| Unit Name: | Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1 |
| Dates: | 1 July 1992 - 29 April 2016 |
| Type: | Attack |
| Role: | Electronic Warfare |
| Command Structure: | Marine Aircraft Group 14 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing |
| Commander1: | LtCol. William A Schutz |
| Commander1 Label: | Commanding Officer |
| Commander2: | Maj. Mark B. Weinrich |
| Commander2 Label: | Executive Officer |
| Commander3: | SgtMaj. Jay D. Williamson |
| Commander3 Label: | Sergeant Major |
| Garrison: | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point |
| Nickname: | Banshee |
| Motto: | "Tairngreacht Bas" "Death Foretold" |
| Colors: | CB |
| Colors Label: | Tail Code |
| Battles: | Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Northern Watch Operation Southern Watch Operation Allied Force Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Aircraft Attack: | AD-4 Skyraider |
| Aircraft Electronic: | EA-6B Prowler EA-6A Electric Intruder EF-10B Skynights |
| Aircraft Fighter: | RF-8A Crusaders RF-4B Phantom II’s |
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1 (VMAQT-1) was a United States Marine Corps electronic warfare training squadron consisting of EA-6B Prowler jets. The squadron was based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina and fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW). The VMAQT-1 logo was the Banshee, an Irish mythological figure foretelling death. Its motto was "Tairngreacht Bas," Gaelic for "Death Foretold."
Conduct airborne electronic warfare in support of Fleet Marine Force operations or other units as the Joint Force Commander directs. This includes suppressing enemy radar and surface-to-air missiles utilizing electronic jamming and High-Speed Anti-Radiation (HARM) missiles, as well as collecting tactical electronic intelligence in a passive electronic support role.
Marine Composite Squadron One (VMC-1) was activated on 15 September 1952, at K-3 Air Base, South Korea as part of Marine Air Control Group 2, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW). Its mission was to conduct airborne early warning and electronic countermeasures in support of combat operations. On 16 June 1953, a United States Marine Corps AD-4 Skyraider from VMC-1 piloted by Major George H. Linnemeier and CWO Vernon S. Kramer shot down a Soviet-built Polikarpov Po-2 biplane, the only documented Skyraider air victory of the war.[1] The squadron continued support in defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone through March 1955. Following the Korean War, VMC-1 was redeployed to MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and re-designated as VMCJ-1 after merging with Marine Photographic Squadron One (VMJ-1).
Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, VMCJ-1 saw extensive service during the Vietnam War. From 14 April 1964, to 16 December 1965, the squadron flew its RF-8A Crusaders in photoreconnaissance missions from the,, and the . In April 1965, VMCJ-1 took its EF-10B aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan and joined Marine Aircraft Group 16 at Da Nang Air Base to combat the increase of surface-to-air missiles in Vietnam. In July of that same year, six VMCJ-1 EF-10B Skynights supported the first strike against a surface-to-air missile site in history. In November 1966, the Grumman EA-6A Electric Intruder was introduced at Danang and flew combat missions as far north as Hanoi and Haiphong and eventually phased out the EF-10Bs. VMCJ-1 retired its RF-8A Crusaders and received RF-4B Phantom II's to accomplish the photoreconnaissance mission. Again VMCJ-1 carried out a major portion of the area reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions for USMACV, just as it did for 5th AF in the Korean War with its photographic reconnaissance. VMCJ-1 provided escort for B-52s, support for tactical air strikes, and collection of all forms of electronic intelligence. On the photorecon side, VMCJ-1 was operating in a science which had become much more sophisticated and was now called "imagery intelligence."
After the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam, VMCJ-1 was again flying missions from Navy aircraft carriers. From 11 September 1973, to 31 December 1975, VMCJ-1 and VMCJ-1 Det 101 conducted missions from the .
After Vietnam, the composite community was again reorganized and split into Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Two (VMAQ-2) and Marine Photo-Reconnaissance Squadron Three (VMFP-3). Personnel and aircraft from each of the VMCJ's were divided and re-designated as detachments Alpha through Charlie within the larger VMAQ-2/VMFP-3 squadrons. VMAQ-2, Detachment A, flying the EA-6A, rotated with its sister detachments in support of the USS Midway Carrier Air Wing conducting operations from the Gulf of Tonkin to Korea.
Now flying the EA-6B, detachment A was renamed detachment X. During Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, detachment X-ray was called upon to extend its normal six-month rotation to thirteen months in order to maintain a watch over the Western Pacific.
Following Operation Desert Storm, the criticality and shortage of electronic attack assets was finally recognized. The decision was made to reorganize back to the original three electronic warfare squadrons. In addition, a fourth squadron was gained by activating the reserve Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Four (VMAQ-4). While deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, VMAQ-2 detachment X-ray was re-commissioned as Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1 on 1 July 1992, with the mission to conduct electronic warfare in support of Marine Forces and Joint/Combined operations.
In 2013 VMAQ-1 was redesignated a training squadron to support Prowler operations until 2016.[3]
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-1 has been presented with the following awards:
,