Valkyries to descend upon Lakenheath

The first overseas F-35A Lightning base for the United States Air Force had already been chosen as RAF Lakenheath, but the incoming unit who will become the first to stand up with the type at “The Heath”, the 495th Fighter Squadron, had not yet decided upon a nickname for themselves. As a result, the resident 48th Fighter Wing asked the aviation community recently, to come up with a nickname for them. After more than 700 suggestions, the unit finally decided on “Valkyries” as the new nickname for the first overseas F-35A Lightning II Squadron, beating other suggestions such as Sabres, Swordsmen, Sentinels and Archangels to the honour.

A Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II of the United States Air Force F-35 Demonstration Team pulls up into the vertical at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2018. The 495th Fighter Squadron "Valkyries" will stand up at RAF Lakenheath and receive it's first F-35A Lightning II aircraft in December 2021. Image Copyright © Jack Williams / JTW Aviation Images

“Valkyries” is a very appropriate name for the squadron, as its home base will be RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. The county has a vivid history, and a presence even to this day, of Vikings. Indeed, fans of the game “Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla” which is based on Viking myths and legends, with a slight nod towards real events, will note that the game features Thetford Forest, which stops right outside RAF Lakenheath’s eastern perimeter, alongside the A1065.

Sticking with the theme of Vikings, Valkyries were the female entities in Norse mythology who chose who would live or die in battle, and took the deceased warriors to the legendary hall of the fallen, Valhalla. Furthermore, a Viking hoard and grave was discovered on RAF Lakenheath some years ago, consisting of a Viking warrior, his horse and grave goods. It seems very appropriate therefore that “Valkyries” is the new nickname for the 495th Fighter Squadron.

Even more of a connection to the beings of Norse mythology is the motto. In Latin it is “Mala Ipsa Nova”, which translates to English as “Bad News Itself”. While the Vikings never spoke Latin, “Bad News Itself” could mean it would not be good news for the enemy of the Vikings, and that is also true for the adversary of the squadron, as the aircraft equipping the unit is the most advanced and one of the most feared military aircraft ever produced.

Speaking in a 48th Fighter Wing press release for the new unit after the nickname was chosen, the squadron’s incoming commanding officer, Lt Col. Ian McLaughlin, reflected on the title chosen and the aircraft’s incredible capabilities. “Valkyries epitomises the force’s move towards more inclusivity, and equally represents the fifth-generation stealth fighter’s air superiority”. He stated that he was “honoured” to be the first commanding officer of an F-35A Lightning II Unit that is not based in the continental United States of America, with only the Marine Corps’ F-35B of VMFA-121 at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, as another overseas unit.

He finished his interview with the words “Like the Valkyries themselves, we will be vital to determining the fate of our adversaries in the battlespace”. An ominous warning to anyone thinking of taking the aircraft on.

The reasons for basing F-35A at RAF Lakenheath have been detailed as close ties with the Royal Air Force, existing infrastructure and the training opportunities that are available to them, such as the low flying areas such as LFA7 ( including the Mach Loop ) in Wales and LFA17 ( Lake District ), Holbeach Range in The Wash and a stone’s throw from the station, and the various complexes such as the North Wales Military Training Area ( NWMTA ) and the D323 over the North Sea. The United Kingdom is seen as a “critical component in training and combat readiness” for any of the air forces and air arms within NATO and Europe, mainly for it’s “excellent airspace” and the UK’s position as the only Level 1 Partner in the F-35 Program.

The 48th Fighter Wing’s commander, Col Jason Camilletti, added his own comments regarding the exciting future the base and the F-35A have in store. “The amount of support we received, and continue to receive, from the community both here and back home, has been overwhelming and highly appreciated”.

It was always going to be a popular decision to enlist the assistance of the various aviation media and countless enthusiasts, who flock to RAF Lakenheath’s viewing area to watch the flying operations and engage with the base, both in person and online, for their ideas and assistance on deciding a new name for the incoming squadron. One thing the 48th Fighter Wing is very good at, in addition to their flying operations, are community and media relations, always willing to help out and assist with any queries or comments anyone would have. Very helpful towards us media who may have some rather interesting or difficult questions at times.

The F-35A is scheduled to arrive at RAF Lakenheath in December 2021, and with them potentially will be some special guests in the form of the F-35A Lightning Demo Team, who have the base listed on their airshow calendar for this year. Given how the biggest airshow of the year, the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, was cancelled yesterday due to the ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19, it would be a very welcome sight to see the F-35A Demo Team in the skies over RAF Lakenheath, as guests of the 495th Fighter Squadron and the 48th Fighter Wing, before heading back to the continental United States. Please note however, that may end up to be a private display, so keep an eye out on the 48th Fighter Wing’s website and social media pages to see if public access for the day will be authorised.

“Basing F-35 at RAF Lakenheath will be a game changer”, Col. Camilletti went on to say in the press release. “It will allow us to further advance interoperability with our European teammates, and is a visible demonstration that we and all of NATO will continue to own the skies”.

Given the dour times of COVID-19, the arrival of the F-35A at RAF Lakenheath is one for all those interested and working in aviation can look forward to in the coming 12 months. It is believed that sometime in the next 15-24 months, the current F-15C/D Eagles of the resident 493rd Fighter Squadron “Grim Reapers” will also be replaced with the F-35A, meaning that a total of 2 F-35A Squadrons will be present at the base, complementing the 2 squadrons of F-15E Strike Eagles already present at RAF Lakenheath, those being the 492nd Fighter Squadron “The Bolars” and the 494th Fighter Squadron, “The Panthers”.

We at JTW Aviation Images look forward to seeing the aircraft arrive in the near future, and also to times ahead when they will be as regular in the skies over the UK as their counterparts already stationed at RAF Lakenheath are today. A bright future ahead for all at the Liberty Wing.

SOURCE: 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Press Release