Hello all, I was stationed in Lakenheath in the 493 FS from 1997 thru 1999 and I was recently reading up on some History from the 493. I then thought it would be interesting to read some stories from everyone who was stationed on the 493 FS. Please share the time you were there and what you did. I would love if someone could share stories of the transition to the Fighter Squadron from the Bomber Squadron. Thank you.

Hi I was stationed at RAF the heath from 1963 thru 1966. Weapons release crew chief assigned to 492 and the 493rd went tdy many times to Norway, The Neterlands and 8 times to Wheelus AFB Libya. Gunnery practice we had Lead Sleds then F100D/F duals each squadron had 18 aircraft 3 sqdns. We used to go TDY to Mildenhall when they were repaving the main rwy at the Heath.
Loved going to Mildenhall and picking up the "Sweeties at the NCO Club "
had an awesome time. Worked p/t for PanAm at Mildenhall. After I got went to work for the Blue Ball

straps ~ Now there's some history. Weren't boots brown back then?

I was at The Heath '86-'92, all 6 years at the 493rd, Yellow Section, F-111F's. 4 years on the flightline as an enlisted avionics troop, then got a cush job working in the Support Unit/Tool Room for my last 2 years.

I got there one month after Operation El Dorado Canyon (Lybia, 1986). The 493rd was still in a deep funk over losing an aircrew. But, also very proud of their envolvement in the operation.

We had an exceptionally talented artist in the 493rd AMU named Saltigerald. He hand-painted a great F-111 mural on the cement bunker wall surrounding the unit. I reckon it's probably long-since covered with many coats of tan paint by now.

I went with the 493rd to Taif, Saudi Arabia during Operations Desert Shield (build-up) and Desert Storm (Gulf War I). After the F-111's were launched early January 17th 1991, everyone crowded around their radios to await the news to hit the Armed Forces Radio Network, or to go to the MWR tent to watch CNN. It was strange knowing something before it was news. See some of my pics at: Pictures of you in Desert Shield/Desert Storm

As I remember it, the 493rd was the last AMU to transfer to F-15s through 1992. One-by-one, the crew chiefs would come in to turn in their tools one last time after launching out their birds sending them to Cannon AFB, NM. Their faces reflected the finality of the occasion.

Some airmen did get to stay on at Lakenheath, transfering over to the F-15's already arriving at other AMU's. Others were headed to Cannon AFB to work F-111's until the last of the Aardvarks were finally retired and sent to the bone yard.

Is the Bird-In-Hand still around?

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