VMAQ-2 Det Yankee TERPES

VMAQ-2 "Playboys" — TERPES Detachment Yankee · USMC · 1984-1985

This patch marks the ground-support element of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2's Detachment Yankee, which operated the AN/TSQ-90 Tactical Electronic Reconnaissance Processing and Evaluation System (TERPES). Housed in a mobile van—rendered here alongside lightning bolts—TERPES ingested the electronic-intelligence tapes brought home by the detachment's EA-6B Prowlers, mapping enemy radar and surface-to-air-missile threats to plan the next mission. The Playboy bunny was VMAQ-2's beloved mascot, worn with the squadron's blessing until outside pressure forced its retirement in 1993. "We Provide Again" is the analysts' proud boast that the intelligence pipeline never stopped.