390th Electronic Combat Squadron

390th Electronic Combat Squadron

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
Twelfth Air Force
366th Fighter Wing
366th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Nickname(s) Wild Boars, Blue Boar (Vietnam)
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" device
Belgian Fourragère
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
390th Electronic Combat Squadron emblem (modified 18 November 1993)[1]
390th Fighter-Bomber Squadron emblem (approved 6 October 1955)

The 390th Electronic Combat Squadron at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station is part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The 390th provides logistical expertise and personnel to operate the EA-18G Growler in support of the Joint Airborne Electronic Attack Program. 390 ECS’s mission is to provide administrative and logistical support for assigned Air Force personnel and to support the expeditionary Electronic Attack squadron construct.

History

World War II

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

Vietnam

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

Electronic Warfare

EF-111 Raven in flight

The squadron conducted replacement training from, 1 July 1974 – c. 18 August 1976. It trained EF-111 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 Sep 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.[2]

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
  • 35th Tactical Fighter Wing: 8 April 1966
  • 366th Tactical Fighter Wing: 10 October 1966
  • 347th Tactical Fighter Wing: 30 June 1972
  • 366th Tactical Fighter Wing (later 366th Fighter Wing: 31 October 1972 –1 October 1982 (attached Detachment 1, Hq, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing 19 August 1976 -16 September 1976)
  • 366th Fighter Wing: 15 December 1982 – present)[1]

Stations
Deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, 25 December 1955 - c. 14 June 1956
Deployed to Taegu Air Base, South Korea 19 August – 16 September 1976, NAS Keflavik, Iceland 19 January 2006 – 20 April 2006

Aircraft

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Haulman, Daniel L. (April 17, 2017). "Factsheet 390 Electronic Combat Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  2. ↑ Lott, A1C Malissa (2014-08-11). "EA-18G officially the combat aircraft flown by 390th ECS". Air Combat Command Public Affairs. Retrieved August 14, 2014.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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