# 390th Electronic Combat Squadron

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 366th 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.
On 12 April 1944, the squadron's P-47s flew its first escort job of the month and one of the deepest penetrations in its brief operational history. The VIII Air Force bombers went out in force to strike at repair depots and aircraft factories in Germany and Poland. The squadron took the big friendly into the vicinity of Kobelnz. The mission was uneventful. Three new replacements arrived on this day in the persons of Lieutenants William A.Hurd, Henry G. Hyde, and Robert B. Jones.

### 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 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

### 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)
* EA-6B Prowler (2010–2014)
* EA-18G Growler (2011–present)