Without question, the arrival of the EA-6B Prowler on the carrier deck established airborne electronic attack as an invaluable,’don’t leave home without it’ part of every Navy and Marine strike mission. Rick Morgan, LCDR, USN Ret. And historian for the Prowler Association. The Northrop Grumman (formerly Grumman) EA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, mid-wing electronic warfare aircraft derived from the A-6 Intruder air frame. The EA-6A was the initial electronic warfare version of the A-6 used by the United States Marine Corps in the 1960s. Development on the more advanced EA-6B began in 1966. An EA-6B aircrew consists of one pilot and three Electronic Countermeasures Officers, though it is not uncommon for only two ECMOs to be used on missions. It is capable of carrying and firing anti-radiation missiles (ARM), such as the AGM-88 HARM missile. Prowler has been in service with the U. Armed Forces since 1971. It has carried out numerous missions for jamming enemy radar systems, and in gathering radio intelligence on those and other enemy air defense systems. From the 1998 retirement of the United States Air Force EF-111 Raven electronic warfare aircraft, the EA-6B was the only dedicated electronic warfare plane available for missions by the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Air Force until the fielding of the Navy’s EA-18G Growler in 2009. The last Navy deployment was over in November 2014, with the full withdrawal from US Navy service in early 2015. Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a US Navy Grumman EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft that was attached to VAQ-133 “Wizards”, then deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, during 2007. Dimensions: Wingspan: 6-1/2-inches Length: 7-3/4-inches. Features: – Diecast construction – Accurate markings and insignia – Full complement of weapons – Interchangeable landing gear – Opening canopy with detailed cockpit – Optional position wings – model can be displayed with its wings extended or in a folded configuration (wings do not actually fold) – Bonus: Comes with display stand. Historical Account: “Wizards” – The current squadron, Electronic Attack Squadron 133 is the second squadron to use that designation. It was established on April 1st, 1996, as a land based “expeditionary” squadron flying the EA-6B Prowler. In August 2010, it was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 9. It continues to be a carrier based squadron to the present. Stennis, VAQ-133 was reassigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight based aboard USS George H. As of mid-2014, VAQ-133 made a transition from the EA-6B to the EA-18G. In 2018, VAQ-133 embarked on an “Around the World” cruise on board the USS John C. During this deployment they flew their first E/A-18G combat missions into Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.