Editing Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call (section)

== Operational history ==
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[[File:42d Electronic Combat Squadron EC-130H Compass Call 1986.jpg|thumb|EC-130H Compass Call lands at [[Sembach Airbase]], West Germany in 1986]]
[[File:A U.S. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call assigned to the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron sits parked on the ramp at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 2, 2020.jpg|thumb|EC-130H in 2020]]
The Compass Call had its first flight in 1981, was delivered to the Air Force in 1982, and reached initial operating capability in 1983.<ref name=EC130Hfacts/>

All EC-130H Compass Call aircraft are assigned to [[Air Combat Command]]. The EC-130H is operated by the 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG) consisting of two operational squadrons (41st and 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron (ECS)), a formal training unit (the 42nd ECS), the 755th Operations Support Squadron (OSS), and the 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (AMXS). The 55th ECG is a tenant unit of the [[355th Fighter Wing]] at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. Although located at Davis-Monthan, the group reports to the 55th Wing at [[Offutt AFB]], Nebraska.<ref name=EC130Hfacts/>

Compass Call has been used in [[Yugoslavia]], [[Haiti]], [[Panama]], [[Iraq]], [[Afghanistan]], and elsewhere.

From 2002 to 2015, EC-130Hs participating in [[Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan]] and [[Operation Freedom's Sentinel]] flew over 40,000 hours during 6,900 combat sorties.<ref>{{cite web |title=41st EECS Scorpions defend the force with Compass Call |url=https://www.afcent.af.mil/Units/455th-Air-Expeditionary-Wing/News/Display/Article/616833/41st-eecs-scorpions-defend-the-force-with-compass-call/ |first=Tony |last=Wickman |work=U.S. Air Forces Central Command |date=11 September 2015 |access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref>

On 15 January 2020, the first EC-130H Compass Call (serial number 73-01587) was retired from active service. The aircraft was the first EC-130H Compass Call delivered to the Air Force in March 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theaviationgeekclub.com/first-final-flight-for-compass-call-usaf-retires-its-first-specially-modified-ec-130h-aircraft/|access-date=8 April 2020|title=First Final Flight For Compass Call: USAF Retires its First Specially Modified EC-130 Aircraft|date=20 February 2020 }}</ref>