USAF Patch Fighter USAFE c 495 TFS Tactical Fighter Squadron F 111 Thundervarks

USAF 495 TFS Fighter Patch USAFE 495 TFS Tactical Fighter Squadron Thundervarks RAF Lakenheath F 111 Aardvark 1980s Embroidered on twill cut edge 100mm by 80mm three and fifteen sixteenth inches by three and one eighth inches

USAF 495 TFS Fighter Patch USAFE Squadron F 111 Thundervarks

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Squadron History

WWII

495 Fighter Bomber Squadron was formed under 48 Fighter Bomber Group on 10 August 1943 at William Northern Field Tennessee. The Squadron was tasked to train replacement P 47 Thunderbolt pilots using P 47 P39 Aircobra and P 40 Warhawk aircraft. 495 FBS was inactivated on 1 April 1944.

F 111F Aardvark 1977 to 1991

495 Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated at RAF Lakenheath England on 1 April 1977. Equipped with F 111F Aardvark fighter bomber aircraft the Squadron assigned to 48 Tactical Fighter Wing. 495 TFS was tasked as the replacement training unit for pilots and WSOs Weapons System Officers for the Wings other three fighter squadrons 492 493 and 494 TFSs. 495 TFS adopted the tail colour green.

The Squadron undertook combat missions for Operation Eldorado Canyon the bombing of targets in Libya on 15 April 1986. 495 TFS lost one aircraft callsign Karma 52 and its crew Captain Fernando Ribas Dominicci and WSO Captain Paul Lorence.

Following the Iraq invasion of Kuwait 495 TFS provided additional crews and personnel for 48 TFWs Operation Desert Shield deployment to Taif Air Base Saudi Arabia in August 1990.  The Squadron lost Captain Art Reid and WSO Captain Thomas Caldwell during night training on 15 October 1990.

On 1 October 1991 the Squadron was redesignated 495 Fighter Squadron with 48 Tactical Fighter Wing becoming 48 Fighter Wing. 495 FS was inactivated at RAF Lakenheath on 13 December 1991 during the retirement rundown of the F 111F.

F 35A Lightning 2021 to present

495 Fighter Squadron reactivated at RAF Lakenheath on 1 October 2021 assigned to 48 Fighter Wing. The Squadron was tasked commence the integration and rollout of the F 35A lightning aircraft to 48 FW and received its first four aircraft on 15 December 2021. 495 FSs first integration was 493 Fighter Squadron which inactivated after returning its last F 15E aircraft to US in April 2022 and reactivated at RAF Lakenheath with its first F 35A aircraft.

This patch dates from the 1980s.