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390th Electronic Combat Squadron
EA-18G Growler at NAS Whidbey Island
Active1943–1946; 1953–1959; 1962–1982; 1982–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleElectronic Combat
Part ofAir Combat Command
Garrison/HQNaval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington
Nickname(s)Wild Boars
Blue Boar (Vietnam)
Engagements
World War II – EAME Theater

Vietnam War

Armed Forces Expeditionary
Gulf War (Southwest Asia)
Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation

Air Force Meritorious Unit Award

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Belgian Fourragère
Commanders
Current
commander		Lt Col Jesse Vanasse[citation needed]
Notable
commanders		Lt Col Hoyt S. Vandenberg Jr. 6 January 1967
Lt Col Larry D. New 17 Jun 1992
Lt Col Frank Gorenc 22 Jan 1996
Insignia
390th Fighter Squadron emblem (modified 18 November 1993)[1]
390th Fighter-Bomber Squadron emblem (approved 6 October 1955)[2]

The 390th Electronic Combat Squadron (390 ECS) is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho and stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.

The 390th was constituted on 24 May 1943 as the 390th Fighter Squadron and assigned to the 366 Fighter Group. On 17 December 1943 the unit was moved to Membury England and began combat operations in the European Theater. Since this time the unit has flown over ten different aircraft including the F-51, F-86, F-4, F-111 and the F-15. In the late 90s the USAF retired its aging fleet of EF-111A's leaving the Air Force without a dedicated EA platform. While the Air Force's EA platform may have disappeared the need for electronic attack has not. Due to this fact, in 1995, the Office of the Secretary of Defense arranged an agreement with the Navy embedding USAF electronic warfare airmen in Navy EA-6B and now EA-18G squadrons. Currently, The 390th provides logistical expertise and personnel to operate the EA-18G Growler in support of the Joint Airborne Electronic Attack Program.

Mission

390 ECS's mission is to man and deploy the Expeditionary EA-18G Growler squadrons in accordance with the Joint Airborne Electronic Attack program.

History

World War II

The 390th flew combat missions in the European Theater of Operations from 14 March 1944 – 3 May 1945.[1]

Vietnam

390th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4Cs flying over Vietnam, late 1965.

The 390th flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from, c. 18 November 1965 – 14 June 1972.[1]

Electronic Warfare

EF-111A Raven in flight

The squadron conducted replacement training from, 1 July 1974 – c. 18 August 1976. It trained EF-111A Raven aircrews in electronic countermeasures from, 15 December 1982 – 4 August 1992. The 390th again saw combat when it jammed radar sites during the invasion of Panama in December 1989, and the Gulf War from, 17 January 1991 – 6 March 1991. The 390 FS also deployed aircraft and aircrews to Turkey and Saudi Arabia from, 10 January–c. 11 September 1992.[1]

It was redesignated the 390th Electronic Combat Squadron again on 27 September 2010.[1] The squadron was located at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington and flew EA-6B Prowlers alongside VAQ-129. The last flight of the unit in the Prowler took place on 9 July 2014 as the squadron transitioned to the EA-18G Growler.[3]

Operations

Lineage

Activated on 1 June 1943
Redesignated 390th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 20 August 1945
Activated 1 January 1953
Inactivated on 1 April 1959
Activated on 30 April 1962 (not organized)
Organized on 8 May 1962
Inactivated on 1 October 1982
Activated on 15 December 1982

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Campaign streamers

Decorations

Previous commanders

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Haulman, Daniel L. (17 April 2017). "Factsheet 390 Electronic Combat Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 479–480
  3. ^ a b Lott, A1C Malissa (11 August 2014). "EA-18G officially the combat aircraft flown by 390th ECS". Air Combat Command Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Wolff, Jeremy D. (17 October 2017). "USAF's first electronic attack fighter pilots [Image 2 of 4]". DVIDS. Retrieved 30 July 2022.

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

External links

Air Combat Command
United States Air Force
Categories