Did you know?

  • Published
  • By Col. G. Arthur McGettrick
  • 48th Operations Group commander
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Did you know the Liberty Wing has a lot to be proud of? A quick look at our past heritage and present accomplishments will show you how the 48th Fighter Wing has answered the call and performed admirably throughout its 65 year history.

In 1941, the 48th Bombardment Group Light and its 55th, 56th and 57th squadrons were activated as a training unit at Hunter Field. They immediately began training maintainers and aircrews in close air support and interdiction, preparing them for eventual combat in World War II. From 1941-43, the 48th moved six times and flew six different types of attack training aircraft.

In August 1943, the group was re-designated the 48th Fighter-Bomber Group with the 492d, 493d, 494th and 495th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, and changed from training to an operational fighter unit. In early 1944, the 48th began flying the P-47 Thunderbolt and moved to Southern England. After several weeks of intense training, the 48th flew its first combat missions in April 1944, and in June played a key role supporting the massive Allied invasion of Normandy. The 48th then moved to several different bases across France and Belgium, supporting the First Army. The 48th was a key player enabling the Army's breakthrough into Germany and helping hold back the massive German assault during the Battle of the Bulge. By 1945 the Allies had air superiority over Europe and the 48th moved into Germany. After the war ended, the 48th returned to the U.S. and was inactivated in November 1945.

With the onset of the Cold War, the 48th activated as a Fighter-Bomber Wing in July 1952 at Chaumont Air Base, France. The Wing stood continuous alert with F-84 Thunderjet and F-86 Sabre fighters, earning its Statue de la Libertè name from the French and becoming the only Air Force unit with both a numeric and descriptive name. In 1956, the Statue of Liberty Wing converted to the F-100 Super Sabre and in 1960 moved to RAF Lakenheath where it continued its alert duties defending Europe. In 1972 the 48th switched to the F-4 Phantom II and then to the F-111 Aardvark in 1977. For the rest of the Cold War, the Liberty Wing maintained constant readiness, demonstrating U.S. resolve and deterring the spread of Communism. In April 1986, 24 F-111F's from the 48th flew 14 hour missions on the successful El Dorado Canyon strikes on Libya in retaliation for terrorist attacks.

In 1990, the celebration over the end of the Cold War was interrupted by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, and the Liberty Wing again sprang into action, deploying 66 F-111's and more than 1,400 personnel to Saudi Arabia. During Operation Desert Storm, the 48th FW flew 2,500 combat sorties and dropped 7.3 million pounds of precision weapons and destroyed 920 armored vehicles, 245 aircraft shelters, 160 bridges and 113 bunkers. The Liberty Wing was also the first to employ the GBU-28 bunker buster in combat. Throughout the 1990s, the 48th continued a string of combat deployments to the Middle East for Operations Provide Comfort, Northern Watch and Southern Watch.

From 1992-94, the Liberty Wing again switched aircraft and began flying the F-15E Strike Eagles and F-15C Eagles. During this time, the 48th began deployments to Italy for Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia. This culminating in Operation Allied Force over Serbia in 1999, where the Liberty Wing flew 2,562 combat sorties and dropped 3 million pounds of munitions, 75 percent of all precision weapons employed. In addition, the 493d scored four of the five confirmed USAF aerial victories.

Since the 9-11 attacks, the Liberty Wing has played a lead role in the Global War on Terror with multiple combat deployments to Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. We also continued our string of firsts, including the first-ever combat employment of the GBU-12 laser guided bomb with the Sniper advanced targeting pod, and the GBU-38 JDAM. This year, the 56th Rescue Squadron moved from Iceland to join us at RAF Lakenheath, adding HH-60 helicopters and the combat search and rescue mission to our heritage.

Today the Liberty Wing's mission has never been more important. Our nation is engaged in a long war on terror. We are faced with challenges including personnel cuts, budget cuts and emerging threats. Yet our Airmen continue our heritage of incredible accomplishments, both in combat and in training. As you read this, we have over 1,000 Airmen deployed around the world. Our F-15Es are airborne on combat missions with yet another Air Force first - new Suite 5 avionics and the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb. This latest success is a testament to your professionalism and dedication to our country and our mission. The Wing's mission is to be ready "Anywhere, Anytime...Whatever Needs Done," and from D-Day through the Cold War, Libya, Iraq and today's Global War on Terror, the professional Airmen of the Liberty Wing have delivered. We really do have so much to be proud of.