ORIG. 1960s VMA-333 USMC SQUADRON PATCH

Description

ORIG. VIETNAM ERA
USMC
VMA-333
SQUADRON PATCH
4.25" DIAMETER
Mint, unsewn. Full embroidery.
History
VMAQ-2's predecessor squadrons flew various electronic warfare aircraft, including the
AD-5 Skyraider
, the
EF-10 Skyknight
, and the
EA-6A Intruder
. VMC-2 was the original composite squadron (combined aerial photographic reconnaissance and electronic warfare capability) in Marine Corps aviation. It was commissioned at
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
on September 15, 1952 evolving from the former Airborne Early Warning and Electronic Counter Measures section of the Wing Headquarters Squadron. On December 1, 1955, the squadron was redesignated as VMCJ-2 after former Marine Photographic Squadron 2 (VMJ-2) was decommissioned and joined VMC-2, and became VMCJ-2 (Marine Composite Jamming Squadron 1).
[1]
As 1955 was also the year
Playboy
magazine was first published, it soon followed that the squadron adopted the Playboy name and logo with their permission. In December 1960, VMCJ-2 provided electronic and photographic intelligence during the
Cuban Missile Crisis
that enabled President Kennedy to make key decisions that would lead to the removal of Soviet military equipment from Cuba. In 1964 VMCJ-2 participated in Operation Steel Pike, the largest amphibious training exercise in history. The unit sailed from Morehead City, NC to the Naval Base at Rota, Spain and flew both photographic and electronic warfare missions during the exercise.
Vietnam War
A F3D-2Q and a F8U-1P of VMCJ-2 in flight, circa 1958.
Less than three years after the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis, some of the same VMCJ-2 aircrews deployed with VMCJ-1 to Vietnam and applied their lessons learned against Cuba as the EF-10Bs began to provide ECM support for air strikes against North Vietnamese targets. Beginning in the Spring of 1966 the squadron began sending Marines to join VMCJ-1 in Vietnam for 13-month tours. In late November 1965, VMCJ-2 received the first EA-6A Electric Intruder. With the rapidly escalating North Vietnamese air defenses this new EW aircraft was anxiously awaited by VMCJ-1 still flying the outdated EF-10B Skyknights, However, the initial EW systems delivered with the new aircraft proved unsuitable for the mission without some major modifications. Given the urgency, the decision was made to make the modifications by a contractor team on-site at VMCJ-2. The success of this effort was due to the dedicated support of VMCJ-2 personnel who worked tirelessly to get the aircraft ready for deployment to Vietnam.
EA-6A Intruder of VMCJ-2 aboard
USS
America
(CV-66)
in September 1974 wearing the
Playboy
unit markings
During this same time period the squadron received the first of its RF-4Bs and for several months the squadron was flying four different aircraft types. In October, 1966 VMCJ-2 sent six EA-6As with full maintenance capability to Danang, Vietnam as a VMCJ-1 replacement cadre. The squadron would continue to provide replacement aircrews and updated aircraft to VMCJ-1 in Vietnam.
In 1971 the squadron deployed the first EA-6A detachment aboard
USS
Forrestal
(CV-59)
for a Mediterranean cruise that lasted 10 months with cross decking to
USS
Saratoga
(CV-60)
and
USS
America
(CV-66)
. In April 1972 the squadron diverted an EA-6A detachment that was scheduled to deploy on the
Saratoga
in the Mediterranean to WESTPAC to join VMCJ-1 at NAS Cubi Point. The VMCJ-2 detachment operated in concert with VMCJ-1 to support strikes against North Vietnam under
Operation Linebacker
that ended with the release of the U.S. POWs early in 1973.
Cold War sea service
After its re-designation in 1975, VMAQ-2 deployed detachments of EA-6A Electric Intruder aircraft [designated Detachments Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie] and EA-6B Prowler aircraft [designated Detachments Xray, Yankee, and Zulu] on a continuous basis in support of Marine forces in the Western Pacific and in support of Fleet Commanders on aircraft carriers, including lengthy deployments on the
Midway
,
Nimitz
,
America
, and
Saratoga
. In 1977, the squadron transitioned to the EA-6B Prowler with the Improved Capability (ICAP) EW suite. In 1986, a detachment of the squadron participated in U.S. raids against Libya as part of
Operation El Dorado Canyon
.
The Persian Gulf War and the Balkans
In 1990, VMAQ-2 deployed Detachments Yankee and Zulu to
Bahrain
in support of
Operation Desert Shield
and
Operation Desert Storm
, flying nearly 500 combat sorties in a six-week period. Detachment X-Ray was already forward deployed with the
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
in the Western Pacific for their routine six-month rotation and would remain there for a total of 410 days - more than double their scheduled deployment time - the longest continuous deployment in Marine aviation history during peacetime.
