AWESOME FOUR-SHIP F-15E STRIKE EAGLE DEPARTURE & SPLUFFAGE • 494TH FIGHTER SQUADRON • RAF LAKENHEATH

Описание: The finest, meanest, baddest, the 494th Fighter Squadron "Panthers" depart as a four-ship with some awesome spluffage on the last F-15E Strike Eagle.

On the 15th January 1941, the US Army Air Corps activated the 48th Bombardment Group (Light). During WW2, with the original squadrons being the 55th, 56th and 57th Bomb Squadron (L) along with the 9th Reconnaissance Squadron. In 1942, they were renumbered to the 492d, 493d, 494th & 495th Fighter Bomb Squadrons. Established into the training role and eventually became fully functional operational, the 48th were significantly involved in the Normandy Landings, Operation Overlord and the Invasion of France. Their combat sorties involved bombings raids over bridges, railway lines and carried out reconnaissance missions. It was on the 10th July 1952, the Oklahoma Air National Guard 137th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, France was redesignated as the 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing.

The Statue of Liberty was actually made near the base and the Mayor of the town gave a ceremonial name to the base as the "Statue of Liberty Wing". The 48th Fighter Wing is the only Wing in the USAF to have a number and a name!

It wasn't until 15th January 1960 that the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing made Lakenehath their new home. LR, LS and LT were the tail codes for the base with the F-100's but when they transitioned to the Phantom, a temporary tail code of LK was introduced until a few months later it changed once more to LN, which is active today.

In 1977 a fourth squadron joined Lakenheath's 48th, the 495th Tactical Fighter Squadron. They were known as the "Thundervarks" flying the F-111's. However, they deactivated in 1991. They also sported the green tail flash.

In 1991, The 48th Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 48th Fighter Wing. This included the 'Tactical' title being dropped on the squadrons too. The 495th disbanded with the retirement of the F-111 in that year but returned 30 years later in 2021 with the F-35A.

#f15 #fighterjet #runway

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