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.
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.[4]
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.[3]
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).[5] However, the squadron does not appear to have been fully staffed or equipped with operational aircraft while a reserve unit.[6] In 1948 Continental Air Command assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[7] President Truman's reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force.[8] 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.[9][10]
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.[11] 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.[12][13]
The 739th Bombardment Squadron and the 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron were consolidated into a single unit in September 1985.[14]
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
^ abcDepartment of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
^ abc739th Bombardment Squadron lineage, including assignments and stations in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 729.
^Aircraft was originally a Douglas RB-66B-DL, serial 54-0531. It was retired to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC) on 10 March 1965. It was removed from storage and converted to an EB-66E in 1969. It was returned to MASDC on 11 February 1974, declared surplus on 25 April 1974 and scrapped on 8 November 1976. Baugher, Joe (9 May 2023). "1954 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 14 June 2023. Photo taken at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany in August 1972.
^Airplane is North American Aviation built Consolidated B-24J-1-NT, serial 42-78489. This plane ditched on 20 March 1945 Baugher, Joe (10 April 2023). "1942 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
^This unit is not related to the 39th Electronic Warfare Squadron, despite the similar names. That squadron was constituted on 7 July 2020 and activated at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida on 23 July 2020, where it was assigned to the 53d Electronic Warfare Group. It transferred to the 850th Spectrum Warfare Group on 25 June 2021. Lahue, Melissa (19 April 2022). "Factsheet 39 Electronic Warfare Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
Watkins, Robert A. (2013). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Vol. V, Pacific Theater of Operations. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-4346-9.
