USAF 48th Fighter Wing FW Lakengrief Patch F-15E Strike Eagle 2017 (5 Inch) – Variant A1

48th FW Lakengrief Patch USAF Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle USAFE RAF Lakenheath 2017 (5 Inch)  Variant A1

48th FW Lakengrief Patch USAF Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle 2017. Larger 5 Inch patch

This unofficial morale patch was produced following the 2015 announcement that RAF Mildenhall would close and many of its units would relocate to RAF Lakenheath. The design depicts personnel moving from RAFM (RAF Mildenhall) to RAFL (RAF Lakenheath) beneath the Statue of Liberty Wing emblem. The humorous title “Lakengrief” and the motto “Run While You Can!” reflect concerns among personnel about the increased workload and disruption expected from the proposed consolidation of the two USAF bases in Suffolk. The closure plan was later cancelled in 2020, making the patch a unique reminder of this period in USAFE history.

Validation – Tangible authentic and original

Manufacturer – Taiwan Made, Company Currently Unknown

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

Visibility – color

Condition – very good has not been sewn to uniform

Size – 125mm by 103mm

Approximate imperial size – four and fifteen sixteenth inches by four and one sixteenth inches

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USAFE

48th Fighter Wing F-15 Eagle

This original USAF 48th FW Lakengrief 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-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.

In January 2015, the US Department of Defense announced that RAF Mildenhall would close. Under this consolidation plan, some units were to be transfer to RAF Lakenheath, while others would relocate to Germany. However, this decision was reversed. In July 2020, following a reassessment of European defense needs, the US DoD confirmed that the closure of RAF Mildenhall and the transfer of its units would no longer take place and both RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath were to remain active hubs.

This 48th FW Lakengrief morale patch dates from 2017 while the planned closure of RAF Mildenhall and relocation of some units to RAF Lakenheath was still anticipated.

The main elements of this patch are: –

• LAKENGRIEF
  A humorous nickname suggesting that personnel at RAF Lakenheath would suffer “grief” from the influx of additional aircraft, personnel, housing pressure, traffic and support requirements resulting from the proposed consolidation.
• Ghost Statue of Liberty
  Represents the 48th Fighter Wing “Liberty Wing” identity.
• Walking Figure
  Likely represents personnel being moved from RAF Mildenhall to RAF Lakenheath.
• RAFM → RAFL
  The figure is literally walking from RAF Mildenhall to RAF Lakenheath.
• “RUN WHILE YOU CAN!”
  A tongue-in-cheek morale message suggesting life at Lakenheath was about to become significantly busier.