Navy fliers are saying goodbye to the EA-6B Prowler.
The service retired the electronic attack workhorse in late June after four decades, whose job it was to protect ships and airplanes by jamming adversaries' missiles, communications and radar.
To mark the end of its era, an EA-6B Prowler took off from Ault Field at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, as more than 1,000 Prowler sailors and vets looked on.
"It closes a chapter on the Prowler, but certainly not on this community," said retired Capt. Fred Wilmot, one of the first Prowler pilots, in a Navy news release. "The community continues to grow and thrive."
The sunset celebration at NASWI for the iconic aircraft, with its recognizable fuel probe forward of the cockpit, featured a history display in Haviland Hangar and a farewell ceremony that included a recital of the names of VAQ sailors who died in service to America.
"There probably wasn't a dry eye in the audience during the missing man formation," said Capt. Darryl Walker, the head of Electronic Attack Wing Pacific, in the release.
The Prowlers are being replaced by the EA-18G Growler that entered the service in 2009.The Growler features electronic attack systems built onto a two-seat F/A-18F airframe.
As an electronic attack workhorse, Prowler crews protected ships and aircraft by jamming adversaries' radar, communications and missiles. Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 1st Class Paris Hill salutes an EA-6B preparing to launch aboard the Bush.
Photo Credit: MC3 Ryan Seelbach/U.S. Navy
