390th Electronic Combat Squadron | |
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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 |
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 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.