The 48th Fighter Wing, known as the “Liberty Wing,” is a United States Air Force combat wing based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom. As the USAF’s only F-15E and F-35A fighter wing in Europe, it plays a critical role in maintaining air superiority and supporting NATO operations across the region. The wing is composed of four fighter squadrons: the 492nd Fighter Squadron, the 493rd Fighter Squadron, the 494th Fighter Squadron, and the 495th Fighter Squadron. Together, these squadrons provide a powerful, flexible, and rapidly deployable force capable of conducting a wide range of missions in support of U.S. and allied objectives.
History
The 48th fighter wing history starts during the early years of the Second World War (WW2) when the 48th Bomber Group was formed. Two years later it was redesignated as the 48th Fighter-bomber group when the P-47 entered service. In 1944 they moved to England, RAF Ibsely with squadrons 492nd FS (fuselage code F4), 493rd FS (I7) and 494th FS (6M). Again the designated was changed to the 48th Fighter Group.
P-47, 492nd FS markings
6 June 1944, 48th participated in the Normandy invasion, flying some 2000 sorties. During the final year of the war the group stated at Deux-Jumeaux Airfield in France, returning to the US when Germany surrendered.
July 1952 the group was reactivated as 48th Fighter-Bomber Group based at Chaumont Air Base in France. The three squadrons operated 58 F-84Gs and support aircraft. The aircraft were taken from the Oklahoma ANG 137th Fighter-Bomber wing. In the following years the airbase was developed and the F-84s were replaced by F-86Fs and later F-100Ds. The groups name “Statue of Liberty” was giving as the base was close to the workshop of Frédéric Bartholdi who designed the Statue of Liberty.
Late 1950s when the group was redesignated as 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, the French president Charles de Gaulle demanded the removal of NATO forces from France, forcing the wing to leave Chaumont. January 1960 the wing moved to the empty WW2 bomber field RAF Lakenheath in England.
RAF Lakenheath
15 January 1960 the F-100s were flown from France in their bare metal color scheme. 6 years later this was replaced by the green south-east asia camo and the LR (492nd), LS (493rd) and LT (494th) tail codes were introduced.
With tensions rising in Europe (Berlin Wall) and the Cuban missile crisis, the base expended and was made ready to receive B-47 and B-52 deployments, although no aircraft were actually deployed.
F-100 Gate guard
F-4D
From 1972 till 1977 the squadrons transitioned to the F-4D with the last F-100 departing in 1974. With the introduction of the Phantom the tailcodes were changed to “LN” and the tail fin colors were introduced Blue (492nd), Yellow (493rd) and Red (494th). Phantom operations were very short with the 48th with the aircraft being replaced by the F-111 from 1977 onward.
April 1, 1977 a fourth squadron was added. 495th FS with the green tail fin color. It was set up as a training squadron operating the F-111F.
Early 90s the squadrons transitioned to the F-15 Eagle. The last F-111 left in December 1992. Due to the transition the 495th was deactivated again, leaving the 48th Wing with its three initial squadrons. More on the F-15 operations see below squadron overviews.
Currently the wing has 5700 active military- and 2000 civilian personnel. Besides the four active squadrons there is a maintenance, mission support and medical group. Where Lakenheath is mainly focused on the flying operation, housing is arranged at nearby RAF Feltwell.
Miss Liberty
Combat operations
494th FS F-111F
The wings first post WW2 combat operation took place on April 14, 1986, when the US launched operation El Dorado Canyon. The operation was a retaliation for the bombing of US marines in several locations during the mid 80s.
In the evening 24 F-111Fs left Lakenheath heading for Libia, some spare aircraft returning. The attack started after midnight the following day when 13 aircraft hit several locations in and around the capital Tripoli. Terrorist training camps, Khadaffi’s HQ and Tripoli airport were hit with 60 tons of munition. One F-111 was lost in the sea on its return, possibly hit by ground fire or a SAM, killing both pilots.
Operation desert storm
After the invation of Iraq into Kuwait the 48th was deployed to the region. 25 Augustus 1990, The first group of F-111Fs took off for Taif Air Base in Saudi Arabia. A total 0f 66 aircraft would be deployed with 1500 personnel.
During Operation Desert storm, 492nd TFS, 493rd FS and 494th TFS lew 1900 combat sorties, attacking Iraqi armor, artillery, bridges, military airfields and command and control centers. A total of 2203 targets were hit with no losses. 13 May 1991 the 48th returned to Lakenheath.
Later, now operating the F-15, various squadrons we involved in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom (2nd Gulf War) and New Dawn. During another intervention in Libia (Operation Odyssey Dawn) a F-15E crashed with both crew surviving with minor injuries.
Squadrons
From the early days the 48th Fighter Wing consisted of three squadrons (492nd, 493rd, 494th) with a fourth added in 1977 (495th).
492nd Fighter Squadron
| Status: | Active, 1952-present |
| Nickname: | Bolars / Madhatters |
| Tailcode: | LN (Before 1972: LR / LK) |
| Color: | Blue |
| Aircraft: | F-15E (Past P-47, F-84G, F-86F, F-100D, F-111F) |
The squadron was activated as 55th Bombardment Squadron on January 15, 1941 flying the A-20. In 1943 the unit was redesignated as 492nd Fighter Bomber Squadron, operating the P-39 and P-40.
