Lakenheath - May 2019

[andypspotter]

Courtesy of our Dutch friends:

Breaking rumours...

Unconfirmed reports came to our desk this evening. It is said that "FM" coded F-16C/Ds of Homestead-Regional-ARS (FL) will deploy to RAF Lakenheath (UK) on 3 May 2019. That means that the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) 482nd Fighter Wing, 93rd Fighter Squadron "Makos", or the AFRC 495th Fighter Group/ 367th FS "Vultures" will cross the Atlantic Ocean.

Another US Air Force deployment is expected early next week in Central Europe (Spangdahlem is cautiously mentioned). This deployment should involve F-16s from Texas. That means that the "TX"-coded Fort Worth NAS JRB/Carswell Field (TX) based AFRC 301st FW, 457th FS "Spads" or the AFRC 495th FG, 355th FS "Fightin' Falcons" are involved or the F-16C/Ds of Lackland AFB (TX). These are Vipers from the 149th FW, 182nd FS "Lone Star Gunfighters" with tailcode "SA".

On top of that... between 21 May and 7 June 2019, exercise Arctic Challenge is held at Rovaniemi air base (Finland). Unconfirmed reports mention the participation of F-16CM/DMs of the 169th FW, 157th FS "Swamp Foxes", based at Columbia-McEntire ANG Station (SC). This exercise also expects F/A-18C/Ds of the United States Marine Corps. So it is possible that Hornets of MCAS Beaufort (SC) are meant, in stead of the McEntire Vipers.

Let's wait and see if all these rumours are correct, exciting times!

[andypspotter]

It appears that the Homestead F-16s will now be arriving on Saturday teatime (4/5).

[andypspotter]

Another 24-hour delay (the USAF seem rather good at them!) resulted in them arriving late on the evening of 5/5.

The scores on the doors are:

85-1438 FM
85-1487 FM
86-0307 FM
86-0319 FM
87-0233 FM
87-0244 FM
87-0259 FM
87-0264 FM
87-0287 FM
87-0338 FM
88-0404 FM '482 FW'
88-0405 FM '93rd FS'

Given that they are on deployment, rather than transiting, I suppose there may be a greater possibility of them using the HASs, rather than been sat on the visitors ramp. Time will tell, I guess.

[andypspotter]

10 of the 12 'FM' machines flew today (9/5), so they're pretty active. All are still operating from the visitor pan.

[andypspotter]

The deployment came to an end today (20/5) with all 12 heading back to the states, with the assistance of KC-135s 62-3533, 62-3580 and 60-0324 (the latter a Mildenhall-based 100ARW machine).