F-15 & F-35 IN TEST ACTION • UNRESTRICTED CLIMBS RAF LAKENHEATH

F-15 & F-35 IN TEST ACTION • UNRESTRICTED CLIMBS RAF LAKENHEATH

RAF Lakenheath is the home of the 48th Fighter Wing and home to four combat ready fighter squadrons; 492nd FS, 493rd FS, 494th FS and the recently reactivated 'Valkyries', the 495th Fighter Squadron.

It may carry the title RAF but it is a USAF base.

This is because the base was originally built for and operated by the Royal Air Force in 1940.

The airfield started life out as decoy airfield (Q-site) to RAF Mildenhall, which is about 5.5 miles the way the backwards crow flies.

RAF Mildenhall was an established bomber station built in 1934 and to protect it, Lakenheath was chosen to become a decoy, to take any attacks.

However, things changes and it was decided that RAF Lakenheath would become a satellite station to Mildenhall.