The 388th Electronic Combat Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 366th Fighter Wing, based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. History Established in early 1942 as a light bomb squadron, equipped with Douglas A-24 Banshees, although equipped with export model Vultee A-31 Vengeance dive bombers for training. Trained under Third Air Force in the southeast United States, also used for antisubmarine patrols over the Atlantic southeast coast and then Gulf of Mexico. Deployed to Southern California in early 1943 to the Desert Warfare Center, trained in light bombing while supporting Army maneuvers in the Mojave Desert until October. Re-equipped with North American A-36 Apache dive bombers and deployed to New Guinea as part of Fifth Air Force. In the Southwest Pacific the squadron attacked Japanese strong points and tactical positions and targets of opportunity in support of general Douglas MacArthur's campaign along the north coast of New Guinea; then advancing into the Netherlands East Indies and Philippines as part of the Island Hopping campaign. It was re-equipped with Curtiss P-40 Warhawkss, and later with Douglas A-20 Havocs. Engaged in heavy fighting on Leyte, Mindoro and Luzon in the Philippines during 1944–1945. The squadron moved to Okinawa in mid-August and after the Atomic Bomb missions had been flown; remained on Okinawa until December until returning to the United States with most personnel demobilizing. It was inactivated as a paper unit on 6 January 1946. The squadron was reactivated as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress unit in the reserves in 1947, but lack of funding and personnel led to rapid inactivation. Transferred to Tactical Air Command in the mid-1950s and activated first with North American F-86 Sabres, then North American F-100 Super Sabres in 1958. Inactivated in 1959 when its parent 312th Tactical Fighter Wing was inactivated and replaced by the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing. Personnel and equipment of the squadron were transferred to the 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Reactivated in 1977 as a General Dynamics F-111A Aardvark training squadron; inactivated 1979. Reactivated in 1981 as an EF-111A Raven electronic warfare aircraft; inactivated 1982. Reactivated in 2004 flying Naval Grumman EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft. It was inactivated in 2010, being replaced by the 390th Electronic Combat Squadron. Lineage Constituted as the 388th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 28 January 1942 Activated on 15 March 1942 Redesignated 388th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 27 July