29 July 2003. B. writes:
"The Statue of Liberty Wing"
Facts About the 48th Fighter Wing
Mission Statement To provide responsive air combat power, support
and services to meet our Allies' and our nation's international objectives.
Location Royal Air Force Station Lakenheath, United Kingdom, is located
70 miles northeast of London and 25 miles from Cambridge. Nearly 5,000 U.S.
military personnel and 2,000 American and British civilian employees are
assigned to the base. RAF Lakenheath is the largest U.S. Air Force-operated
base in England and the only U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) F-15 fighter
wing.
Technology As the U.S. Air Forces in Europes only F-15 fighter
wing, we bring unique air combat capabilities to the fight, such as the most
advanced precision guided munitions (GBU-15 and AGM-130), the Rapid Targeting
System for near real time, airborne re-targeting and the APG-70 radar, the
worlds most advanced in range, tracking, ECCM and ID capability. We
provide all-weather, day or night air superiority and air-to-ground precision
combat capability and multi-staged improvement program avionics. The F-15E
Strike Eagle is the worlds most capable air-to-ground, precision strike
fighter, employing PGMs using Low Altitude Night Targeting and Infrared
Navigation (LANTIRN) system technology. The F-15C Eagle is the world's premier
air-to-air superiority fighter, capable of eliminating enemy air threats
anywhere, anytime. When teamed together, the F-15E and F-15C provide an air
combat capability never before seen in the history of airpower.
Mission Historically, the 48th Fighter Wing has been the foundation
of USAFEs combat capability and remains so today. The Liberty Wing
led the El Dorado Canyon raids into Libya in 1986 and was the first F-111
fighter unit to deploy to the Gulf during Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT
STORM. We flew in the nations two most recent combat contingencies:
Operation NORTHERN WATCH and Operation DELIBERATE FORCE. NATO and U.S. leaders
have asserted that if America is needed in this region, the 48th Fighter
Wing will be called out first.
Teamwork The 48th Fighter Wings team is the synergy that makes
the wing so effective as the Air Forces largest, mission ready, F-15E/C
team. From aircrew to combat support personnel with advanced communication
systems, medical support and force protection, each member of the Liberty
Wing understands that at its essence, their contributions represent combat
capability.