So war is good`? The best fighter or bomber or carrier is the ones which have ever been in war!!! Obviously You have ever been in war and what those/that things do especially to the children who have to stay in the war zone when You left and gone home to mamas. Are You taking care of the orphans in the countries You left after distroyed their home. One push on the button and there is no and nothing and noboby left. that the future war.If you need an electric or what ever war just put the botton. And yamming or not yamming hahah there will always be one who yamming you yamming after he yamming you and so on. It's stupidity to talk about which or what equipment are better or not. Anyway USA shouldn't be such vapen and violance focused. No one else having so Paranoid Schizophrenia than USA, Not even the USSR! Thank You and sleep well. More vapon in USA than citizens. Very healthy???
