36th Electronic Warfare Squadron Emblem
 

36th Electronic Warfare Squadron


MISSION
The mission of the 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron (36th EWS) is to provide U.S. Air Force aircraft with the ability to dominate the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS). Responsible for providing a multitude of airframes the ability to use the EMS to their advantage, the 36th EWS also provides Mission Data to enhance the survivability of warfighters and their assets. A diverse unit comprised of both military and civilian personnel, the 36th EWS enables the warfighter to use the full range of tools provided to them through the hands-on programing, building, testing, and optimizing of various EMS systems, as well as sustaining these systems for continual usage.

MISSION STATEMENT
Enhance the warfighter’s combat advantage, survivability and lethality through the support and sustainment of fielded and future electromagnetic spectrum systems.

VISION
Rapidly fusing electromagnetic spectrum technology and expertise to deliver persistent combat advantage to the warfighter.

PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES
Personnel and Resources Comprised of 240 officers, enlisted, civilians, and contractors, the 36th EWS organizes a range of Mission Data capabilities across multiple facilities to deliver combat advantage and survivability to the warfighter through optimization in the Electromagnetic Spectrum. Organization Six Flights make up the structure of the 36th EWS: Pods Maintenance, Special Missions, Legacy Systems, Air Dominance, Cybersecurity & IT and Advanced Systems. The 36th EWS is organized under the 350th Spectrum Warfare Group, 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, located at Eglin AFB, Florida.

HISTORY
The 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron was activated on 1 February, 1943, but was redesignated as the 36th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy in November of 1943 attached to the 482nd Bombardment Group. Built upon the foundation of the invention of radar technology before World War II, the then-known 36th Bombardment squadron was birthed from the restructuring of the 803rd Bomb Squadron (Provisional) at RAF Sculthorpe as a part of a new initiative predicated on the idea of warfare in the Electromagnetic Spectrum. Specially formed to execute Radar Countermeasure missions, the 36th Bomb Squadron conducted jamming operations in Europe instead of bombing operations despite its designation as a bombardment squadron. The primary mission of the “Gremlins” was to utilize a variety of communications jammers such at the APT-3 “Mandrel” and APT-1 “Dina” to “Disrupt German voice communications and fighter control links.” Overall, most of the missions executed by the 36th were in support of RAF Bomber Command. By early 1945, the 36th Bombardment Squadron was engaged primarily in screening 8th Air Force operations. Utilizing primarily B-24 “Liberators” to disrupt German communications during the massive 8th Air Force daytime bombing raids, the 36th Bomb Squadron was involved in numerous operations across American and British commands throughout the latter half of World War II. The 36th was involved in 100 RAF nighttime bombing raids, deception, spoof, and communication jamming missions, as well as sorties flown to discover enemy radio and radar frequencies. These missions were flown all over Europe, assisting in the D-Day landings as well at the Battle of the Bulge, with all operations ceasing by 30 April 1945. The 36th Bombardment Squadron was not reactivated until 1993, when it was redesignated as the 36th Engineering and Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. In 1999, it was redesignated at the 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron, conducting and advancing Electronic Warfare operations based on the foundation of its historical counterpart.