Karo-Aviation visits Lakenheath 2022.
Article and pictures by Rolph Klijn

One last time Grim Reaper Eagle’s

In February 2022 we could no longer resist the temptation of going over to the UK. The aim was to get the last air superiority F15C Eagle’s at Lakenheath. The 493FS is in the transition to the F35 and the Eagles would not much longer be there. With their departure from Lakenheath the last fighter version of the Eagle would be gone from Europe for good.

Starting the hobby at the beginning of the 80’s we got plenty of Eagles from Soesterberg in the Netherlands and Bitburg Germany. We were young, they were new. We thought we would be seeing them forever.

In the 90’s the Eagles left Soesterberg and Bitburg and where stationed at Spangdahlem Germany and later RAF Lakenheath. With the departure of the Eagles from Spangdahlem in 1999 Lakenheath remained the only European air base with F15C/D activity

493 FS Grim Reapers

The Grim Reapers have a rich history. Being founded in 1941 for the first time the unit has shown much flexibility. It started as a training squadron, assuming the anti-submarine role for a short time and ending the war as an operational fighter bomber squadron flying the P47 Thunderbolt.

In 1952 it was reactivated flying there first jets, the F84. In 1960 the unit arrived at Lakenheath. By that time flying the F100. Converting through the F4 in 1971 and F111 in 1977 the 493FS received the first F15’s in 1993.

A nice touch in 2019 was the painting of one of the jets to commemorate 75 years since D-Day. Painted to represent the P47’s flown at that time.

Being handed airframes from other units some of them are sporting MiG kills gained in the Gulf War. The year 2022 sees them converting to the F35.

 

 
the Trip

We planned a two day trip on a Thursday and Friday in February. Starting out on Wednesday evening a B52 deployment also got underway to RAF Fairford. We had a choice to make. Following the progress of the B52’s and the weather forecast during the night we decided to stick to the plan and head for Lakenheath. With three active squadrons Lakenheath is always a busy place. Activity on the part of the Grim Reapers was not to clear though. A rumour was going round that they already had stood down on their Eagle operations. A fact was that two of their three F35’s had left the day before to Leeuwarden Air Base in the Netherlands and had not returned. During the day rumours started circulating that three more F35’s where on a delivery flight. We had our fingers crossed.

A visit to Lakenheath never disappoints and so it did not this time. In the morning we got plenty of Eagle action only these were the F15E’s. however much we enjoyed it, it was not what we came for. Our patience was rewarded when one of the lighter grey Eagles taxied to the platform, followed by another and another.

All in all 6 F15C’s and two D’s came out and took off. One of them being the one with the special commemorative tail of 45 years of F15 fighters in Europe. And very special it was. Carrying life missiles they departed to Lask air base in Poland because of the rising tensions around Ukraine. Showing their teeth to protect the freedom for the last time.

For us a fitting end to seeing Eagles around European skies for most of those 45 years.

As we came to say goodbye to the old we also got a taste of the new. During the day the two F35’s came back from Leeuwarden and in the evening the three new machines for the squadron arrived. Just in the last light. One of them being the new squadron commanders mount. Giving us a feeling of being part of a new fase in the history of the Grim Reapers.