390th Electronic Combat Squadron


The 390th Electronic Combat Squadron 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 Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.
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 Forces 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.

Vietnam

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

Electronic Warfare

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.
It was redesignated the 390th Electronic Combat Squadron again on 27 September 2010. 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.

Operations

World War II:
Vietnam:
Southwest Asia:
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers:
Distinguished Unit Citation:
  1. Normandy, 11 July 1944
Presidential Unit Citations :
  1. 23 Apr–1 Aug 1967
  2. 1 Apr–26 Jun 1972
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device:
  1. 1 May 1966 – 31 Mar 1967
  2. 1 Apr 1967 – 31 Mar 1968
  3. 1 Apr 1968 – 31 Jul 1969
  4. 1 Aug 1969 – 1 Aug 1970
  5. 2 Aug 1970 – 31 Mar 1972
Meritorious Unit Award:
  1. 1 Jan 2007 – 31 May 2008.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards:
  1. 1 May 1964 – 30 Apr 1966;
  2. 17 Apr 1974 – 15 Apr 1976;
  3. 16 Apr 1976 – 27 Mar 1978;
  4. 18 Aug–16 Sep 1976;
  5. 1 Apr 1983 – 31 Mar 1985;
  6. 1 Mar 1989 – 28 Feb 1991;
  7. 1 Mar 1992 – 28 Feb 1994;
  8. 1 Jun 1996 – 31 May 1998;
  9. 1 Jun 1999 – 31 May 2001;
  10. 1 Jun 2001 – 31 May 2002;
  11. 1 Jun 2003 – 31 May 2005;
  12. 1 Jun 2005 – 31 May 2006;
  13. 1 Jun 2011 – 31 May 2012.
Cited in the Orders of the Day, Belgian Army:
  1. 6 Jun–30 Sep 1944;
  2. 1 Oct–17 Dec 1944;
  3. 18 Dec 1944 – 25 Jan 1945.
Belgian Fourragere.
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm:
  1. 1 May 1966 – 30 Jun 1972.

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