The first six of a dozen U.S. Air Force F-15Es have returned to their homebase at RAF Lakenheath, once again sporting unique nicknames and some interesting markings.
On Dec. 17, 2024, the first six of 12 F-15E Strike Eagle jets, belonging to the 492nd Fighter Squadron/48th Fighter Wing, returned to RAF Lakenheath, UK, after a short deployment to the Middle East.
The F-15Es of the “Maddhatters” deployed to the CENTCOM area or responsibility in November, to replace the Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, which had completed their “tour” in the sandpit and to beef up the U.S. presence amid growing regional tensions.
On Sept. 27, 2024, as part of an operation nicknamed “New Order”, the Israeli Air Force employed its F-15I Ra’am jets equipped with GPS-aided GBU-31(V)3/B JDAM bunker-buster bombs in a precision strike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The Israeli attack led to Iran retaliating with a salvo of 180 ballistic missiles.
The 492nd FS F-15Es deployed to the region on Nov. 7, 2024 joining the F-15Es from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, which had been moved in October, more or less one year after its sister unit at Lakenheath, the 494th Fighter Squadron “Panthers”, first deployed to the region. The 494th played a key role in repelling Iran’s April attack on Israel before returning home in May after a seven-month deployment: in the night between April 13 and 14, 2024, Airmen with the Panthers took part along with other U.S. and allied crews, in the largest air-to-air enemy engagement in over 50 years. In those hours, the Israeli air defenses faced 170 one-way drones, 120 Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles, and 30 Land-Attack Cruise Missiles during an unprecedented attack launched from Iran alongside Houthi terrorist group in Yemen as well as Iranian-backed proxies in Iraq.
Along with Israeli and allied assets, the F-15E Strike Eagles from the 494th Fighter Squadron (from Lakenheath) and the 335th Fighter Squadron (from Seymour Johnson), successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 kamikaze UAVs, out of more than 300 drone and missiles intended to strike Israel. The 494th aircrews which took part to that air defense mission were praised by President Biden and later awarded two Silver Stars, six Distinguished Flying Crosses with the valor device, four Distinguished Flying Crosses with the combat device, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, seven Air and Space Commendation Medals and seven Air and Space Achievement Medals.
Noteworthy, also the 492nd FS aircrew saw some action during their short deployment, as shown by the images sent us by our contributor and friend Stewart Jack. In fact, along with some unique nicknames and nose arts (which have become a tradition for deployed Strike Eagle units since some time) inspired by figures from Greek mythology, the initial six F-15Es of the Madhatters returning home as TABOR 51 – 56 and landing at RAF Lakenheath at 11.15AM LT on Dec. 17, sported some interesting bomb markings.
Here they are.
The final six F-15Es are due to return to the base in the UK later this week.
A big thank you to Stewart Jack for sending us his photos!
