RAF Lakenheath Heritage Day 7 May 2018

[FTS]

On the 7th May, I was fortunate enough to be part of a 4 man group, who via the Centre of Aviation Photography, were granted access to a heritage event/charity photoshoot at RAF Lakenheath. In attendance at the event were Republic P-47D Thunderbolt G-THUN 'Nellie', Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vc EE602, F-15C Eagle 86-165 493rd Fighter Squadron (Grim Reapers) and F-15E Strike Eagle 01-2002 492d Fighter Squadron (Panthers).

P-47D Thunderbolt 'Nellie', wearing its freshly painted wartime 492d Fighter Squadron (FS) markings, was of particular interest at the event to the personnel of the present day 492 FS. This was the aircraft's first public event since returning to the UK in April this year.

Supermarine Spitfire EE602 was also of particular interest at the event as it has the claim to fame of escorting B-17F Memphis Belle on its 25th and final mission during WWII.

Personnel and their families from the 492d FS posed together in front of the American aircraft for their group photo, in a more relaxed informal style than that more commonly seen, complete with bowler hats.

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676A9643 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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676A9803 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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676A9922 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5616 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5622 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5659 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5684 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5688 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5704 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5754 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5765 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5770 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5781 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5797 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5810 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5832 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5837 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5846 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5866 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5902 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_5986 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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IMG_6004 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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676A0014 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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676A0051 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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RAF Lakenheath 7 May 18 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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RAF Lakenheath 7 May 18 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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RAF Lakenheath 7 May 18 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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RAF Lakenheath 7 May 18 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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RAF Lakenheath 7 May 18 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

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RAF Lakenheath 7 May 18 by Steven Harrison-Green PHOTOGRAPHY, on Flickr

As usual plenty more on my Flickr;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/89987501@ ... 8737256048
https://www.flickr.com/photos/89987501@ ... 6708095757

Thanks go to the Centre of Aviaiton Photography for facilitating the access.
http://www.centreofaviationphotography.com/

Thanks for looking.

[Rotörhead]

Liking the ones of 'Nellie' taxiing past!

[F3]

Looks like a fun event. Liking Nellie's colourful markings and pics 1 + 15.

[grumpy616]

Great shots, thanks for posting.

[FTS]

Liking the ones of 'Nellie' taxiing past!

Thank you for your comments guys.

We were lucky to get those shots. We'd been on the flight line with LKN media ops personnel and reporters for the arrival and one they were down, jumped in the back of the car and hightailed it over to the ramp just in time for the 47.

The spit was overheating and had shut down on the first apron it came to. That worked out well for us as it enabled us to get the shots with the Eagles and the start up before heading down for the shoot.

[welshandy]

Cracking Shots,so jealous. Question though 01-2002 is marked up including intake coves as a 494th Panthers Jet,is LN pooling their F15E's between the two Squadrons?

[FTS]

Cracking Shots,so jealous. Question though 01-2002 is marked up including intake coves as a 494th Panthers Jet,is LN pooling their F15E's between the two Squadrons?

I was given 'duff gen' wasn't I? They said on the day that it was a 492nd event and they were posing two generations side by side, etc, etc... yet now you've pointed it out, the Strike Eagle is clearly 494th! explains why I got no replies from any of the mags I contacted with the story!

I've edited the post so it's now correct...albeit less interesting

[LN Strike Eagle]

The lack of a 492FS jet immediately jumped out to me too, given the presence of the P-47. I guess the Jug takes the place of a Madhatters F-15 in showcasing all three squadrons, but that's not how I'd have done it.

The magazines had their own photographer there, though oddly he claims the line-up in his photos to include a jet from the "491st FS"... As my dad always says, "a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing".

Great shots though.

[falconfighting]

Fantastic even, great light, great photography