On 1 July 1992, VMAQ-2, the largest tactical squadron in Marine Aviation, was reorganized into three squadrons: VMAQ-1 "Banshees", VMAQ-2 "Playboys", and VMAQ-3 "Moondogs". In 1993, outside pressure forced the Marine Corps to direct the squadron to change their name and logo from "Playboys" to something more politically correct. After several ideas were rejected the squadron chose "Panthers" as the new name and began using the logo (with permission) of the
National Football League's
Carolina Panthers
. VMAQ-2 later changed from the "Panthers" to the current name "Death Jesters". Even with the name changes the squadron continues to use "Playboy" Bunny patches and paint jobs on their five aircraft. Even the CY tail code was fashioned on some in the shape of a bunny head.
VMAQ-2’s next assignment led them to
Aviano Air Base
,
Italy
, in March 1996 in support of
Operation Decisive Endeavor
. This operation tasked VMAQ-2 with missions over
Bosnia and Herzegovina
. Specifically, VMAQ-2 Prowlers provided Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) support to British Harriers performing reconnaissance flights over weapons containment sites in these two areas of operation. In 1997, VMAQ-2 once again deployed to Aviano Air Base. However, this time it was in support of
Operation Deliberate Guard
. VMAQ-2 was tasked with flying missions over Bosnia to cover the Bosnian elections. On February 3, 1998 a USMC Grumman EA-6B Prowler, BuNo
163045
, callsign "
Easy 0-1"
from VMAQ-2,
struck a cable supporting a gondola in Cavalese, Italy
. The cable was severed and 20 people in the cabin plunged over 80 metres to their deaths. The plane had wing and tail damage but was able to return to the base.
[2]
It was the squadron's first major mishap in over 60,000 flight hours spanning nearly fifteen years of worldwide operations.
In February 1999, VMAQ-1, VMAQ-2, VMAQ-3, and VMAQ-4 received the order to again deploy to Aviano Air Base in Italy in support of
Operation Noble Anvil
and possible subsequent combat operations against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
. After diplomatic attempts to resolve the
Kosovo
crisis failed,
Operation Allied Force
began. VMAQ-2 launched day and night sorties to provide jamming and
HARM
support to U.S. and
NATO
missions. VMAQ-2 also provided support for armed reconnaissance missions, day and night battlefield air interdiction strikes, and combat search and rescue efforts of downed allied aircrew. When Operation Allied Force came to an end, VMAQ-2 had flown 2151.5 combat hours, 464 combat sorties, and fired 57 High speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
.
Global War on Terrorism
An EA-6B Prowler from VMAQ-2 over Iraq in 2004.
In February 2003, VMAQ-2 deployed to
Prince Sultan Air Base
,
Saudi Arabia
, initially in support of
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM
and then
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM
. VMAQ-2 logged over 1000 combat hours in under 60 days during the
invasion of Iraq
.
VMAQ-2 deployed to
Tallil Air Base
, Iraq, for
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II
from July 2004 through January 2005 and became the first Prowler squadron to operate from Iraqi soil. The squadron logged over 2000 mishap-free combat hours and attained 10,000 mishap free flight hours during the same period. VMAQ-2 was subsequently chosen as the Marine Corps Aviation Association 2005 Prowler squadron of the year
In January 2006, VMAQ-2 deployed to
Al Asad Airbase
, Iraq in support of
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 05-07
. VMAQ-2 flew 691 combat missions for 3286.7 combat flight hours and supported 975 Joint Tactical Air Requests (JTARS). This rigorous operational tempo resulted in four times the normal airframe utilization rate.
In July 2007, VMAQ-2 returned to Al Asad, Iraq in support of
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08
. During the deployment, VMAQ-2 flew 821 combat missions for a total of 4423.0 combat flight hours while supporting Coalition ground forces. This sustained tempo led not only to the highest utilization rate for any Prowler squadron but also for any Type/Model/Series in the Marine Corps.
In November 2018, VMAQ-2 returned from its final deployment and the final deployment of any USMC Prowler squadron.
[3]
The squadron was decommissioned on March 8, 2019.
[4]
Awards
VMAQ-2’s awards include the Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with two Bronze Stars for the Cuban Missile Crisis and actions against Iraq, the Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with two Bronze Stars, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Streamer with two Bronze Stars, the National Defense Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer with one Bronze Star for Cuban and Dominican Republic service, and the Southwest Asia Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars.
SHIPPING:
USPS/DOMESTIC//INSURED: 5.75