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495th Fighter Squadron
The squadron's markings on the tail of an F-35A parked at RAF Lakenheath in 2022
Active15 January 1941 – 1 April 1944
1 April 1977 – 13 December 1991
1 October 2021 – present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleFighter
Part ofUnited States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa
Garrison/HQRAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
Nickname(s)Valkyries[1]
Thundervarks (1977–1991)[2]
Motto(s)Mala Ipsa Nova
(Latin: Bad News Itself)
ColorsGreen
EquipmentF-35A Lightning II
Insignia
Squadron codeLN (Apr 1977 – Dec 1991; Dec 2021 – present)
495th Fighter Squadron emblem
495th Tactical Fighter Squadron emblem

The 495th Fighter Squadron (495th FS), nicknamed the Valkyries, is part of the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. Having been reactivated on 1 October 2021, it became the first overseas United States Air Force squadron to operate the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II on 15 December 2021.

The unit had previously operated the General Dynamics F-111F Aardvark at RAF Lakenheath between 1977 and 1991.

History

World War II

Activated as a Southeastern Air District Army Air Corps training squadron, equipped with a variety of second-line aircraft, both single and twin engine, preparing its pilots and maintenance crews for eventual combat. After the Pearl Harbor Attack, the squadron flew antisubmarine patrols[3] from, March–April 1942. Resumed aircrew training, many of the group's members went on to serve in squadrons stationed in Europe and the Pacific theaters.

Eventually coming under the AAF III Fighter Command in 1944, trained replacement pilots with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, inactivated in 1944 with the end of RTU training.

Cold War

F-111F Aardvark 70-2391 of the 495th TFS. The ribbon on tail is for Operation El Dorado Canyon raid on Libya in April 1986.

The 495th was reactivated on 1 April 1977 as the 495th Tactical Fighter Squadron, becoming the fourth tactical fighter squadron with the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England. This was 33 years to the day since the squadron’s inactivation. The 495th mission was as a replacement training unit for General Dynamics F-111F Aardvark pilots and Weapon Systems Officers (WSO) assigned to the three combat fighter squadron at RAF Lakenheath.

The 495 TFS participated in Operation El Dorado Canyon on 15 April 1986, the air raid against Muammar Gaddafi's Libyan government due to its involvement in the West Berlin discotheque bombing ten days prior.[4] The mission was successful, however one of the squadron's F-111Fs (70-2389), callsign 'Karma 52', was shot down over the Gulf of Sidra, killing pilot Capt. Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci and WSO Capt. Paul F. Lorence.[5]

In 1990, the 495 TFS deployed crews to augment the three deployed squadrons from the 48 TFW to Taif Air Base, Saudi Arabia, as part of Operation Desert Shield which was in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.[6] The squadron suffered a loss on 15 October 1990, when F-111F 74-0183 crashed during a night time training mission, killing pilot Capt. Art Reid and WSO Capt. Thomas Caldwell.[7][8]

The 495th was inactivated on 13 December 1991, shortly before retirement of the F-111F Aardvark at RAF Lakenheath.[4]

Modern era

On 15 September 2020, the USAF announced that the 495th Fighter Squadron would be reactivated as first F-35A unit of the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath.[9] On 6 April 2021, the unit was officially redesignated as the 495th Fighter Squadron.[10]

The 495th FS was reactivated on 1 October 2021, with 27 aircraft and roughly 60 personnel.[11] The "Valkyries" received their first four F-35As (19-5473, 19-5474, 19-5475, and 19-5476) on 15 December 2021.[12] They received their next three F-35As (19-5484, 19-5485 and 19-5486) on 10 February 2022.[13] The third batch, consisting of two aircraft, including the 493rd FS and 495th FS commanders’ jets (19-5493 and 19-5495) arrived on 15 April 2022. 19-5493 was integrated with the 495th FS until the 493rd FS reactivated with the F-35A Lightning II.[14][failed verification]

Lineage

A F-35A of the 495th FS land at RAF Lakenheath, 15 December 2021.
Activated on 15 January 1941
Redesignated: 88th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 14 August 1941
Redesignated: 88th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 28 August 1942
Redesignated: 495th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 10 August 1943
Disbanded on 1 April 1944[3]
Inactivated on 13 December 1991
Redesignated: 495th Fighter Squadron on 6 April 2021
Activated on 1 October 2021[10]

Assignments

Attached on 15 January 1941
Assigned on 14 August 1941

Stations

Aircraft

References

Notes

  1. ^ "U.S. Air Force names first overseas-based F-35A Squadron". Royal Air Force Lakenheath. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  2. ^ Svan, Jennifer H. (16 September 2020). "'Thundervarks' on the way out as Air Force seeks new name for F-35 squadron at Lakenheath". Stripes. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. p. 597. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
  4. ^ a b "The History, Heritage and Heraldry of the 48th Fighter Wing" (PDF). RAF Lakenheath. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  5. ^ Leone, Dario (14 April 2019). "The sad story of 'Karma 52', the only F-111 lost during Operation El Dorado Canyon". The Aviation Geek Club. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  6. ^ "1990s". RAF Lakenheath. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Accident General Dynamics F-111F 74-0183, 10 Oct 1990". Aviation Safety. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  8. ^ O'Shea, Erin (25 June 2015). "Memorial restored". RAF Lakenheath. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  9. ^ "The Air Force's First Overseas-Based F-35A Unit Is Revealed And Now It Needs A Name". thedrive.com. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d Lahue, Melissa (6 January 2022). "495 Fighter Squadron (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  11. ^ "U.S. Air Force activates first Europe-based F-35A Squadron". Royal Air Force Lakenheath. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  12. ^ "First USAF outside CONUS based Lightnings arrive at Lakenheath". scramble.nl. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  13. ^ Beasley, Glenn (13 February 2022). "More F-35A arrivals for the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath". Global Aviation Resource. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  14. ^ "RAF Lakenheath welcomes first 5th Generation F-35". Royal Air Force Lakenheath. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  15. ^ See Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. pp. 77–78. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Category