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.

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

Lineage

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Campaign streamers

World War II: Vietnam: Southwest Asia: Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers:

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citation: Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia): Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: Meritorious Unit Award: Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: Cited in the Orders of the Day, Belgian Army: Belgian Fourragere. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm:

Previous commanders