Navy's "other" spy squadron to move from Rota, Spain to NAS Whidbey Island, WA

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Navy's "other" spy squadron to move from Rota, Spain to NAS Whidbey Island, WA

Posted: 9/18/2005 5:15:50 PM EDT

VQ-2 Leaves Rota, Spain for Whidbey

On Monday 9/19 at 1100 hours CDR Grindle, CO VQ-2, will host the ceremony marking the end of VQ-2 at NS Rota.

VQ-2 operated Skywarriors for about 35 years and provided vital electronic intelligence to fleet commanders throughout the world.

This squadron also sent four A-3'S to the middle east in support of Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the first gulf war.

Two of the desert storm birds (144865 and 146454) are still operational with Raytheon flight test operations out of Van Nuys, CA.

Posted: 9/18/2005 5:36:27 PM EDT

[#1]

hmmmm

now what benefit would flying from WA have?

hmmmmm

Posted: 9/18/2005 5:43:53 PM EDT

[#2]

...Russia?

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:00:53 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
hmmmm

now what benefit would flying from WA have?

hmmmmm

Pre-invasion recon of California.

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:02:05 PM EDT

[#4]

What does VQ-2 fly?

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:11:37 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
What does VQ-2 fly?

They fly EP-3s.

Its time to step up electronic intelligence gathering from China and the Norks.

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:13:06 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
What does VQ-2 fly?

EP-3 I think. So says a quick google search.

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:27:17 PM EDT

[#7]

End of an era, I was one of the crew chiefs on the A3 in desert storm. KA3B it sounds like you were there VQ2. If you were does nick name "Twinky" sound familiar.

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:29:09 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
...Russia?

i was think that or korea, but cali might be a good option also

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:31:52 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
hmmmm

now what benefit would flying from WA have?

hmmmmm

They'd join other EP-3s already there, enhancing logistical synergy.

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:42:28 PM EDT

[#10]

I thought we were phasing out using P-3's for ELINT work after the Chinese forced that one plane down in 2001. Going to switch to 757s or some other jet.

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:44:02 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Quoted:
hmmmm

now what benefit would flying from WA have?

hmmmmm

They'd join other EP-3s already there, enhancing logistical synergy.

stop spoiling my conspiracy plans damn you

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:49:04 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
hmmmm

now what benefit would flying from WA have?

hmmmmm

They'd join other EP-3s already there, enhancing logistical synergy.

stop spoiling my conspiracy plans damn you

Come on now, in how many other threads am I going to get to say "logistical synergy"?

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:49:21 PM EDT

[#13]

Much like the Navy did when they based all of the Navy EA-6B Prowler squadrons (except one permantly forward depolyed in Japan) at NAS Whidbey Island and the E-6B Mercury Squadrons at Tinker AFB.

Puts the EP-3C fleet in one place, minimizes I level maintenance and parts management inventory.
NAS Whidbey is the only place where EP-3 systems maintenance is taught.
Cheaper to base maintainers, aircrews and families in CONUS vice overseas.

When the C-9 Reserve squadron gets its C-44 Clippers (Boeing 737's) and the Whidbey based P-3C's and EP-3C's are traded in for the P-8 MMA (Boeing 737's) again the fleet commonality will help reduce operating / maintenance costs.

Finally, VQ-2 will still be DET'ed out of ROTA, they will still be an AIRLANT asset.

Quoted:
now what benefit would flying from WA have?

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:51:04 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
I thought we were phasing out using P-3's for ELINT work after the Chinese forced that one plane down in 2001. Going to switch to 757s or some other jet.

Not because of that incident really. The Aries and the Rivet Joint (the AF version of the plane) are just long in the tooth.

Given how everything else seems to be going I'd put my money on a 767, but that may not be big enough for everything the AF wants to do with its next generation recce bird.

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:51:34 PM EDT

[#15]

Never flew with VQ-1 or VQ-2.
I have a little over 1000 hours in the A-3 though, including time in 007 from Rota.
I had orders to VQ-2 in 1989, but the writing was on the wall, I didn't want to get stuck being a P-3 fag when the Whales went away so I declined them.

Quoted:
End of an era, I was one of the crew chiefs on the A3 in desert storm. KA3B it sounds like you were there VQ2. If you were does nick name "Twinky" sound familiar.

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:53:00 PM EDT

[#16]

The Navy went with the P-8 MMA (Boeing 737).
See previous post.

Posted: 9/18/2005 7:02:18 PM EDT

[#17]

North Korea and Taiwan are the places of interest in the Far East.

Posted: 9/18/2005 7:06:13 PM EDT

[#18]

Well I am sure we have a few common friends, there were allot of people from Q1 at Q2, long live the whales!

Posted: 9/18/2005 7:10:40 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
I thought we were phasing out using P-3's for ELINT work after the Chinese forced that one plane down in 2001. Going to switch to 757s or some other jet.

They didn't force it down, they friggin crashed into it because their pilot was a more stupid than lucky.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Navy's "other" spy squadron to move from Rota, Spain to NAS Whidbey Island, WA

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