Military Jets Photography: September 2016

The 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath is the Statue of Liberty Wing, the only USAF wing with both a number and a name. Since activation at Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, France, on 10 July 1952, Liberty Wing has been one of the premier fighter wings of the United States Air Forces in Europe, spending over 50 years as part of USAFE. The 48 FW has nearly 5,700 active-duty military members, 2,000 British and U.S. civilians, and includes a Geographically Separate Unit (GSU) at nearby RAF Feltwell.

Tactical squadrons of the 48th Operations Group are:
492d Fighter Squadron (F-15E)
493d Fighter Squadron (F-15C/D)
494th Fighter Squadron (F-15E)
Aircraft of the 48th FW carry the tail code "LN".

In addition to supporting three combat-ready squadrons of F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft, the Liberty Wing houses the 56th Rescue Squadron's HH-60G Combat Search and Rescue helicopters. The 56th and 57th Rescue Squadrons will re-locate to Aviano Air Base starting 2017.
RAF Lakenheath and its sister base RAF Mildenhall are the two main U.S. Air Force bases in United Kingdom, and 48th Fighter Wing is the only U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter wing in the UK and also in Europe.

F-15E USAF 91-0318/LN

F-15E USAF 98-0134/LN

F-15E USAF 91-0316/LN

F-15E USAF 98-0134/LN

F-15E USAF 96-0202/LN

F-15E USAF 98-0133/LN

F-15E USAF 91-0318/LN

RAF Mildenhall is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station located near Mildenhall in Suffolk, England.
Despite its status as a Royal Air Force station, it primarily supports United States Air Force (USAF) operations, and is currently the home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing (100 ARW).
On 8 January 2015, the United States Department of Defense announced that operations at RAF Mildenhall would end, and be relocated to Germany (Spangdahlem Air Base) and also within the UK.

RAF Mildenhall hosts units from four different major USAF commands – Air Combat Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Mobility Command and United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE); as well as units of the United States Navy.
352d Special Operations Wing (AFSOC)
95th Reconnaissance Squadron (ACC) part of 55th Wing, 55th Operations Group, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
488th Intelligence Squadron (ACC) part of 55th Wing, 55th Operations Group Intelligence Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
727th Air Mobility Squadron (AMC) part of 721st Air Mobility Operations Group, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
Fleet Industrial Supply Center Mildenhall (COMUSNAVEUR)

100th Air Refueling Wing
The host unit at RAF Mildenhall is the 100th Air Refueling Wing (100 ARW), which deploys aircraft for and manages the European Tanker Task Force, a rotational force which provides air refuelling to US and NATO aircraft in the European Theatre. It is the only permanent USAF air refuelling wing in the European theatre, activated at RAF Mildenhall on 1 February 1992. The wing provides the critical air refuelling 'bridge' that allows the Expeditionary Air Force to deploy around the globe with the appropriate urgency.
The tactical component of the 100 ARW is the 351st Air Refueling Squadron (351 ARS), flying the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker.

352d Special Operations Wing
The 352d Special Operations Wing (352 SOW) is the Air Force component for Special Operations Command Europe, a sub-unified command of the US European Command. It transferred to RAF Mildenhall on 17 February 1995, from RAF Alconbury. The 352 SOW has two flying squadrons, a maintenance squadron, an operations support squadron and a special tactics squadron.
The mission of the 352 SOW is to serve as the focal point for all US Air Force special operations activities throughout the European theatre, including Africa and the Middle East. The 352 SOW is tasked to conduct a variety of high priority, low-visibility missions supporting US and allied special operations forces throughout the European theatre during peacetime, joint operations exercises and combat operations.
The 352d SOW develops and implements peacetime and wartime contingency plans. It effectively uses fixed-wing and personnel assets in infiltration by, exfiltration by and resupplying of US and allied special operations forces.
The tactical components of the 352nd SOW are the:
7th Special Operations Squadron (Lockheed MC-130 Talon II and Bell Boeing CV-22 Osprey aircraft)
67th Special Operations Squadron (Lockheed MC-130J Commando II aircraft)
321st Special Tactics Squadron
352d Special Operations Support Squadron
352d Special Operations Maintenance Squadron
Joint Special Operations Air Component-Europe (JSOAC-E)

95th Reconnaissance Squadron
Main article: 95th Reconnaissance Squadron
The 95th Reconnaissance Squadron (95 RS) conducts RC-135 Rivet Joint flight operations in the European and Mediterranean theatres of operations; as tasked by National Command Authorities and European Command.
The squadron provides all operational management, aircraft maintenance, administration, and intelligence support to produce politically sensitive real-time intelligence data vital to national foreign policy.
The 95 RS supports RC-135, OC-135, and E-4 missions when theatre deployed.