We consider the scattering of a plane time-harmonic electromagnetic wave by a perfectly conducting infinite cylinder with axis in the direction k, where k is the unit vector along the z axis. Suppose the incident wave propagates in a direction perpendicular to the cylinder. For a given observation angle 0, let F,(O, a)k be the far-field pattern of the electric field corresponding to an incident wave with direction angle a polarized perpendicular to the z axis and let FN(O;a)k be the far-field pattern of the magnetic field corresponding to an incident wave with direction angle a polarized parallel to the z axis. Let {am}:=, be a distinct set of angles in [ -n, 2 3 and p a complex number. Then, necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the set { (1 -p)F& a,) + pFN(& aJ}mm= I to be complete in L z [ -n, n]. Applications, together with numerical examples, are given to the inverse scattering problem of determining the shape of the cylinder from a knowledge of the far-field data.