New unit to activate at Lakenheath

  • Published
  • By Capt. Kevin Walton
  • 48th Component Maintenance Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The 48th Fighter Wing will welcome a new unit into its fold Nov. 10 when the 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is activated.

The 56th and 493rd Aircraft Maintenance Units, both currently in the 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, will merge to create the new unit, and the 48th AMXS will continue being comprised of the 492nd and 494th AMUs.

"The stand up of the 748th AMXS allows one squadron to focus on our F-15 Strike Eagle mission and the other to devote its energy to combat search and rescue and air superiority," said Col. Dorothy Silvanic, 48th Maintenance Group commander. "It will give us better span of control over both organizations and focused oversight for the complex mission requirements of
the 48th Fighter Wing."

The 748th AMXS will be responsible for sustaining the high operational tempo of the 56th Rescue Squadron and its five HH-60 Pave Hawks, as well as the air-to-air mission of the 493rd Fighter Squadron and its more than 20 F-15C Eagles. The 48th AMXS will continue supporting Lakenheath's nearly 60 F-15E Strike Eagles and their air-to-ground mission.

The split reduces the more than 850 personnel currently under 48th AMXS by bringing about 344 maintainers under the new unit. Leading the personnel transfer is current 48th AMXS Commander, Maj. Darrin Dronoff, who will also serve as the 748th AMXS commander.

"Leading up to the split, no detail was overlooked to ensure a smooth exchange, preventing any hiccups in the 48th FW mission," said Major Dronoff. "Personnel, squadron budgets, administration, even the new unit patches were all decided upon in a collective wing effort in the four months preceding the split."

The 748th AMXS is a new squadron with no history, so a new unit patch, designed by Airman 1st Class Breanna Mack of the 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, was created, along with a new unit motto: "Universal Excellence".

A change of command ceremony will be held for the 48th Component Maintenance Squadron and the 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in conjunction with the activation ceremony Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. in Hangar 7. The event is open to all RAF Lakenheath personnel and their families.