| Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 | |
|---|---|
 VMAQ-3 insignia | |
| Active | 1 July 1992 – 11 May 2018 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Attack |
| Role | Electronic Warfare |
| Part of | Marine Aircraft Group 14 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point |
| Nickname(s) | Moon Dogs |
| Motto(s) | "Non Videre Est Credere" "Not Seeing is Believing" |
| Tail Code | MD |
| Engagements | Operation Deny Flight Operation Deliberate Guard Operation Northern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Inherent Resolve |
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 (VMAQ-3) was one of four Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadrons in theUnited States Marine Corps. The squadron consistedEA-6B Prowler jets and was tasked with conducting airborne electronic warfare. The squadron was based atMarine Corps Air Station Cherry Point,North Carolina and fell under the command ofMarine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW). The squadron was decommissioned on 11 May 2018 as the Marine Corps sunsets the EA-6B Prowler.
Support theMarine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commander by conducting airborne electronic warfare, day or night, under all weather conditions during Expeditionary, Joint, or Combined operations.
VMC-2 was formally commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point on 15 September 1952, evolving from the Airborne Early Warning and Electronic Countermeasures section of the Wing Headquarters Squadron. On 1 December 1955, the squadron was combined with Marine Photographic Squadron 2 (VMJ-2). In July 1975, VMCJ-2 was reorganized into separate electronic warfare and photoreconnaissance squadrons.VMAQ-2, based at MCAS Cherry Point, retained all electronic warfare aircraft, while the photo reconnaissance aircraft becameVMFP-3, based atMarine Corps Air Station El Toro,California.
Some of the aircraft flown by VMAQ-3's tactical electronic warfare predecessors included; theAD-5Q Skyraider, theEF-10B Skyknight and theEA-6A Electric Intruder. In 1977, the Marine Corps received the first of its EA-6B "Prowlers,".
VMAQ-2 was organized into three Detachments; XRAY, YANKEE and ZULU to better support the Marine Corps' worldwide mission. On 1 July 1992, VMAQ-3 was commissioned and formed from the personnel and aircraft of VMAQ-2 Detachment ZULU. In October 1994, VMAQ-3 received TheAssociation of Old Crows Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron of the Year Award.
VMAQ-3 began integrating withCarrier Airwing One (CVW-1), in December 1994 and deployed to theMediterranean Sea andPersian Gulf aboard theUSS America (CV-66) in August 1995. The Squadron saw combat action inOperation Deliberate Force,Operation Deny Flight andOperation Decisive Endeavor. Additionally the squadron participated inOperation Southern Watch in the Persian Gulf.
Early 1997 found the Moondogs preparing to deploy toAviano Air Base,Italy. From February to August the Moondogs conducted air operations overBosnia in support ofOperation Deliberate Guard while also supportingOperation Silver Wake, a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation conducted inAlbania.
In December 2000 to April 2001, VMAQ-3 deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base,Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch.
From October 2001 to February 2002, VMAQ-3 deployed toIncirlik Air Base,Turkey to fly combat missions in the enforcement ofUnited Nations resolutions and sanctions imposed uponIraq by flying in support ofOperation Northern Watch.
Early in 2003 the squadron was deployed toMarine Corps Air Station Iwakuni,Japan as part of theUnit Deployment Program. During this time the squadron participated in exercises inThailand andKorea.
From January to August 2005 the squadron was deployed toBagram Air Base,Afghanistan in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom (OEF). VMAQ-3 was awarded aMeritorious Unit Commendation for its performance during this time.
From July 2006 to January 2007, the squadron supportedOperation Iraqi Freedom where they sustained an operational tempo 700% greater than their average garrison optempo. VMAQ-3 flew over 3,900 hours in support of ground combat forces.
On 5 February 2010 aircraft from VMAQ-3 returned home to MCAS Cherry Point fromAl Asad Airbase in western Iraq after a six-month deployment. They were the last Marine Corps aviation unit to leave Iraq[1] after the Marine Corps turned over control ofAl Anbar Governorate to the United States Army.[2]
On 7 August 2015 the squadron deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan in support of the Global War on Terror. They returned on 11 February 2016 to MCAS Cherry Point.[citation needed]
The squadron was decommissioned on 11 May 2018 at MCAS Cherry Point after 26 years of service.[citation needed]
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. VMAQ-3 has been presented with the following awards:
Notes
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Marine Corps.| Leadership |
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