ALWAYS READY TO OWN THE SKIES F-15E STRIKE EAGLES UNRESTRICTED QUICK CLIMBS • 48TH FW RAF LAKENHEATH

The F-15E Strike Eagles are flown by two combat-ready squadrons at RAF Lakenheath, the 492d Fighter Squadron the 'Madhatters', locally known as the 'Bolars' and the 494th Fighter Squadron 'Panthers'.

So what is a Quick Climb?
Unlike the Typhoon which accelerates vertically after 9 seconds from brakes to take off, aircraft such as the F15E or F35A will usually clear the whole runway maintaining an altitude anywhere between 40-100ft with speeds of around 320mph and then pull the aircraft vertically or near vertical to quickly climb to the aircraft's cruising altitude. It is more commonly requested by the pilot as a "quick climb" more usual.

Why do they do Unrestricted climbs/PTOs/Quick climbs
There are many reasons such as clearing airspace barriers, short runways, to burn fuel before air-to-air refuelling or just to get to a destination quicker. But these are just a few reasons, one also could be to impress the Ted Coningsby Squadron!

RAF Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing and although it carries the title RAF but it is a USAF base. This is because the base was originally built for and operated by the Royal Air Force in 1940. The airfield started life out as decoy airfield (Q-site) to RAF Mildenhall, which is about 5.5 miles the way the backwards crow flies. RAF Mildenhall was an established bomber station built in 1934 and to protect it, Lakenheath was chosen to become a decoy, to take any attacks. However, things changes and it was decided that RAF Lakenheath would become a satellite station to Mildenhall.

Lakenheath was home to 20 OTU with Wellington Bombers, 149 Squadron with their Short Sterling Bombers who were also joined later by 199 Squadron. After WWII, and from 1948, it then became home to the USAF's 307th Bombardment Group and also the 2d Bombardment Group.

On the 15th January 1941, the US Army Air Corps activated the 48th Bombardment Group (Light). During WW2, the 492d, 493d and 494th Fighters Squadrons were trained and were significantly involved in the Normandy Landings, Operation Overlord and the Invasion of France. Their combat sorties involved bombings raids over bridges, railway lines and carried out reconnaissance missions. It was on the 10th July 1952, the Oklahoma Air National Guard 137th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, France was redesignated as the 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing.

The Statue of Liberty was actually made near the base and the Mayor of the town gave a ceremonial name to the base as the "Statue of Liberty Wing". The 48th Fighter Wing is the only Wing in the USAF to have a number and a name!

It wasn't until 15th January 1960 that the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing made Lakenehath their new home. LR, LS and LT were the tail codes for the base with the F-100's but when they transitioned to the Phantom, a temporary tail code of LK was introduced until a few months later it changed once more to LN, which is active today.

In 1977 a fourth squadron joined Lakenheath's 48th, the 495th Tactical Fighter Squadron. They were known as the "Thundervarks" flying the F-111's. However, they deactivated in 1991. They also sported the green tail flash.

In 1991, The 48th Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 48th Fighter Wing. This included the 'Tactical' title being dropped on the squadrons too. The 495th disbanded with the retirement of the F-111 in that year but returned 30 years later in 2021 with the F-35A.

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