My sister flew this plane and did two tours in it. Her husband also flew this plane. Now he works with the growler since this one is retired.

From 1972 to 75 I was stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, I got to take a few ride Along's on the EA-6B and the A-6. They were an amazing aircraft. Oh and I got a ride along on a visiting F-4 Phantom, that was the thrill ride of a lifetime.

This was a great plane. Worked on it on my first sea tour and didn't know how good I had it, not once did we crack open a fuel cell. Went from the Prowler to the Hornet in the mid 80"s and it seemed like every two or three months we had to open up a fuel cell. On the beach it wasn't so bad but at sea it was such a pain in the ass.

That aircraft is a major part of why I live where I do. My father worked on them for a large part of his navy career. Been at Nas Whidbey since '69. He retired in '80. Miss him

I saw it every day on the flight deck of the USS America (CV66). I always loved the gold tinted canopy.

I was in A-6’s while I was in the Navy. My first tour I was a plane captain in VA-65. During that time I qualified as a PC as I managed to accumulate 5 Daily and 5 Turnaround inspections on visiting EA-6B’s. I made rate as a Aviation Machinist Mate and during my shore duty time (33 months) I became qualified on the J-52 p8b and the J -52 p408 engines. Couldn’t beat that P-408. I was in VF-43 during that time. Got to run the engine during low power turn ups. Lots of fun!!!!

Oh I seen this plane all time growing up! I grew up on Whidbey Island, home of the A6 and the EA6B. I can still hear the roar of those engines in my head from time to time all these years later! These planes were iconic in the navy fleet for sure!

I was a AMS-1 and severed from 1978 thru 1983. VAQ-129,VAQ-133 and then VA-128 and Va-0689 as a plank owner. Two med deployments. John F Kennedy and Forestall. Very good times. Loved working on the EA-6B and A6. All my sea time was with VAQ-133 and the EA-6B.

I was a PH in the Navy in the early eighties stationed on the Carl Vinson. One of our jobs was manning the PLAT camera. The EA6 and the A6 were the planes we dreaded the most. Their engines just screamed so loudly that it was actually painful even with double ear protection!

I love the Intruder and Prowler. I think they’re gorgeous.

My dad was a plane captain for A-6 Intruders on the Connie CV-64, glad to see them still flying even though the Connie has been broken down in Brownsville already.

It was the main electronic jamming plane. It was replaced (2009) by the EA 18G-GROWLER, based on the F18 Super Hornet.

Had a great friend that flew the A6. I was 14 when he got his wings at Chase Field around 1974. Great guy he went on to fly for Southwest

There was A Old Movie called the..THE FINAL COUNTDOWN.?? About the U.S.S.NIMITZ going BACK in time ..1941 Pearl Harbor..?? AWESOME FILM with Lots of AIRCRAFT CARRIER ACTION..

I was in P-3s from '75 - '95. We used to see AND HEAR them every time we were in Whidbey. To this day, I'm convinced that the A-6/EA-6 holds the U.S. Military record (unofficial - I don't even know if anyone ever kept track!) for the highest noise to size ratio. The A-4 was pretty close, but the Prowlers were insane loud! That being said, I loved those birds. To me, they were the 2nd most beautiful aircraft of the modern era, right behind my baby, the P-3 Orion. (It's a personal taste thing.) For the A-6, I like how it was essentially the opposite of other jets, i.e., wide in the front and tapered in the back. Sort of a modern version of the P-38 Lightning, only with a single tail boom. It was, as the surf dudes used to say, bitchin'! The S-3 was a close 3rd on the beauty contest, but I had two reasons to never go VS, namely: 1. Ejection Seats, and 2. Tail hook. Didn't do GBGBs (Great Big Gray Boats). I was happy to take off from land, and land on land. No rolling deck, no away for months at a time, never worried about my home sinking in the middle of the ocean. But I tip my cap to all those who filled those billets for me!

I saw them (and heard them take off) while serving in Afghanistan during 2005-2006. Sweet aircraft.

I was in a F-14 Squadron and our Pilots would always smile when they went on a mission with a EA-6b , I asked a pilot why are you guys always so happy when the Ea6b goes on a mission with you , the Pilot just said , it will be a greater chance we will actually see some combat and also we are suppose to fly escort to protect them but sometimes I wonder who is really protecting who ?

HATS OF TO GRUMMAN!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻✊🏻✊🏻🤗

During Operation Southern Watch, we brought F-16s down to Prince Sultan AB in Saudi Arabia. When the Prowler taxied past, we'd often refer it to "The Griswolds headed to Wally World."

Oh I've seen and definitely HEARD this plane. At NAS Meridian when going to "A" school and then in the Philippines when the planes would disembark their carriers to Cubi point NAS, before the carrier would come ashore. Loudest plane I've ever heard. Much louder than the F14 or F18s.

