Based on the A-6 Intruder the Northrop Grumman (formerly Grumman) EA-6B Prowler primary mission is to support strike aircraft and ground forces by interrupting enemy electronics and gathering tactical intelligence. The aircraft carries 4-crew and is in service with the USN and USMC. The first USN EA-6B was retired on June 10, 2011 and the last carrier deployment by an EA-6B took place on November 14, 2014. The USN will replace the EA-6B with the Boeing EA-18G Growler. The USMC will continue using the EA-6B until 2019.
On February 17, 1977 the Marine EA-6B Prowler 160432 number 000 arrived at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina and was greeted by a fly-in with EA-6A 147865 “Methuselah”. It was assigned to VMAQ-2, Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2. 160432 made an appearance in every conflict where a Prowler was involved. On June 10, 2011 160432 made its final active duty flight completing forty-four years of service and accumulating eleven-thousand hours of flight time. Prowler 160432 was retired to MCAS Cherry Point.