Statue of Liberty Wing celebrates 60th anniversary Published July 9, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Dawn M. Weber 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- The 48th Fighter Wing held a ceremony Thursday to commemorate its 60th anniversary as "The Statue of Liberty Wing." The wing was officially dubbed The Statue of Liberty Wing on July 4, 1954, by Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner, former United States Air Forces in Europe commander. The 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing was activated at Chaumont Air Base, July 10, 1952. Coincidentally, the 48th designation matched the then 48 states that made up the United States of America. According to information provided by Peter Law, 48th Fighter Wing historian, Chaumont AB originally consisted of a concrete runway and a handful of shacks on what was once a wheat field. However, within two years, the wing supported an engineering project that resulted in the construction of permanent barracks, a wing headquarters and other base facilities. The wing served as an operational wing, flying the F-84 Thunderjet and, in 1953, the wing transitioned to the F-86 Sabre. The wing also picked up duties for the Skyblazers Aerial Demonstration Team. The Statue of Liberty itself was cast in nearby Sommevoire Haute-Mame. As a gift from the French government, a replica was made from the original mold and erected at Chaumont AB in 1956. Although the wing relocated to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, in January of 1960, the statue remains there today. "There's a lot of history here at the Liberty Wing, and it's still being made here today," said Col. Kyle Robinson, 48th Fighter Wing commander. "Our legacy is remembered far and wide for the things we have done in the past, things we're doing right now; and, most importantly for us at the Liberty Wing, the things we're going to do tomorrow and in the future." The 48th Fighter Wing remains the only Air Force unit to have both an official name and a numerical designation.