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.
390th Electronic Combat Squadron
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|---|---|
 EA-18G Growler at NAS Whidbey Island | |
| Active | 1943–1946; 1953–1959; 1962–1982; 1982–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Electronic Combat |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval 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 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
edit390 ECS's mission is to man and deploy the Expeditionary EA-18G Growler squadrons in accordance with the Joint Airborne Electronic Attack program.
History
editWorld War II
editThe 390th flew combat missions in the European Theater of Operations from 14 March 1944 – 3 May 1945.[1]
Vietnam
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The 390th flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from, c. 18 November 1965 – 14 June 1972.[1]
Electronic Warfare
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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
editLineage
edit- Constituted as the 390th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 24 May 1943
- Activated on 1 June 1943
- Redesignated 390th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943
- Inactivated on 20 August 1945
- Redesignated 390th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 15 November 1952
- Activated 1 January 1953
- Redesignated 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958
- Inactivated on 1 April 1959
- Activated on 30 April 1962 (not organized)
- Organized on 8 May 1962
- Inactivated on 1 October 1982
- Redesignated 390th Electronic Combat Squadron on 10 December 1982
- Activated on 15 December 1982
- Redesignated 390th Fighter Squadron on 11 September 1992
- Redesignated 390th Electronic Combat Squadron on 27 September 2010[1]
Assignments
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Stations
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Aircraft
edit- P-47 Thunderbolt (1943–1946)
- P-51 Mustang (1953)
- F-86 Sabre (1953–1955)
- F-84 Thunderjet (1954–1958, 1962–1965)
- F-100 Super Sabre (1957–1959)
- F-4 Phantom II (1965–1972)
- F-111F model then F-111A model Aardvark (1972–1982)
- EF-111A Raven (1982–1992)
- F-15C/D Eagle (1992–2010)[1]
- EA-6B Prowler (2010–2014)[3]
- EA-18G Growler (2011–present)[4]
Campaign streamers
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World War II:
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Vietnam:
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Southwest Asia:
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers:
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Decorations
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Distinguished Unit Citation:
Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia):
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device:
Meritorious Unit Award:
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards:
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Cited in the Orders of the Day, Belgian Army:
Belgian Fourragere. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm:
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Previous commanders
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References
editNotes
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 479–480
- ^ 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) - ^ Wolff, Jeremy D. (17 October 2017). "USAF's first electronic attack fighter pilots [Image 2 of 4]". DVIDS. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
Bibliography
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This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency