The year was 1955. The hostilities on the Korean Peninsula had settled down and the Armistice had been signed. However, a new threat had emerged that would stain foreign relations to the breaking point: the Cold War. As the world continued to change, America was recognized as a global super power. To answer the needs of this new environment, on September 1st at Naval Air Station, Port Lyautey, Morocco, Electronic Countermeasures Squadron Two (ECMRON-2) was established. It would later become Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two (VQ-2).

Today the Rangers of VQ-2 continue to provide unwavering support as threats and crises arise all over the world. This year VQ-2 celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

It was during World War II when the development of electronic countermeasures (ECM) began. Specially trained personnel, implementing various methods of ECM, detached with patrol squadrons flying PB4Y-1 Liberators and PB4Y-2 Privateers. The commissioning of a squadron that strictly focused on electronic countermeasures was the direct result of the success of these early ECM pioneers.

VQ-2’s primary area of operation was the European/Mediterranean Theater. The squadron grew over the years as more planes, more personnel, and more capabilities became necessary. The platforms first flown by VQ-2 were the P4M Mercator and the P2V Neptune which had been modified to conduct the ECM mission.

After five years and three primary aircraft upgrades, VQ-2 was relocated. As of 1 January 1960 the name was officially changed to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two. On 14 January the shift from NAS Port Lyautey, Morocco to Naval Station, Rota, Spain became official. The squadron continued to fly in the European theater and as new crises arose they went to meet those demands. In the mid-1960s VQ-2 began flying EA-3B Skywarriors, also known as “Whales”, from aircraft carriers deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. VQ-2 flew the EA-3B and EC-121M Super Constellation during numerous crises throughout the European Theatre.

Between 1971 and 1976 VQ-2 received six EP-3E aircraft, which is the current platform employed today. It greatly increased their ability to perform fleet air reconnaissance and meet new demands that the aging EC-121M could not. In the 1980s and 1990s VQ-2 continued to maintain its presence by detaching combat reconnaissance crews from Rota, Spain.

As of 30 September 2005, VQ-2 was relocated again to NAS Whidbey Island. This co-located VQ-2 along side her sister squadron, VQ-1. Until then, VQ-2 was the only squadron never to have been stationed in the United States.

They have gone from being focused on the European Theater to having a global presence. They now operate around the globe in every theater.

The current successes of VQ-2 could not have been achieved apart form the legacy that was created over the past fifty years. We are standing on the shoulders of those who came before us: those who saw a way to exploit the airwaves of our adversaries and did something about it. Because of their dedication and commitment to God and country, VQ-2 has maintained itself as a global force dedicated to protecting the freedoms and liberties we all share today.