RAF Lakenheath
The 48th Fighter Wing (FW) at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk comprises four squadrons flying two different aircraft types. The 492nd Fighter Squadron (FS), known as the ‘Madhatters’ or ‘Bolars’, and 494th FS ‘Panthers’ fly the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle, while the 493rd FS ‘Grim Reapers’ and 495th ‘Valkyries’ operate the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II.
493rd FS deploys to RAF Leeming for Agile Liberty 21-2
The USAF’s 493rd Fighter Squadron ‘The Grim Reapers’ – a component of the 48th Fighter Wing – has deployed to RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire to participate in Exercise Agile Liberty 21-2
USAF conducts large-scale fighter drills in Poland
As Russian troops were massing on Ukraine borders, joint USAF and Polish Air Force drills were taking place in Baltic airspace, as we report
F-35As conduct acoustic and emissions testing at RAF Lakenheath
Two USAF-operated Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs from the Vermont ANG – which recently arrived in the UK – are being used to prepare RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, for the arrival of its first fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighters
First F-35A for Lakenheath enters production
Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, has started manufacturing the first F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighter for the UK-based 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk
VMFA-211 F-35Bs arrive in the UK ahead of carrier deployment
Ten USMC-operated Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs have arrived in the UK prior to joining the Royal Navy’s new flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), for its 28-week maiden deployment, which will begin in May
48th FW completes three-day ACE exercise
The 492nd Fighter Squadron – a unit assigned to the USAF’s 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk – completed a three-day Agile Combat Employment (ACE) exercise on January 13
48th Fighter Wing F-15C crashes in the North Sea
A Boeing F-15C Eagle – assigned to the US Air Forces Europe’s (USAFE’s) 48th Fighter Wing (FW) at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk – has crashed into the North Sea.
Lakenheath Strike Eagles return from deployment sporting wrestler nose art
The 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS) returned to RAF Lakenheath from its latest Middle East deployment on March 1.
‘Bleed Blue!’
Combat Aircraft Editor, Jamie Hunter, visits RAF Lakenheath for an exclusive behind the scenes look at the 492nd Fighter Squadron.