Navy to Retire EA-6B Prowler at Week’s End

By RICHARD R. BURGESS, Managing Editor

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Navy will formally retire the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler electronic attack aircraft on June 27 following a three-day commemoration of the long-serving aircraft.

EA-6B veterans are expected to gather at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., for a commemoration of the Prowler’s history and anecdotes from some of the pilots and electronic countermeasures officers who provided electronic attack for the U.S. Navy from aircraft carriers and for joint forces in the aircraft’s expeditionary role.

Electronic Attack Squadron 134, the last Navy squadron to operate and deploy with the Prowler, will fly away the Navy’s last EA-6B during a public open house on June 27. The aircraft will fly in formation with Marine Corps EA-6Bs for a fly-over for the public gathering.

The Marine Corps still operates four squadrons of Prowlers and is expected to retire the aircraft by 2019.

The first EA-6B was delivered to the fleet in January 1971 and served in the latter stages of the Vietnam War. The EA-6B has served since in every conflict involving U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. It has been replaced by the Boeing EA-18G Growler in the fleet.