USAF 48th AGS Aircraft Generation Squadron Tactical Fighter Wing TFW Patch F-111F 48th 1981 (4 Inch) – Subdued Variant A1

48th TFW Aircraft Generation Squadron AGS Subdued Patch USAF F-111F Tactical Fighter Wing RAF Lakenheath USAFE 1981 (4 Inch) Variant A1

48th TFW Aircraft Generation Squadron AGS Subdued Patch F-111F RAF Lakenheath 1981 Subdued Variant A1

48th AGS used the emblem of 48th Organisational Maintenance Squadron which was used to form two Squadrons – 48th AGS and 548th AGS

Validation – Tangible authentic and original

Manufacturer – British made P&M own looms

Manufacture – embroidered on blue twill fabric with white pressed fabric covering back and a cut edge

Visibility – subdued blue olive green low visibility

Condition – very good has not been sewn to uniform

Size – 86mm by 76mm

Approximate imperial size – three and three eighth inches by three inches

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48th TFW Aircraft Generation Squadron AGS Patch F-111F USAFE

48th Tactical Fighter Wing F-111F Aardvark

This original 48th TFW Aircraft Generation Squadron AGS patch is from the famous F-111F Aardvark era of the Liberty Wing. Operating from RAF Lakenheath during the height of the Cold War the Wing flew advanced F-111F Aardvark fighter bomber from 1977. 48th Tactical Fighter Wing became one of the most combat-capable tactical strike wings in USAF in Europe and NATO.

In 1977 the 48th TFW exchanged its F-4D Phantom II aircraft for the F-111F Aardvark transferred from the 347th TFW at Mountain Home Air Force Base. The successful transition earned the Wing its third Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The Wing’s flying Squadrons remained the 492nd, 493rd and 494th Tactical Fighter Squadrons. Equipped with the long-range strike capability of the F-111F, the Wing immediately expanded operational deployments and exercises throughout Europe and the Middle East, including Italy, Iran, Greece and Pakistan.

The Wing’s operational strength increased further when the 495th Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated on 1 April 1977.  Acting as a replacement training unit, the 495th TFS helped maintain combat readiness across the Liberty Wing. By 1979 the 48th TFW had flown the highest number of flying hours ever recorded by an F-111 unit in a fiscal year. The Wing passed  its USAFE Operational Readiness Inspection and NATO Tactical Evaluation in 1980 and received its fourth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

During the 1980s the F-111F became internationally recognised through its precision strike capability and frontline NATO role. The 48th TFW deployed temporarily to RAF Sculthorpe in 1983 while RAF Lakenheath’s runway was resurfaced.

Operation El Dorado Canyon

In 1986 the Wing participated in the long-range strike mission against Libyan targets in Tripoli during Operation El Dorado Canyon. The attack was undertaken alongside the United States Navy Sixth Fleet. Although one aircraft and crew were lost, the Wing received the US Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation for the operation.

Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm Gulf War

The Wing again entered combat during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Deploying as 48th TFW (Provisional) to Taif Air Base, Saudi Arabia, the 492nd, 493rd and 494th Tactical Fighter Squadrons flew 2,500 combat sorties. They achieved more than 2,200 target hits using the F-111F Aardvark and and dropped 7.3 million pounds of precision-guided munitions. 48th TFW (P) executed the first combat drop of the GBU-28 “bunker buster” bomb on 27 February 1991 and is credited with destroying hundreds of Iraqi tanks. The Wing returned to RAF Lakenheath in May 1991 and soon began restructuring under the USAF Objective Wing Organization program.

On 1 October 1991 the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated the 48th Fighter Wing, while the Tactical Fighter Squadrons became Fighter Squadrons. The 495th FS was inactivated in December 1991 followed by the 493rd FS in December 1992, marking the end of the famous F-111F era at RAF Lakenheath.

This original USAF 48th TFW Aircraft Generation Squadron AGS F-111F Aardvark patch is highly collectible among RAF Lakenheath, USAFE Operation Desert Storm and Cold War aviation memorabilia collectors, preserving the heritage of one of the United States Air Force’s most important combat fighter wings.

 

With the implementation of the USAF re-organization of its maintenance concept in 1981, 48th and 548th Aircraft Generation Squadrons were activated on 31 August 1981 to provide flightline maintenance for all 48th TFW aircraft. Aircraft Maintenance Units AMU were established dedicated to each Wing flying Squadron with crews responsible for aircraft to be combat-ready at a moment’s notice. 48th AGS operated with 493rd AMU and 494th AMU while 548th AGS had 492nd AMU and 495th AMU. This generated competition between dedicated crews and greatly improved productivity increasing the numbers of aircraft available ready on the flightline. Regular informal and formal competitions took place based on speed competence and safety. Weapons Servicing Branch WSB operated as part of 48th and 548th Aircraft Generation Squadrons during the Wings F-111F Aardvark era. WSB specialists were responsible for the maintenance of weapons systems on each aircraft and the safe and speedy loading of the weapons both conventional and nuclear as part of the aircraft preparation on the flightline.

 

48th Organizational Maintenance Squadron 48th and 548th Aircraft Generation Squadron

Timeline

48th Organizational Maintenance Squadron 1964 – 1981

• 48th Organizational Maintenance Squadron was activated at RAF Lakenheath on 14 May 1964 assigned to 48th Tactical Fighter Wing.
• At that time the Wing was equipped with F-100D Super Sabre aircraft
• 48th OMS was inactivated on 1 January 1966.
• 48th Organizational Maintenance Squadron was reactivated on 1 February 1972 assigned to 48th Tactical Fighter Wing.
• The Wing reequipped with F-4D Phantom II in 1972
• The Wing reequipped with F-111F Aardvark fighter bombers in 1977
• 48th OMS was redesignated 48th Aircraft Generation Squadron AGS on 31 August 1981

48th Aircraft Generation Squadron 1981 – 1992

• 48th Aircraft Generation Squadron AGS was activated on 31 August 1981 on the redesignation of 48th Organizational Maintenance Squadron and its reorganisation into two Squadrons
• The Wing had reequipped with F-111F Aardvark fighter bombers in 1977
• Controlled newly activated flying Squadron dedicated 493rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit AMU and 494rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit AMU
• 48th Aircraft Generation Squadron was reassigned to 48th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991 when 48th TFW was redesignated 48th FW.
• 48th AGS was inactivated on 31 March 1992 on the phaseout of the F-111F Aardvark.

 

48th OMS and AGS Emblem –

Description – A blue disc edged white with sixteen stars around perimeter pink hand holding yellow Statue of Liberty torch with red flames superimposed on red diagonal lightning bolt.

Significance – The emblem is symbolic of the unit, the Air Force, and the national colors. The color blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations, and yellow to the sun and the excellence of personnel in assigned tasks. The hand is representative of Air Force personnel carrying the torch of freedom. The stars allude to the aerospace medium in which Air Force operations are carried out. The lightning bolt represents the striking power of the United States Air Force. (Approved, 14 Nov 1972)

Motto – Uses Unit title 48th OMS and 48th AGS

 

This 48th TFW Aircraft Generation Squadron AGS patch dates from 1981.