EA-18G Growler "VAQ-138 Yellow Jackets"

The paint scheme A is the high-visibility livery of the aircraft of Lieutenant Colonel M.J. Simpson, the commanding officer of VAQ-138 'Yellow Jackets,' and Lieutenant Colonel B.L. Jones, the electronic warfare officer, stationed at Misawa Air Base in Japan in 2022. The yellow jacket emblem on the vertical stabilizer is particularly striking. Misawa Air Base is located in Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture, at the northern tip of Honshu Island. It hosts both Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the U.S. military troops.

Scheme B represents the low-visibility livery of the aircraft of Captain Mark Gertman and Major Michelle Fessenden, the electronic warfare officer, from VAQ-138 'Yellow Jackets,' stationed at Misawa Air Base in Japan in 2022. Research conducted by the U.S. Air Force has shown that at altitudes above 5,000 meters, visual color resolution significantly diminishes, and color differences virtually disappear. In such conditions, the predominant colors perceived are light gray and dark gray. Therefore, the low-visibility livery, which uses two shades of light gray, is designed to better blend with high-altitude backgrounds and enhance concealment.