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39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron

39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron
FieldValue
unit_name39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron
imageDouglas EB-66E Destroyer in flight 061103-F-1234P-005.jpg
image_size300
caption39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron EB-66E
dates1943–1945; 1947–1949; 1969–1973.
country
branch
roleElectronic warfare
battlesMediterranean Theater of Operations European Theater of Operations
decorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
identification_symbol[[File:39 Tactical Electronic Warfare Sq emblem.png150px]]
identification_symbol_label39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron emblem
identification_symbol_2**SP**
identification_symbol_2_labelTail code 1969–1973
identification_symbol_3Black diamond above, bottom of tail white
identification_symbol_3_labelWorld War II tail markings after May 1944
identification_symbol_4Black diamond on white circle above, black number 1 in white circle below.
identification_symbol_4_labelWorld War II tail markings before May 1944

The squadron was the 739th Bombardment Squadron, which was activated in June 1943. After training in the United States with the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, the 739th deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, participating in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its combat operations. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States for conversion as a very heavy bomber unit, but was inactivated instead.

The 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron was activated at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany in 1969, where it was assigned to the 52d Tactical Fighter Wing until inactivating in January 1973. The two squadrons were consolidated in 1985.

History

World War II

access-date=June 14, 2023}}}}

The squadron was first organized at Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico on 1 June 1943 as one of the four squadrons of the 454th Bombardment Group. It trained with Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers. After completing training, it left for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations on 8 December 1943.

The squadron arrived in Italy in January 1944, settling in at its combat station, San Giovanni Airfield, by the end of the month. Its primary focus was on long range bombing missions against industrial targets such as enemy oil refineries and munitions and aircraft factories. It struck transportation targets including harbors and airfields in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Greece and Rumania The squadron received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for a raid on an airfield at Bad Vöslau, Austria on 12 April 1944. The squadron earned a second DUC during an attack on a steel plant at Linz, Austria, as the 454th Group led its wing through determined opposition.

The squadron also flew air support and air interdiction missions against marshalling yards, troop concentrations and rail lines for Operation Strangle. The squadron participated in the drive to Rome; Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France; and Operation Grapeshot, the Spring 1945 offensive in Northern Italy.

The squadron left Italy in July 1945 and reformed at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota the following month. It was redesignated as a very heavy bombardment squadron in anticipation of training and redeployment to the Pacific, but with the Japanese surrender, it was inactivated in October.

Air Force Reserve

The 739th Bombardment Squadron was reactivated as a reserve unit under Air Defense Command (ADC) at McChord Field, Washington in April 1947 as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress unit, where its training was supervised by the 406th AAF Base Unit (later the 2345th Air Force Reserve Training Center). However, the squadron does not appear to have been fully staffed or equipped with operational aircraft while a reserve unit. In 1948 Continental Air Command assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC. President Truman's reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force. Continental Air Command also reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization system in June 1949. The squadron was inactivated and its personnel and equipment were transferred to elements of the 302d Troop Carrier Wing, which was activated simultaneously.

Cold War

The 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron was activated in April 1969 at Spangdahlem Air Base Germany in an effort to restore an electronic warfare capability to United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE). It was planned to equip the squadron with Douglas EB-66 Destroyers, but all of USAFE's EB-66s had deployed to Southeast Asia to provide jamming support for the Viet Nam War. As a result, the squadron was initially equipped with the less capable Martin EB-57 Canberra. Shortly after activation, it became possible to equip the unit with sixteen EB-66s. The squadron continued its mission at Spangdahlem until ceasing operations in December 1972. It was inactivated in January 1973 as the EB-66 was withdrawn from the Air Force inventory.

The 739th Bombardment Squadron and the 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron were consolidated into a single unit in September 1985.

Lineage

739th Bombardment Squadron

  • Constituted as the 739th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 May 1943 : Activated on 1 June 1943 : Redesignated 739th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. 1944 : Redesignated 739th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 5 August 1945 : Inactivated on 17 October 1945
  • Activated in the reserve on 16 August 1947 : Inactivated on 27 June 1949
  • Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron as the 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron

39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron

  • Constituted as the 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron on 18 March 1969 : Activated on 1 April 1969 : Inactivated on 1 January 1973
  • Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 739th Bombardment Squadron

Assignments

Stations

  • Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico 1 June 1943
  • Davis–Monthan Field, Arizona, 1 July 1943
  • McCook Army Air Field, Nebraska, 30 July 1943
  • Charleston Army Air Field, South Carolina 3 October 1943 – December 1943
  • San Giovanni Airfield, Italy, 21 January 1944 – July 1945
  • Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, 1 August 1945
  • Pyote Army Air Field, Texas 17 August 1945 – 17 October 1945
  • McChord Field (later McChord Air Force Base), Washington, 27 April 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, 1 April 1969 – 1 January 1973

Aircraft

  • Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1943–1945
  • Martin EB-57 Canberra, 1969
  • Douglas EB-66 Destroyer, 1969–1973

Awards and campaigns

Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Air Combat, EAME TheaterJanuary 1944-11 May 1945739th Bombardment Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Air Offensive, EuropeJanuary 1944-5 June 1944739th Bombardment Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Rome-Arno22 January 1944 – 9 September 1944739th Bombardment Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Normandy6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944739th Bombardment Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Northern France25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944739th Bombardment Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Southern France15 August 1944 – 14 September 1944739th Bombardment Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]North Apennines10 September 1944 – 4 April 1945739th Bombardment Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Rhineland15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945739th Bombardment Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Central Europe22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945739th Bombardment Squadron
[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png200px]]Po Valley3 April 1945 – 8 May 1945739th Bombardment Squadron

References

Notes

Bibliography

References

  1. ''See'' photo of squadron EB-66
  2. Watkins, p. 99
  3. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 729
  4. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 329
  5. "Abstract, History 2545 AF Reserve Training Center, Jul-Dec 1948". Air Force History Index.
  6. ''See'' Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 729 (listing no aircraft for the period 1947–1949)
  7. (27 December 1961). "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index.
  8. Knaack, p. 25
  9. Ravenstein, pp. 147–149
  10. ''See'' Mueller, p. 394
  11. Knaack, pp. 448–449
  12. Knaack, pp. 449–450
  13. Ravenstein, p. 85
  14. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
  15. 739th Bombardment Squadron lineage, including assignments and stations in Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 729.
  16. Ravenstein, pp. 63–64
  17. Fletcher, p. 170
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