USAF 48th Tactical Fighter Wing TFW Patch Crest F-111F Aardvark 1980 (4 Inch) – Variant G1

48th TFW Crest Patch USAF Tactical Fighter Wing USAFE F-111F Aardvark 1985 RAF Lakenheath 13 Stars 4 Inch Variant G1

USAFE 48th TFW F-111F Aardvark Patch Tactical Fighter Wing Variant G1

Yellow thread to scroll lettering and edge

Validation – Tangible authentic and original

Manufacturer – Taiwan made,

Manufacture – factory machine embroidered on fine twill with ribbing running top left to bottom right, cut edge, white gauze layer, iron on clear plastic coating on back, synthetic thread return, scroll with yellow colour lettering and edge

Visibility – colour

Condition – very good has not been sewn to uniform

Size – 100mm by 100mm

Approximate imperial size – four inches by four inches

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48th Tactical Fighter Wing F-111F Aardvark

This original 48th TFW crest 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 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.

Review the Operation El Dorado Canyon History Page for more information

Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm

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 48th TFW F-111F Aardvark crest 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.

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.

Used from 1954 Formally approved 5 July 1962, modified on 21 November 1994; replaced emblem approved on 20 March 1953

Motto –

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

This USAFE 48th TFW F-111F Aardvark crest patch dates from 1985.