The fluctuation longitudinal electric field,Ek, is studied for a two component plasma immersed in a uniform, external electric fieldE0. Since the time dependence of the space‐averaged part of the distribution functions precludes the usual Laplace transform approach, computational techniques are developed to solve the integral equation forEkdirectly in the time domain. Solutions are given for the case whereE0is large compared to the critical field for runaway and compared with the familiar constant‐drift solutions. Growth in the vicinity of resonance (vdrift≈ &ohgr;p/k) is observed, followed by Landau damping at longer times.