USAF 48th Tactical Fighter Wing Patch F-100D Supply Squadron Det 1 Wheelus AB 1965 (3 Inch) – Variant B1

USAF 48th TFW Det 1 Supply Squadron Patch Tactical Fighter Wing F-100D Super Sabre USAFE 1965 Wheelus AB Libya (3 Inch) Variant B1

Validation – Tangible authentic and original

Manufacturer – Japanese Made Hand Machined Ace or Tiger

Manufacture – Hand machine embroidered on mock full embroidery backing twill and white fabric back lettering sewn through with rear locking threads white cotton

Visibility – colour

Condition – good has been sewn to uniform and removed

Size – 48mm by 76mm

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

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USAF 48th TFW Patch

F-100D Super Sabre fighter aircraft

This original 48th Tactical Fighter Wing Supply Squadron Det 1 patch is from the famous F-100D Super Sabre period.

Chaumont Semoutiers Air Base France

Activating at Chaumont Semoutiers Air Base France on 10 July 1952 the 48th Fighter Bomber Wing flying element comprised 492nd, 493rd and 494th Fighter Bomber Squadrons. The Wing upgraded from F-84G Thunderjet to F-86F Sabre aircraft during November 1953.

A new insignia design strengthened Franco-American relations during the Cold War period. Chaumont was located near Frederic Bartholdi’s workshops in eastern France. Bartholdi designed 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”.

In late 1956 the Wing converted from F-86F Sabre aircraft to F-100D Super Sabre fighter aircraft. The F-100D became one of USAFE’s principal NATO tactical fighter aircraft. The Wing assumed direct control of combat squadrons on 8 December 1957 when the 48th Fighter Bomber Group was inactivated. The Wing became the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 July 1958. Flying squadrons were redesignated Tactical Fighter Squadrons following the name change.

RAF Lakenheath United Kingdom

Rising political tensions forced USAFE units to leave France during the late 1950s. Under Project Red Richard the Wing redeployed to RAF Lakenheath, England, during January 1960. RAF Lakenheath became a major NATO fighter base during the Cold War years. The Wing supported NATO exercises and tactical evaluations throughout Europe. Deployments included Turkey, Italy, Spain and bases across the United Kingdom. The Wing earned its first Air Force Outstanding Unit Award between 1961 and 1964.

During 1972 the Wing began conversion to the F-4D Phantom II aircraft. The final F-100D Super Sabre departed RAF Lakenheath during August 1974.

48th TFW Det 1 Wheelus AB Libya

20th Fighter-Bomber Wing from RAF Wethersfield established its Detachment 1 at Wheelus Air Base Libya in February 1958. Det 1 was tasked with managing and administering month-long Squadron live fire weapons training rotations at USAFE Weapons Training Center, Wheelus AB. Each USAFE Fighter Wing would send one of its Squadrons on a monthly rotation to conduct intense air-to-air and air-to-ground gunnery missile and bombing training at the nearby El Uotia range.

The 48th Tactical Fighter Wing moved from Chaumont Air Base, France, to RAF Lakenheath in January 1960 and integrated into the weapons training pipeline. It established 48th TFW Detachment 1 at Wheelus AB shortly thereafter as the Wing’s own permanent support presence.

48 TFW would deploy pilots from one of its three fighter squadrons to undertake live fire training for thirty days. Personnel from support Squadrons including field maintenance, organizational maintenance, armament and electronics, supply, transportation and squadron clerks would be rotated in for a thirty-six-day deployment.

Each deployment was shared with two other rotating fighter Wing flying Squadrons and members of their supporting Squadrons from USAFE. In addition to the full benefits of the live fire training assimilation and integration to pilots and support personnel the location provided experience of acclimatization to an entirely different and extremely strenuous environment.

The Detachment 1’s operations ended when Wheelus AB was evacuated and closed in June 1970 following the coup in Libya led by Muammar Gaddafi.

This 3-inch patch is highly collectible among USAFE and Cold War aviation collectors.

 

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 –

The Squadron has no motto so its designation is incorporated into the emblem 48th Supply Squadron or 48 Supply

 

This USAFE 48th TFW Det 1 Supply Squadron F-100D Super Sabre era patch dates from 1965.