Air Facility, Aviators, Japanese Dedicate New Base Park featuring Prowler Display
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090325-17
Release Date: 3/25/2009 10:16:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Derek J. Hurder, Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Det. Japan
ATSUGI, Japan (NNS) -- Leaders from Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and the Japanese company Nabco dedicated a new base park during a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 23.
Students from the base elementary school and a local Japanese school will compete for the privilege of naming the park.
The centerpiece of the park is a static display of EA-6B Prowler donated by the "Gauntlets" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136.
Cmdr. Mark Colombo, VAQ-136's commanding officer, said the Prowler was donated after it was deemed no longer flyable.
"Luckily enough, we could use a static display aircraft at Naval Air Facility Atsugi," said Colombo. "It's one of the few air facilities that has an EA-6B Prowler on display."
The Prowler was originally commissioned as a Marine Corps aircraft in 1979. It began its Navy career in 2000 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and was transferred to VAQ-136 in 2004.
Capt. Eric W. Gardner, NAF Atsugi commanding officer, said he's proud to have the display on base.
"I think it's great, the angle, the height, everything about it," Gardner said. "At night, when it's lit up, it really looks pretty special."
"It's a testament to the hard work that goes into flying one of these aircraft," said Colombo. "It's representative of the teamwork of Carrier Air Wing 5, Naval Air Facility Atsugi and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force."
For more news from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, visit www.navy.mil/local/nafatsugi/.
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