US Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island in Washington state has an impressive pair of gate guardians. A Grumman A-6E Intruder attack aircraft from Attack Squadron 145 (VA-145) the Swordsmen and a Grumman EA-6B Prowler electronic attack aircraft from Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) the Vikings sit proudly on Highway 20 just outside their former base. First introduced in 1963, the last A-6 aircraft were retired by the US Navy in 1997 and the EA-6 served with the navy from 1971 to 2015 (they still serve with the USMC).
The A-6E Intruder is displayed carrying 2 x GBU-12 Paveway II Laser Guided Bombs, a AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) missile and an AGM-65 Maverick air to ground missile. The EA-6B Prowler also carries a AGM-88 HARM, along with a drop tank and 2 x AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) external pods for electronic warfare.
Nice work of yours and kudos to the base for the gate guards. I best like the uee of black on the cockpit canopy in these siuations. Too bad the Navy couldn’t replicate the goldish metallic film on the EA-6 which protected the flight crew from the EM radiation the Prowler generated. All the same, wonderfully displayed.
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Yes I think the winter weathering was a major concern. They look good regardless
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