50 - 60 years ago they were front line operational just before and during the Vietnam War. Spent several early years of my career as a "Tech Rep" helping sailors and Marines with some of the technology in the "Black Boxes". Those "Birds" were used in a variety of roles, including refuelers. For ops on "Yankee Station" the Black Boxes were required if the planes went "Over the Beach" on a mission. Enjoyed the work - Grumman "Iron Works" did well with these.

Correction needed: 90 kilometers is nowhere near 80 miles. I think it's closer to ~55 miles

Worked on them for 18 years. Great plane. The Prowler also served in Iraq Freedom and Afghanistan.

Love this plane, it has a great look.

My brother was on the USS Essex, his squadron was VA-42, the fighting Pawns. He loved the plane, but was quick to say not the prettiest. But, he said it was better looking than the Corsair

Great video. I would have liked to be on one of those crews - cool job !

June 1972. My first program assignment at Grumman was the EA-6B. Lots of memories about one of many amazing Grumman aircraft

When I was in the Navy, 1974-73, I worked on a desert flight-line where these A6s were stationed among other jet aircraft.

I have seen it, not in person, but in photos and video around the time of the Gulf War because my cousin's friend was in one; I don't remember where he sat in the cockpit because I was a kid at the time. He was on a carrier.

Nice - but FYI, 90 kilometers is NOT about 80 miles - it's about 56 miles.

I saw plenty of them aboard the USS Enterprise in the late 80s. I worked in AIMD and our shop and personal spaces were on O4 right above the hanger bay. Other than sick bay or the mess hall you pretty much had to walk the entire hanger bay to get anywhere on the ship fast, so there was plenty of time to see aircraft parked. They were just starting to phase in these new fangled jets called Hornets when I got out ;).

Never seen? Saw it back in the 70s on the Constellation.

A lot times the E2-C flew along the EA-6B we would have to change out avionic equipment. Super power airplanes! So loud on the deck too. Double hearing protection a must.

“Somewhat unwieldy?” All versions and variants of the A-6 were noted for being among the Navy’s easiest planes to fly and land. They did low and slow extremely well. While not fighters they had very responsive controls and engines. They handled like a comfortable sedan. They would easily get off the deck every time and we’re probably the slowest gentlest carrier landing outside of a C-2. Those broad wings gave them so much lift that you could practically use them as a kite.

Without a doubt the loudest bird on the flight deck when I served.

This was one of my favorite planes in carrier squadrons onboard the Saratoga. Particularly the A6.

Back in the 70's while in the Marines got to visit and work with the Intruders along with a couple of VMAQ-2 Prowlers. 🇺🇲

Camp Fife -- They would fly up that canyon every day below the mountain tops. Entertaining.

Northrop-Grumman or just Grumman? I'd argue that since production of the EA-6 ended long before the 1994 merger between Northrop and Grumman, the plane should be called the Grumman EA-6 (A or B). You wouldn't call a Douglas DC-3 a Boeing DC-3 just because the Douglas aircraft company later merged with McDonnell and then with Boeing so the name now is Boeing.

Those J-52 turbojet engines she had were bone shattering loud on the carrier ears are still ringing !

Worked on these as an avionics tech from 77-89 at NAS Whidbey.

What a nice family plane.

I am retired navy and at one time was stationed overseas in Japan attached to VAQ-136 now decommissioned. We flew the ea6b

Very educational and entertaining!

I was there in Whidbey Island when we made the transition from EA-6B Prowlers to the EA-18 Growlers. VAQ-132. My Squadron were the first to use it in combat over Iraq in 2010-2011 and then transfered them over to Libya during Operation Odessy Dawn.

3:05 Wow! AOR AR-3000 Communication Receiver !!!

While the EA-6B Prowler may have provided cover for some USAF packages in recent conflicts, the USAF had their EF-111A Raven within its inventory until retired in 1998 and I believe the F-16 took over the Wild Weasel role.

Saw them often back in the day... up here in Canuck land, testing the ADATS system.

50 out of 170 lost to accidents seems surprisingly many. 5 or 10 would seem more appropriate…

I actually saw one of those 50 lost crash. I was washing my car and as one flew over, I heard a sputtering sound, looked up and the whole port wing looked to be on fire and it was going into a left hand flat spin. Then the 4 crewmen ejected and seeing four parachutes was a big relief, but also confusing because I always thought they only carried two crewmembers. It crashed into a front yard in Morehead City and unfortunately killed a lady sitting on her front porch.

Love this aircraft! (Having type rated on the GA7 Cougar for my CPL multi engine rating, I'm very biased towards Grumman!)

I always heard it called the "Double Ugly."

