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 Fifteenth Air Force 366th Fighter Wing 366th Operations Group
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 Panama, 1989–1990 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

• World War II
• Vietnam War
• Operation Just Cause
• Operation Desert Storm

Lineage

• 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

366th Fighter Group: 1 June 1943 – 20 August 1946 366th Fighter-Bomber Group: 1 January 1953 (attached to 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing 25 December 1955 – c. 14 June 1956) 366th Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 366th Tactical Fighter Wing): 25 September 1957 – 1 April 1959 United States Air Forces in Europe: 30 April 1962 (not organized) 366th Tactical Fighter Wing: 8 May 1962 6252d Tactical Fighter Wing: 29 October 1965

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

Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia, 1 June 1943 Bluethenthal Field, North Carolina, 9 August 1943 Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia, 6 November 1943 – 17 December 1943 RAF Membury, England, 10 January 1944 RAF Thruxton, England, 1 March 1944 Saint-Pierre-du-Mont Airfield, France, 20 June 1944 Dreux - Vernouillet Airport, France, 25 August 1944 Laon-Couvron Air Base, France, 8 September 1944 Asch Airfield, Belgium, 26 November 1944 Münster-Handorf Airfield, Germany, 14 April 1945 Bayreuth-Bindlach Airfield, Germany, 28 June 1945

Fritzlar Air Base, Germany, 14 September 1945 – 20 August 1946 England Air Force Base, Louisiana, 1 January 1953 – 1 April 1959 Deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, 25 December 1955 – c. 14 June 1956 Chambley-Bussieres Air Base, France, 30 April 1962 Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, 12 June 1963 Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, 29 October 1965 (deployed to Clark Air Base, Philippines until c. 17 November 1965) Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, 30 June 1972 – 1 October 1982 Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, 15 December 1982 Deployed to Taegu Air Base, South Korea 19 August – 16 September 1976, NAS Keflavik, Iceland 19 January 2006 – 20 April 2006 Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, 27 September 2010 – present [1]

Aircraft

• 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

World War II: Air Offensive, Europe Normandy Northern France Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe Air Combat, EAME Theater

Vietnam: Vietnam Defensive Vietnam Air Vietnam Air Offensive Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III Vietnam Air/Ground Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV TET 69/Counteroffensive Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969 Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970 Sanctuary Counteroffensive Southwest Monsoon Commando Hunt V Commando Hunt VI Commando Hunt VII Vietnam Ceasefire

Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia Liberation and Defense of Kuwait Ceasefire Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers: Panama, 1989–1990.

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citation: Normandy, 11 July 1944 Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia): 23 Apr–1 Aug 1967 1 Apr–26 Jun 1972 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 1 May 1966 – 31 Mar 1967 1 Apr 1967 – 31 Mar 1968 1 Apr 1968 – 31 Jul 1969 1 Aug 1969 – 1 Aug 1970 2 Aug 1970 – 31 Mar 1972 Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Jan 2007 – 31 May 2008.

Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 May 1964 – 30 Apr 1966; 17 Apr 1974 – 15 Apr 1976; 16 Apr 1976 – 27 Mar 1978; 18 Aug–16 Sep 1976; 1 Apr 1983 – 31 Mar 1985; 1 Mar 1989 – 28 Feb 1991; 1 Mar 1992 – 28 Feb 1994; 1 Jun 1996 – 31 May 1998; 1 Jun 1999 – 31 May 2001; 1 Jun 2001 – 31 May 2002; 1 Jun 2003 – 31 May 2005; 1 Jun 2005 – 31 May 2006; 1 Jun 2011 – 31 May 2012.

Cited in the Orders of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun–30 Sep 1944; 1 Oct–17 Dec 1944; 18 Dec 1944 – 25 Jan 1945. Belgian Fourragere. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 May 1966 – 30 Jun 1972.

Previous commanders

Capt Harold N. Holt, 1 June 1943 Capt Clure E. Smith, 14 May 1944 Capt Maurice L. Martin, 2 October 1944 Capt Lowell B. Smith, 1 Feb – c. 20 Apr 1945 unknown, 21 Apr 1945 – 20 Aug 1946 Maj John W. Saxton, c. 1 Jan 1953-unknown Lt Col Harold E. Comstock, c. Jun 1954-unknown Maj Joseph S. Michalowski, unknown – 14 Aug 1957 Maj Fred H. Henderson, 14 August 1957 Lt Col Frank J. McGuinness, 9 Sep 1958 – 1 Apr 1959 unknown, 8 May – 15 Jul 1962 Lt Col Raymond L. Hurley, 16 July 1962 Lt Col Jack Bellamy, 29 June 1964 Lt Col Douglas H. Frost, Jul 1966 Lt Col Hoyt S. Vandenberg Jr., 6 January 1967 Lt Col Hervey S. Stockman, 19 May 1967 Lt Col Clement D. Billingslea, 11 June 1967 Lt Col Fred A. Haeffner, 20 June 1967 Lt Col Wayne T. Elder, 23 November 1967 Lt Col John S. Stoer, 19 May 1968 Lt Col Cecil G. Foster, 29 July 1968 Lt Col Robert S. McCormick, 7 June 1969 Lt Col Garold R. Beck, 19 June 1969 Lt Col John E. Cadou, 27 March 1970

Lt Col Robert B. Watson, 8 December 1970 Lt Col Delbert H. Jacobs, 22 April 1971 Lt Col Walter E. Bjorneby, 18 December 1971 Lt Col Gene E. Taft, 6 May-c. 14 June 1972 none (not manned), 15–29 Jun 1972 Lt Col Robert B. Coburn, 30 June 1972 Lt Col Ronald G. Strack, 18 June 1973 Lt Col David H. Reiner, 13 December 1974 Lt Col John A. Dramesi, 1 May 1975 Lt Col James C. Sharp, 12 April 1976 Lt Col Brian R. Williams, 16 May 1977 Lt Col Joe G. Cabuk Jr., 10 May 1979 Lt Col Samuel L. Harris, 9 Jan 1981 – 1 Oct 1982 Lt Col Herbert T. Pickering Jr., 15 December 1982 Lt Col Robert J. Osterloh, 24 June 1983 Lt Col William R. Teske, 7 June 1985 Lt Col Richard M. Meeboer, 22 June 1987 Lt Col Dennis Hardziej, 1 June 1989 Lt Col Kenneth J. Muldowney, 7 June 1991 Lt Col Larry D. New, 17 June 1992 Lt Col Peter J. Bunce, 24 March 1994 Lt Col Frank Gorenc, 22 January 1996 Lt Col Mitch R. Fryt, 25 July 1997 Lt Col Eric M. O’Connell, 16 July 1999

Lt Col James P. Molloy, 9 March 2001 Lt Col David A. Slade, 7 March 2003 Lt Col Jeffrey W. Prichard, 25 March 2005 Lt Col David L. Cool, 20 November 2006 Lt Col James E. Stratton, 25 October 2008 Lt Col Donald K. McFatridge, 27 September 2010 Lt Col Karl Fischbach, May 2011 Lt Col Don Keen, May 2013 Lt Col Allen A. Geist, 20 May 2015 Lt Col Jeffery S. Kassebaum, May 2017 Lt Col David C. Davidson, June 2021

References

Notes

1. 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. 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.
4. Wolff, Jeremy D. (17 October 2017). "USAF's first electronic attack fighter pilots [Image 2 of 4]". DVIDS. Retrieved 30 July 2022.

Bibliography

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

External links

• 366th Operations Group Fact Sheet
• Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Web Page – 390th Electronic Combat Squadron