Need help with VMAQ-2 Det Y. EA-6B markings

[KursadA]

The EA-6B Prowlers on USS Nimitz during the 1980-1982 cruise were from VMAQ-2 Det Y.

The carrier visited Stokes Bay, Portsmouth on September 25, 1980. It must have held an open day of some sort, since many spotters and photographers were able to board the carrier and take photos. 

 

Not one of these photos shows an EA-6B. My guess is that VMAQ-2 Det Y have not yet deployed to the carrier at this time.

The cruise book on "navysite.de" has partial photos of at least three Prowlers from the unit (modex 61x) in low-visibility markings. 

Can anyone help me find better photos of these aircraft, showing the markings and Bu.Nos clearly? 

[Hoops]

This is what gonavy has for the bunos on the shore dets 1979-1980:

 

http://www.gonavy.jp/usmc/06/usmc0602.html

 

While not definitive, it might get you pointed in the right direction for some of the BuNos for the next year.

[achterkirch]

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Nimitz_(CVN-68)_flight_deck_after_1981_EA-6B_crash.jpeg
 

I can see at least one in the pic. It’s 160709. 
 

keep in mind that during that time frame they had a horrible accident on board the nimitz

when a EA-6B struck the bow and rammed into quite a few parked aircraft killing 14 people. I beleive the prowler that crashed was attached to that det. 
 

accident report I found on the net stats that the prowler that crashed was 159910. 
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/77226

 

picture of 159910 dated May 1980

 

pic of 160789 landing on the Nimitz during 1981. 
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EA-6B_VMAQ-2_landing_on_USS_Nimitz_(CVN-68)_1981.JPEG

 

Pic of 160788 on the Nimitz during exercise display determination 81 

Edited April 16, 2020 by achterkirch

[KursadA]

1 hour ago, achterkirch said:

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Nimitz_(CVN-68)_flight_deck_after_1981_EA-6B_crash.jpeg
 

I can see at least one in the pic. It’s 160709. 
 

keep in mind that during that time frame they had a horrible accident on board the nimitz

when a EA-6B struck the bow and rammed into quite a few parked aircraft killing 14 people. I beleive the prowler that crashed was attached to that det. 
 

 

 

 

Hmm..the second link you gave claims that VMAQ-2 kept the CY tail code during the deployment. Yet the cruise book has definitive proof that the aircraft have been repainted in low-vis at some point, and carried the AJ code. The plot thickens.

 

The accident happened fairly soon after the unit deployed to the carrier. Here is another photo from the immediate aftermath of the photo. where I can see two Prowlers in the original high-vis VMAQ-2 markings in addition to one in low-vis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 16, 2020 by KursadA

[achterkirch]

2 hours ago, KursadA said:

 

Hmm..the second link you gave claims that VMAQ-2 kept the CY tail code during the deployment. Yet the cruise book has definitive proof that the aircraft have been repainted in low-vis at some point, and carried the AJ code. The plot thickens.

 

The accident happened fairly soon after the unit deployed to the carrier. Here is another photo from the immediate aftermath of the photo. where I can see two Prowlers in the original high-vis VMAQ-2 markings in addition to one in low-vis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I’m thinking is that since TPS was fairly new at the time they might just did those low viz EA-6B’s with the AJ tail since those appear to be recently painted. 
 

Edit. Found another pic of 160788. Still in high viz but with the AJ tail code with USS Nimitz on the side of the fuselage. 
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/8p9wss/the_beast_ea6b_palma_da_mallorca_1981/

Edited April 16, 2020 by achterkirch

[KursadA]

Thanks - that photo of 160788 on Reddit is excellent, and shows that they indeed applied the AJ code later in the cruise! Hopefully I will find the other BuNo/modex pairs as well.