USAF 48th Fighter Wing FW Patch F-15E Strike Eagle OSS Operations Support Squadron 1994 (4 Inch) – Variant A1

48th FW OSS Operations Support Squadron Patch USAF Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle USAFE RAF Lakenheath 1994 (4 Inch) Variant A1

48th FW OSS Operations Support Squadron the Eagles Patch USAF Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle 1994. Continuing with the use of larger 4 Inch patches

This patch has the Eagle’s head facing right while the official emblem has it facing left. On a previous 1993 spearhead shaped patch there were two stars one coloured blue for 492nd FS and one coloured red for 494th FS. 493rd FS had been deactivated at that time. The official emblem has three stars all blue standing for truth, honor, and knowledge.

Validation – Tangible authentic and original

Manufacturer – Taiwan Made, Company Currently Unknown

Manufacture – factory machine fully embroidered through burgundy dark red twill and white single warp gauze, white synthetic return thread and a cut edge with no plastic coating on the back

Visibility – color

Condition – very good has not been sewn to uniform

Size – 102mm by 85mm

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

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48th Fighter Wing F-15 Eagle

This original 48th FW OSS Operations Support Squadron patch is from the beginning of 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-15E Strike Eagle 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.

48th Operations Support Squadron

48th Operations Support Squadron was activated on 31 March 1992 assigned to 48th Operations Group. 48th OSS adopted the name “Eagles” and burgundy dark red as their Squadron colour.  The Squadron is tasked with enabling 48th OGs flying Squadron operations proceed efficiently and effectively in support of USEUCOM USAFRICOM and NATO contingency missions.

The Squadron was activated at the beginning of 48^th Fighter Wing’s transition from the F-111F Aardvark aircraft to the F-15 Strike Eagle air superiority aircraft.

The Squadron provided support to 56th Rescue Squadron when assigned to 48th Operations Group on 28 June 2006 and to 57th Rescue Squadron when activated at the Group on 18 February 2015. 56th RQS was reassigned to 31st Operations Group at Aviano AB Italy in May 2018 with 57th RQS following on 1 July 2018.

48th Operations Group began the transition to F-35A lightning aircraft with the activation of 495th Fighter Squadron on 1 October 2021 with its first four aircraft arriving on 15 December 2021. The first integration achieved was 493rd Fighter Squadron the “Grim Reapers” which inactivated after returning its last four F-15C and D Eagle aircraft to US in April 2022 and reactivated at RAF Lakenheath with its first F-35A aircraft. 492nd FS the “Bolars” and 494th FS the “Panthers” continued operations with the F-15E Strike Eagle.

 

The Squadron is tasked to provide flight and airfield management including: –

• Air Traffic Control ATC – to manage the Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) and tower operations, guiding military and civilian overflights in local airspace, Drone/Airspace Approvals
• Airfield Management – to ensure the safety, maintenance, and readiness of the base’s runways and taxiways
• Weather – Weather Flight (OSW) provides real-time atmospheric and meteorological analysis weather conditions and forecasts, transient aircraft briefings and flight documentation
• Intelligence – providing mission planning data, threat analysis, and briefings for pilots,
• Weapons and Tactics – Weapons and Tactics shop devises and standardizes tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat operations, brief pilots on current enemy air and ground threats, managing the employment of precision-guided munitions and ensuring the wing’s armament platforms are fully combat-ready for oversees combat readiness, training scenarios, and mission evaluation
• SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) – Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) specialists conduct vital training to ensure aircrew are prepared for emergency and combat survival scenarios
• Scheduling – Wing Scheduling coordinates with host-nation partners, external agencies, and the 48th Fighter Wing’s four fighter squadrons to develop daily and long-range operational schedules including flight times and airspace availability
• Training for Contingency Response – training Multi-Capable Airmen to maintain the agility required for deployed environments and operating Tactical Landing Zone (LZ) kits to project airpower anywhere.
• Aircrew Life Support – Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) specialists are responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and outfitting pilots with critical survival gear including helmets, emergency oxygen and masks, anti-G suits, emergency rafts, packing and issuing parachutes
• Operational Plans – Operational Plans flight manages the development, publication, and execution of war plans and contingency operations
• Group administration – administration for 48th Operations Group.

 

Emblem –

Description – On a burgundy dark red disc an eagle’s head facing left white with yellow beak and black detailing with a with a yellow trail around the back of the eagle’s head with the bottom end having three blue stars and the top end a grey stylised aircraft arrowhead all with black detailing. A white tab edged burgundy dark red at the bottom contains the Squadron designation “48th Operations Support Sq”

Significance – Blue and 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 burgundy dark red is the Squadrons adopted color. The eagle represents the United States Air Forces in Europe and denotes the squadron’s direct support to the fighter squadrons of its parent wing. The stylised aircraft and trail allude to aerospace operations. The three stars stand for truth, honor, and knowledge and reflect the dedicated personnel of the 48th Operations Support Squadron.

The emblem was formally approved on 5 June 1995.

 

This 48th FW OSS Operations Support Squadron the Eagles patch dates from 1994 the early period following the Wings transition from the F-111F Aardvark aircraft to the F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft and the reactivation of 493rd Fighter Squadron.