USAF 48th Fighter Wing FW Patch F-15E Strike Eagle Crest 2003 (4 Inch) – Desert Subdued Variant A1

48th Fighter Wing Crest FW Patch USAF F-15E Strike Eagle USAFE RAF Lakenheath 13 Stars Deployed 2003 4 Inch Desert Subdued Variant A1

48th Fighter Wing Crest FW Patch USAF F-15E Strike Eagle 13 Stars 2003. Continuing the trend to use the larger 4 Inch patches

This 2003 desert subdued variant is based on the post 1994 approved design. The emblem was modified on 21 November 1994 to using a lighter blue shield color, the red edge to the shield was changed to yellow and the lettering in the scroll was changed from yellow to blue.

Desert Subdued variant was used for deployments on operations over Iraq and Afghanistan South West Asia

Validation – Tangible authentic and original

Manufacturer – Taiwan Made, Company Currently Unknown

Manufacture – factory machine fully embroidered through khaki twill with white single warp gauze back, white synthetic return thread, cut edge and no plastic coating to the back

Visibility – subdued desert colours browns tans

Condition – very good has not been sewn to uniform

Size – 101mm by 101mm

Approximate imperial size – four inches by four inches

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48th Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle

This original 48th Fighter Wing crest patch is from the famous F-15E Strike Eagle era of the Liberty Wing.

The 48th Fighter Wing’s F-15 era represents the next chapter in a distinguished history stretching back to 1952. Originally activated as the 48th Fighter Bomber Wing at Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, France, the Wing operated the F-84G Thunderjet, F-86F Sabre and F-100D Super Sabre before being redesignated 48th Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 July 1958. 48th TFW relocated to RAF Lakenheath, England, in 1960. During the Cold War the Wing became one of USAFE’s premier combat organisations, flying the F-100D Super Sabre, F-4D Phantom II and the famous F-111F Aardvark.

The Liberty Wing achieved international recognition during the F-111F era. Aircraft from the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing conducted the long-range strike against Libya during Operation El Dorado Canyon in 1986 and later flew 1,919 combat sorties during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Following the Gulf War, the Wing began restructuring under the USAF Objective Wing Organisation program and was redesignated the 48th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991.

On 15 February 1992 the Wing began conversion to the F-15E Strike Eagle. The new aircraft combined precision air-to-ground attack capability with advanced air-to-air performance, ensuring the Liberty Wing remained one of the most capable combat units in United States Air Forces in Europe. The final F-111F aircraft departed RAF Lakenheath in December 1992, bringing to an end fifteen years of Aardvark operations.

The Wing’s fighter capability expanded further when the 493rd Fighter Squadron “Grim Reapers” was reactivated on 7 January 1994 equipped with F-15C and F-15D Eagle aircraft. While the 492nd and 494th Fighter Squadrons operated the strike-focused F-15E, the 493rd FS provided dedicated air superiority capability, giving the Wing a powerful combination of offensive strike and defensive fighter missions.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the 48th Fighter Wing became USAFE’s lead Air Expeditionary Wing. Aircraft and personnel supported operations over Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan while maintaining NATO commitments across Europe. The Wing participated in Operation Allied Force over Kosovo in 1999 and later supported Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.

The Liberty Wing continued to play a major role in international security during the twenty-first century. Aircraft from RAF Lakenheath participated in Operation Odyssey Dawn over Libya in 2011 and later conducted combat operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The Wing also maintained regular deployments for Icelandic Air Policing, Baltic Air Policing and multinational NATO exercises throughout Europe and the United States.

In 2006 the Wing gained the 56th Rescue Squadron, adding dedicated combat search and rescue capability. This was followed by the activation of the 57th Rescue Squadron, strengthening RAF Lakenheath’s personnel recovery mission and expanding the Wing’s operational capabilities.

The next major development came with the return of the 495th Fighter Squadron. Reactivated on 1 October 2021, the squadron became the first F-35A Lightning II unit assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing. The first aircraft arrived at RAF Lakenheath in December 2021. In 2022 the 493rd Fighter Squadron transitioned from the F-15C Eagle to the F-35A, beginning a new era of fifth-generation combat capability at RAF Lakenheath.

Today the 48th Fighter Wing remains one of the most important combat wings in the United States Air Force. From the F-84 Thunderjet and F-100 Super Sabre to the F-111F Aardvark, F-15 Eagle and F-35A Lightning II, the Liberty Wing has maintained continuous frontline service in Europe for more than seventy years.

Patches from the F-15 era are highly collectible among RAF Lakenheath, USAFE and modern military aviation collectors. Popular themes include F-15E Strike Eagle squadron patches, 493rd Fighter Squadron “Grim Reapers” insignia, Air Expeditionary Force deployments, Operation Allied Force, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom memorabilia, together with transition patches marking the arrival of the F-35A Lightning II.

Emblem –

A new insignia design strengthened Franco-American relations during the Cold War period. Chaumont was located near Frederic Bartholdi’s workshops the designer of the famous Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. The Wing incorporated the Statue of Liberty into its emblem. On 4 July 1954 the mayor of Chaumont granted the Wing its honorary title Statue de la Liberte subsequently used on its emblem. The Wing became known as “The Statue of Liberty Wing” and “Liberty Wing”.

Description – Azure, an orle of mullets Argent, issuant from base overall the bust of the Statue of Liberty facing to dexter Vert, all within a diminished bordure Or. Attached below the shield, a White scroll edged with a narrow Yellow border and inscribed “Statue De La Liberte” in Blue letters.

Significance – Ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The emblem is symbolic of the Wing and its history. On 10 July 1954, the 178th anniversary of United States independence, the Wing was designated as “The Statue of Liberty Wing” in recognition of the long-standing friendship between the United States and France. The thirteen stars surrounding the Statue of Liberty represent the original colonies of the United States of America. The red edge to the shield denotes the sacrifice to achieve independence.

The Statue of liberty design replaced the earlier 48th Fighter Bomber Wing emblem approved on 20 March 1953. The Statue of liberty emblem was used from 1954 and formally approved 5 July 1962.

The Emblem was modified on 21 November 1994 to using a lighter blue shield color, the red edge to the shield was changed to yellow and the lettering in the scroll was changed from yellow to blue

Motto –

French “Statue De La Liberte”-translates – “Statue of Liberty”

 

This 2003 desert subdued 48th Fighter Wing Crest variant was used for deployments on operations over Iraq and Afghanistan South West Asia.