The special colour it’s the first of three heritage F-15s. On Jan. 31, the 48th Fighter Wing revealed the first of three “heritage” F-15s.The aircraft, a Strike Eagle belonging to the 492nd.
The 48th Fighter Wing has unveiled one of its new ‘heritage’ colour scheme F-15’s
The aircraft pictured was previously used by the 492nd Fighter Squadron and is decorated in the livery of a P-47 Thunderbolt. This was the main plane used by the 48th Fighter Wing during the second world war.
Interestingly during the conflict the 48th Fighter Bomber Group as it was known flew the Thunderbolt during countless operations in Europe, including the Normandy landings of June 6th, 1944.
Here the group were an integral part of the plan flying over 2,000 sorties that resulted in over 500 tonnes of ordnance being dropped and over 160,000 rounds of ammunition fired.
The heritage project is here to pay homage to the legacy of the 48th Fighter Wing and its members.
Specifically their contribution to the D-Day invasion.
The decorated of plane looks like a hybrid of the both the old P-47 and new F-15.
The squadron started of with 25 designs to consider with 3 being decided on as main contenders,
The attention to detail on the final design is outstanding.
Tech. Sgt.Casey Cheff of the 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron pointed out that it was a great training exercise for the men who had limited experience completely overhauling the livery and artwork on their aircraft.
Sgt Cheff who works in the corrosion control section went onto say that VCI corrosion protection film was essential as an underlay in order to maintain the integrity of the craft whilst having the new colour scheme applied.
The new aircraft all display a checkered pattern on the nose cone as well as black stripes that cover the wings with additional insignia like the Statue of Liberty on the tail.
In total over 640 labour hours spanning 15 days with over \$15,000 spent on painting equipment and anti corrosion packaging.
What’s the Latest News on the 48th Fighter Wing?
The 48th Fighter Wing, in 2023, received a prestigious honour known as the Commander-in-Chief’s Installation Excellence Award (CINC IEA) for the Department of the Air Force. This award acknowledges the exceptional work done by those who manage and maintain Department of Defense facilities.
Commander's Pride
Brig. Gen. Joseph L. Campo, who leads the 48th Fighter Wing, expressed his humility and pride when they received this award. He praised the dedicated team, their supportive families, and the local community.
Award's Emphasis
The CINC IEA, established by President Ronald Reagan in 1985, focuses on innovation and efficient resource use to improve services, facilities, and the quality of life for military members and their families. This award encourages commanders to find creative ways to enhance service quality and military installations.
Evaluation Criteria
To determine the award recipient, installations are assessed based on their success in various areas of management, including mission support, energy conservation, quality of life, environmental stewardship, real property management, safety, health, and communication.
Recognition for Excellence
The 48th Fighter Wing's outstanding performance led to the nomination of 30 individuals and teams from the Liberty Wing for special recognition. This reinforces their dedication to personnel welfare and high management standards.
Remarkable Milestone
One of the 48th Fighter Wing's F-15E Strike Eagles, aircraft 91-0308, made history on July 28, 2023, by becoming the first F-15 at RAF Lakenheath to reach 10,000 flight hours.
A Legacy of Service
Aircraft 91-0308 arrived at RAF Lakenheath in 1992, serving for 31 years in the Liberty Wing. During its service, it completed over 4,100 sorties and more than 20 inspections, surpassing its original design limit of 8,000 flight hours.
Exclusivity of Achievement
Tech. Sgt. Evan Wilby noted that only 86 out of 800+ U.S. Air Force F-15s have exceeded 10,000 flight hours, with aircraft 91-0308 being one of only 53 F-15E's to achieve this milestone. It's also the first F-15 at RAF Lakenheath to do so.
Extensive Maintenance
The aircraft required at least 30,000 maintenance hours, including daily inspections, phase inspections every 400 flight hours, and other scheduled and unscheduled checks.
Dedication Over Decades
The achievement underlines the 48th Maintenance Group's commitment over 30 years, according to Staff Sgt. Marcus Lawrence, a dedicated crew chief. Though the maintenance routine remains similar after 10,000 hours, it might require more frequent checks due to the high flying hours.
Continued Service
Aircraft 91-0308 actively participated in various military operations and is expected to continue flying in the U.S. Air Force beyond 2025.
Conclusion
The 48th Fighter Wing's recognition with the Commander-in-Chief’s Installation Excellence Award showcases their dedication to maintaining military installations. The historic achievement of aircraft 91-0308 highlights the commitment and hard work of the 48th Maintenance Group in ensuring the continued operation of these essential aircraft.