"The EA-6B Prowler is the primary tactical jamming aircraft"(sic) Was, the aircraft was sundowned in March 2019 when VMAQ-2 delivered the last flying Prowler to the Smithsonian at Dulles.

Sure do miss this jet. She was one bad bird! Loud as all get out and she did her job.

Fascinating video - particularly the coverage of the systems. Those interested in ECM might enjoy delving into the history of RAF Bomber Command's 100 Group and the devices packed into the backs of USAAF bombers in the latter stages of WW2.

Grumman ironworks never looked better! I was an Marone A-6 pilot, looked very impressive when it was loaded wall-to-wall with 500 pounders

Seen quite a few of them landing at Paine Field, near Whidbey NAS..

Great looking aircraft in my opinion.

Wow .. amazing ...4 crew members..all the high tech with jamming and electronic equipment...and they still managed to kill 20 people by flying under a cable car and cutting the cable..... fascinating

The A10 Warthog was also not pretty but like the Prowler is was beyond effective at it's job.

These guys were superstars… they flew the only hardball in our AO and saturated it with whatever frequency magic they used. You would hear the IED’s go off some days in the distance. Was a welcome sight. OEF4 🇺🇸 🇦🇫

Saw it everyday at NAS Cubi Point. I watched an A6 get flambeyed in the hot fuel pits in 1989.

I was a Garuda, VAQ-134 NAS Whidbey Island. 1981-1985

I saw them and even worked on and flown in them from 1972-73! VAQ-134

Awesome platform!

This and the EA-111 Sparkvark were the EW masters

My Dad flew the EC-121 Constellation in the navy out of Hawaii to Midway and up to Alaska and back. There was no shielding in the plane to protect the crew from the powerful radar and we believe this was most likely the cause of his three brain tumors. Some of his friends that he flew with suffered from similar issues and most have passed. The first tumor was almost as big as a baseball and it was surgically removed. The second tumor grew from his skull and was removed and the piece of skull was replaced with a ceramic plate. He just finished radiation treatment for the third tumor and we are waiting to see if it worked and shrank the tumor. This third tumor has pushed and cut off blood flow to one of his eyes. I hope the newer planes have shielding and protections for the flight crew. My Dad is 85 so he has lived a long life but the last 15 years have been tough. We aren’t certain that the radar is the cause of the tumors but it’s likely.

I saw an A-6 tear up the asphalt overrun during a run up before takeoff. Lifted it up and then blew it into chunks. Also, I watched an EA-6 crash into a fireball at Whidbey Island.

The plain is everithing......but not ugly More like nice, interestig.....unique look👌🙂

This is awesome, I never knew they had crews of 4! Very interesting!

Thanks

Y'all have maybe never seen it - but I was stationed at NAS Whidbey, these were on the reg in the region.

My guys, VMAQ-2 (CY). QA Chief '86-91, Maint Chief '91-98, so I saw them every workday for 12 years.

Thunderchief and A-6B were pioneers of modern SEAD. I love this airframe. To me it symbolizes the paradigm shift from air superiority to air dominance.

Cool plane 👍✈️

I wish I could fly this plane. The seat arrangement is like driving a car. I hope they have cup holder also in the center console.

Never seen? I saw them every day for five years at Cherry Point. Heard them too, they loud as hell!

The Air Force used the F111 and the F16 for it electronic countermeasures. The prowler was too slow to help with some of the Air Force missions.

Another Grumman success airframe.

Saw plenty of these on 3 major cruises on the USS Independence in the early 80's

I have most definatly seen this aircraft they used to land at our AF base in Korea all the time.

EA-6Bprowler buen viaje

I saw the last USMC Prowlers Sunset ceremony at Cherry Point and I watched them take off and leave for the boneyard.

Классный самолёт для авианосца!

Serve with VMAQ-1 Banshee's at Cherry point for a few months as their Career Planner. Most of my time was with VMGR252. Otis my man.

The prowlers used to practice ILS approaches at our airport often.

prowler looks beautiful...

beautiful plane

Lovely 😍

Joined the Army in 1983, seen plenty of them.

Sweet!

I worked At Grumman . I got to see up front and see them fly !! A Great Ship and the Tomcat F-14 D The biggest stick in the N A V Y !!!!!

I’ve known about this EA6B since the late 1980s.

We had one fly over my school when I was a kid. Someone’s dad was a pilot.

I watched many of these take off and land at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq 2006-2007.

Saw them lots of times at NAS Norfolk and at sea.

Stationed at Cherry Point for a bit in the 1990’s. Other than the harrier this is all we had there

Worked with them in iwakuni and El Toro

The Whidbey boys would fly blacked out training missions at 500 feet through the Suiattle River valley all the time. I saw them a bunch.

Just because you've never heard of it doesn't mean nobody else has.