USAF 48th Tactical Fighter Wing TFW Patch F-111F SS Supply Squadron 1986 – Subdued Variant B1

Supply Squadron 48th TFW Patch TFW USAF F-111F Tactical Fighter Wing RAF Lakenheath USAFE 1986 (3 Inch) Subdued Variant B1

Supply Squadron 48th TFW Patch F-111F RAF Lakenheath 1986 Subdued Variant B1

This Taiwan made variant is olive green grey and red

Validation – Tangible authentic and original

Manufacturer – Taiwan made unknown

Manufacture – fully embroidered through grey twill and white single warp gauze back with white synthetic return thread, a cut edge and no plastic coating

Visibility – subdued olive green blue black and red

Condition – very good has not been sewn to uniform

Size – 71mm by 60mm

Approximate imperial size – two and three quarter inches by two and three eight inches

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48th Supply Squadron Patch TFW F-111F USAFE

48th Tactical Fighter Wing F-111F Aardvark

This original Supply Squadron 48th TFW subdued 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 Supply Squadron 48th TFW 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.

 

48th Supply Squadron

Timeline

48th Tactical Fighter Wing 

48th Supply Squadron 1952-2002

• 48th Supply Squadron activated at Chaumont Semoutiers Air Base France on 10 July 1952 assigned to 48th Maintenance and Supply Group with 48th Fighter Bomber Wing equipped with F-84G Thunderjet aircraft.
• The Wing transitioned to F- 86F Sabre aircraft in November 1953 and reequipped with F-100D Super Sabre aircraft in late 1956
• The Squadron was reassigned to 48th Air Base Group on 8 December 1957
• 48th Tactical Fighter Wing and its components relocated to RAF Lakenheath UK January 1960.
• 48th SS was reassigned to 48th Tactical Fighter Wing on 15 January 1962
• The Wing reequipped with F-4D Phantom II in 1972
• The Wing reequipped with F-111F Aardvark fighter bombers in 1977
• On 31 March 1992 48th Supply Squadron was reassigned to 48th Logistics Group
• The Wing reequipped with F 15E Strike Eagle aircraft in 1992
• 48th Supply Squadron inactivated on 25 September 2002 when redesignated 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron

48th Logistics Readiness Squadron 2002-Present

• 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron activated on the redesignation of 48th Supply Squadron on 25 September 2002
• 48th LRS was assigned to 48th Mission Support Group

 

Squadron Emblem

Emblem

Description – Yellow disc quartered by crossed black chains horizontal and vertical with detailed chain links. The quarters have coloured sectors top right red bottom right blue top left blue and bottom left red. Each sector has a yellow lightning bolt pointing to the centre. White tab edged yellow with black lettering unit designation 48th Supply Squadron or 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron

Significance – Ultramarine blue and golden yellow are the Air Force colors—blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations, and yellow to the sun and excellence of personnel in assigned duties. The chain symbolizes the unity of command and strength of the entire Squadron as a unit. The lightning bolts denote speed of response and the four areas symbolize the four cardinal points of the compass representing the unlimited range and purpose relating to the mission of the Squadron. The emblem was formally approved on 30 December 1968.

Motto –

This 48th Supply Squadron subdued patch dates from 1983.