Two months before deployment to RAF Ibsley the unit converted to the P-47D Thunderbolt. Flying there first combat missions in April 1944, the unit became the 492nd Fighter Squadron. The P-47 would be followed by the F-84G, F-86F, F-100D, F-4D and F-111F.
The unit uses both Bolars and madhatters nicknames. Bolars (actually Bowler, the typical English hat) was adopted when the unit moved to Lakenheath.
February 1992, the first F-15E was delivered, replacing the F-111F. The unit participated in the Operation Inherent Resolve (War against Islamic State). 97-0219 and 98-0135, both shot down a pro-Syrian Regime Shahed 129 UAV. 492nd flew 2000 missions with a total of 11000 combat flying hours.
F-4D
2019, the Bolars were deployed to the Las Vegas with 14 F-15Es, initially to participate in Red Flag 19–3 at Nellis AFB. After that they spent two weeks at Mountain Home AFB.
50 Years 48FW
493rd Fighter Squadron
| Status: | Active, 1952-1992 / 1994-present |
| Nickname: | The Grim Reapers |
| Tailcode: | LN (Before 1972: LS / LK) |
| Color: | Black/gold |
| Aircraft: | F-35A (Past P-47, F-84G, F-86F, F-100D, F-15C/D) |
Like 492nd this unit had its origin in WW2. The P-47s were deployed to the european theather in March 1944. After participation in the Normandy invasion, they moved to Laon, France. After the European war, they were planned to move to Okinawa, but after the atomic bomb the war ended and the unit was inactivated (7 November 1945).
In 1952 the unit was reactivated flying F-84Gs out of Chaumont Air Base in France. Followed by the F-86F, F-100D, F-4D and the F-111 the unit moved to the F-15C/D. During this transition the squadron was inactive for two years.
15 November 1993, the first two F-15Cs transferred from Bitburg, Germany to Lakenheath. Also brand new, of the production line, aircraft were received. 18 aircraft were assigned when the squadron was reactivated 1 January 1994. An additional 6 aircraft (from 53rd FS) were added bringing the total to 24.
1999, a Grim Reapers F-15C shot down a MiG-29 during Operation Allied Force over Kosovo. Two days later an additional two MiG-29s were shot down. Later the unit was involved in several deployments and to part in Operation Odyssey Dawn (Libia), Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
In February 2022, just before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 8 F-15C/Ds were deployed to Lask Air Base in Poland. 27 April 2022 the last 4 C-Eagles left Lakenheath bringing an end ton 45 years of Eagle air superiority operations in Europe.
In 2021 493rd was selected as one of the Lakenheath squadrons to transfer to the F-35A. Re-instanted 495th would be the second. The first 19-5493 was delivered 15 April 2022. Initial plan was to have the unit fitted with all aircraft by the end of 2025, but due to technical delays 10 ”WA” registered aircraft were taken on loan from 6th WPS.
June 2025, 12 F-35As were deployed to the middle east due to the Israeli – Iranian conflict.
494th Fighter Squadron
| Status: | Active, 1952-present |
| Nickname: | Panthers |
| Tailcode: | LN (Before 1972: LT / LK) |
| Color: | Red |
| Aircraft: | F-15E (Past P-47, F-84G, F-86F, F-100D, F-111F) |
Again, 494th origin lays in WW2 when the squadron was formed as a training unit. After the Pearl Harbor attack, they performed anti-submarine patrols before becoming a P-47 training unit by 1944. March 1944 the squadron was deployed to England in preparation of the Normandy invasion.
On July 1945 the unit moved to Laon, France. Just a few weeks later they moved back to the States where the unit was inactivated 7 November 1945.
1952, the unit was re-activated and stationed at Chaumont Air Base, France operating F-84Gs and later F-84Gs. Late 1956 they transferred to the F-100D. January 1960 they moved to Lakenheath, England like the other 48th FW units.
The F-100 stayed in service until it was replaced by the F-4D by 1971. Early 1977 they transferred again, this time to the F-111F. The attack bomber was active in several operation like Operation El Dorado Canyon and Operation Desert Shield. The unit was also deployed to Italy, Iran, Greece, and Pakistan.
50 Years 48FW
The F-15E replaced the F-111F starting February 1992. Unlike normal E model operations they also took on the air superiority role and not strictly the ground attack role. In 2011 the unit participated in Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya. Also Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and the war on terror were supported. In 2023 they were deployed during the Gaza war. Half a year later (April 2024) they assisted when Israel was attacked by Iran. During the incident, 494th Eagles were able to shoot down over 70 Iranian drones.
495th Fighter Squadron
| Status: | Active, 1977-1991 / 2021-present |
| Nickname: | Valkyries |
| Tailcode: | LN |
| Color: | Green |
| Aircraft: | F-35A (Past P-47, F-111F) |
Reactivated in 2021, the 495th also has its origin in WW2. After Pearl Habor, the squadron flew anti-submarine patrols, before returning as a training squadron with P-47s. It was inactivated in 1944.
1 April 1977 they were reactivated at 495th TFS as trainings unit with F-111Fs. The unit participated in Operation El Dorado Canyon. During the mission 70-2389 was shot down, killing the pilots. Later in 1990 the unit was deployed to the middle east to participate in Operation Desert Shield. Again an F-111 was lost (74-0183), killing both pilots. 13 December 1991 the unit was inactivated again.
The now 495th FS was reactivated again 1 October 2021, receiving their first F-35As two months later. The Valkyries now operate 27 F-35s.
495 squadron leader