USAF F-35A Lightning II Jets to RAF Lakenheath
RAF Lakenheath is expected to station two F-35A Lightning II squadrons, totalling 48 jets, which will be added to the 48th Fighter Wing's existing two F-15E Strike Eagle Squadrons (492nd FS & 494th FS), in late 2021.
To accommodate the new aircraft an F-35 Campus is being constructed on the south side of the airfield. The facilities include new hangars, a flight simulation building, a maintenance unit and storage facilities.
The 495th Fighter Squadron (a former F-111 Squadron) are to be reactivated as the first F-35 unit at RAF Lakenheath.
The 48th Fighter Wing were looking for a nickname for the 495th Fighter Squadron and had narrowed it down to five finalists: 'Archangels', 'Sabres', 'Sentinels', 'Swordsmen' and 'Valkyries'. It was announced on 16th February 2021 that they would be called the 'Valkyries'. In Norse mythology, Valkyries are female figures who choose those that will live, or die, in battle. Additionally, the 495th Fighter Squadron motto: 'Mala Ipsa Nova' in Latin, means 'Bad News Itself'. Both factors emphasize 'Valkyries' as an extremely suitable nickname for the U.K. based unit. See
press release.
The 493rd Fighter Squadron (FS) which currently operates the F-15C/D Eagle will gradually replace them with F-35A Lightning II aircraft.
The arrival of the F-35A will mark the first-ever permanent basing of U.S. fifth-generation aircraft in the European theater, enhancing the 48th Fighter Wing's combat lethality and contributions to the collective defense of the NATO alliance.
It was provisionally announced, last year, that the USAF F-35A Lightning II Demo Team would display at RAF Lakenheath in December 2021, which would coincide with the first arrival of F-35A Lightning aircraft at RAF Lakenheath, but this has now been cancelled.
USAF F-35A Lightnings at RAF Lakenheath
The first four USAF F-35A Lightnings (19-5473, 19-5474, 19-5475 & 19-5476) arrived at RAF Lakenheath at 2pm on the 15th December 2021. See
RAF News. A second batch of three F-35A Lightnings (19-5484, 19-5485 & 19-5486) arrived on Thursday 10th February 2022.
Below are USAF F-35A Lightnings and when they arrived at Lakenheath:
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 19-5473 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 15.12.21
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 19-5474 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 15.12.21
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 19-5475 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 15.12.21
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 19-5476 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 15.12.21
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 19-5484 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 10.02.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 19-5485 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 10.02.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 19-5486 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 10.02.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 19-5493 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 15.04.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 19-5495 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 15.04.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5570 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 02.06.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5571 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 02.06.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5572 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 17.06.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5573 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 17.06.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5574 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 17.06.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5580 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 23.09.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5582 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 23.09.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5581 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 27.10.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5583 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 27.10.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5588 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 10.11.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5589 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 10.11.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5590 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 10.11.22
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5594 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 21.03.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5595 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 21.03.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5596 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 21.03.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5598 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 13.04.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5599 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 13.04.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5600 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 03.05.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5601 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 03.05.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5602 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 03.05.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5603 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 03.05.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5604 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 03.05.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5615 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 18.05.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5617 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 18.05.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5616 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 14.06.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5618 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 14.06.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5613 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 26.06.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5614 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 26.06.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5682 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 21.07.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5685 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 21.07.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5683 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 11.08.23
• USAF F-35A Lightning II - 20-5684 arrived at RAF Lakenheath 11.08.23
