VMA-332 “Polka Dots” and the EA-1E Skyraider: A Cold War Warrior of the Marines

In the jet age of the 1950s and 1960s, sleek supersonic aircraft dominated headlines. Yet amid the roar of jets, one piston-engine relic of World War II refused to fade away. The Douglas Skyraider, nicknamed “Spad,” earned a second—and sometimes overlooked—life in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Among the Marine squadrons to fly this legendary aircraft was Marine Attack Squadron 332 (VMA-332), known as the “Polka Dots.” Their version, the EA-1E Skyraider, wasn’t just a bomb-lugging attack aircraft but a specialized electronic warfare platform. With its rugged frame, powerful engine, and capacious load-carrying ability, the EA-1E gave Marines a unique Cold War tool for radar jamming, surveillance, and close support.

The Skyraider: A World War II Aircraft in the Jet Age

The Skyraider originated in the closing months of World War II. Designed by Ed Heinemann at Douglas Aircraft, the AD (later A-1) Skyraider was a single-engine, carrier-capable attack aircraft. Its debut came too late for World War II combat, but it quickly established itself as one of the most versatile aircraft in U.S. service.

Unlike jets, the Skyraider was slow—but that was its strength. It could stay aloft for hours, loiter over the battlefield, and carry an astonishing payload of bombs, rockets, torpedoes, and electronic equipment. Powered by a massive Wright R-3350 radial piston engine, the Skyraider was durable, reliable, and beloved by pilots for its toughness.

When adapted for electronic warfare in the Cold War, the Skyraider proved that piston power still had a role to play in the jet-dominated skies.

The EA-1E: Skyraider Goes Electronic

The EA-1E variant (originally AD-5Q) was the dedicated electronic countermeasures (ECM) version of the Skyraider. Unlike the single-seat attack versions, the EA-1E carried:

A larger crew: Up to four men, including electronic warfare officers and technicians.

Specialized gear: Jammers, receivers, and antennas to disrupt or deceive enemy radar.

Armament flexibility: Despite its ECM mission, the EA-1E could still carry bombs, rockets, and even torpedoes on its 15 external hardpoints.

The Skyraider’s large fuselage and powerful engine made it ideal for hauling heavy electronic equipment at a time when jet-powered ECM aircraft were still in their infancy.

VMA-332 “Polka Dots”: Identity and Mission

Formed originally in World War II, VMA-332 gained its distinctive nickname—“Polka Dots”—in the postwar years. Their squadron insignia featured a grinning, bomb-wielding insect adorned with polka dots, a whimsical but memorable image that set them apart from other Marine units.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, the Polka Dots operated the EA-1E Skyraider as part of the Marine Corps’ growing emphasis on electronic warfare. Their mission was twofold:

Electronic Countermeasures (ECM): Using their jamming equipment to blind or confuse enemy radar, protecting Marine ground forces and strike aircraft from interception.

Close Air Support: Retaining the Skyraider’s classic ability to deliver bombs, rockets, and napalm in support of Marines on the ground.

This combination made VMA-332’s Skyraiders uniquely flexible—able to suppress enemy defenses and then follow up with devastating close support.

Operations and Training in the Cold War

During the Cold War, the Marines prepared for conflicts ranging from Korea-like brushfire wars to all-out confrontations with the Soviet Union. VMA-332’s EA-1Es were often deployed to exercises and forward bases where electronic warfare was critical.

The Skyraider’s long endurance made it especially valuable for fleet exercises and amphibious assault training. While jet fighters and bombers required frequent refueling, the piston-powered Skyraiders could orbit for hours, continuously jamming or monitoring enemy radars.

Crews trained extensively in both electronic warfare techniques and conventional ordnance delivery, keeping alive the Marine Corps’ doctrine of close integration between air and ground forces.

The Skyraider’s Unique Qualities

What made the EA-1E—and VMA-332’s use of it—so distinctive?

Endurance: The Skyraider could stay airborne for up to 10 hours, a critical advantage in ECM roles.

Payload: With a maximum external load of over 8,000 pounds, it could carry both electronic pods and ordnance.

Versatility: From radar jamming to bombing, from convoy escort to search-and-rescue support, the Skyraider could do it all.

Survivability: Its rugged frame could absorb incredible punishment, and its big radial engine kept running even after heavy damage.

These qualities earned the aircraft respect, even admiration, from pilots and ground troops alike.

Transition to the Jet Age

By the early 1960s, however, piston-powered aircraft like the EA-1E were becoming increasingly obsolete. Jet-powered designs such as the Douglas A-6 Intruder and the Grumman EA-6A/B Prowler offered higher speed, advanced avionics, and greater survivability in increasingly hostile air defense environments.

VMA-332 eventually transitioned to jet aircraft, continuing their legacy in Marine aviation. The Polka Dots would go on to operate A-6 Intruders and later AV-8B Harriers before their deactivation in 1992.

But the EA-1E years remained a distinctive chapter—when Marines flew a big, radial-engine “Spad” into the electronic battlespace of the Cold War.

Legacy of the EA-1E in Marine Service

Though overshadowed by its later service in Vietnam with the Navy and Air Force, the Marine Corps’ use of the EA-1E Skyraider was critical in keeping the U.S. military’s electronic warfare capabilities sharp in the 1950s and early 1960s.

For VMA-332, the aircraft embodied the Marine ethos: tough, versatile, and always in support of Marines on the ground. Their “Polka Dots” insignia may have been whimsical, but their mission was deadly serious—protecting Marine forces from radar-directed threats while still being able to dive in with bombs and rockets.

Conclusion

On the surface, the Douglas EA-1E Skyraider seemed like an anachronism in the jet age. But for VMA-332 “Polka Dots”, it was a workhorse that combined electronic countermeasures with brute-force close air support.

Flying from Marine air stations and aboard carriers, these piston-powered warplanes bridged the gap between World War II–era designs and the high-tech electronic warfare jets that followed. The Polka Dots proved that even in an era dominated by supersonic jets, a rugged, long-endurance “Spad” still had a vital role to play.

By the time the Marines transitioned to jet-powered aircraft like the A-6 Intruder, the EA-1E had already secured its legacy as a Cold War warrior—protecting Marines with invisible jamming waves and explosive firepower alike.

Today, when we remember the Skyraider, we often think of its legendary service in Vietnam. But the Marines of VMA-332 and their polka-dotted Skyraiders remind us of another story: a chapter where piston power, ingenuity, and Marine determination kept the edge sharp during the tense early years of the Cold War.