International relations between France and the US deteriorated in the late 1950s resulting in French President Charles de Gaulle demanding the removal of NATO forces from the country. At the same time the advent of the intercontinental ballistic missile had reduced US dependence on European based airborne medium and long ranged bombers leaving SAC Air Bases available for the USAFE units. On 15 January 1960 the 48th TFW redeployed RAF Lakenheath England which underwent conversion to a permanent base to support fighter operations.

French President Charles de Gaulle's pronouncement that all nuclear weapons and delivery aircraft had to be removed from French soil by July 1958 resulted in the USAFE's implementation of Project "Red Richard"; the rapid relocation and inactivation of combat wings in France. Since NATO strategy had evolved into "massive nuclear retaliation" this meant all tactical fighter wings had to depart France.

15 Jan 1960: Captain Blakeley was assigned to Flight Commander. The 48th Tactical Fighter Wing (“Liberty Wing”) left Chaumont Air Base arriving at Lakenheath Air Force Base, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom that afternoon. The squadron then adopted the bowler hat, a traditional English hat with a rounded crown. The tradition of wearing the bowler hat has continued to present day despite the lack of official uniform regulations authorizing such wear. Despite the usual spelling of the "bowler" hat, the squadron uses the squadron name, "Bolars."

The markings of the following squadrons of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing upon arrival at Lakenheath Air Force Base became as follows:

492nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (Tail Code: LR; blue colors)
493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron (Tail Code: LS; yellow colors)
494th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Tail Code: LT; red colors)

The squadron markings consisted of alternating stripes across the tailfin in squadron colors, with a shadowed "V" shaped chevron on the nose.

This edition of the 48th Fighter Wing Heritage Pamphlet includes a history of the wing and base as well as the heritage and heraldry of the wing, its groups, and its squadrons. Each organization is divided into the following categories:

Lineage:
Chronological record of activations, redesignations, inactivations, etc. Assignments: List of organizations to which the unit has been assigned.

Assigned Units:
List of units that fall or fell under the wing/groups.

Stations:
List of stations at which the organization has been located.

Commanders:
Chronological list of the commanders.

Honors:
List of organizational honors broken down by service streamers, campaign streamers, armed forces expeditionary streamers, decorations (such as Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards), and bestowed honors.

Aircraft:
Chronological list of aircraft assigned, if applicable.

Note: Capt. Roger D. Tucker finished 3rd place in the "1962 William Tell Competition"
Col. Roger D. Tucker
(18 May 1930—30 Mar 2016; 85 years old)
Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida
FAG Memorial

Glenn H. Wilson ("A" Flight Pilot):
(24 Mar 1933–30 Jan 1988; 54 years old)
Burial: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
FAG Memorial
Further Bio Information

Wilson was a pilot with the 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, from November 1966 until he was forced to eject from his F-4C (64-0656) near Ban Xuan/Dong Hoi, North Vietnam on August 7, 1967 and was taken as a prisoner of war. After spending 2,047 days in captivity, he was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. He died of skin cancer.

His Silver Star Citation reads:
"This officer distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while held Prisoner of War in North Vietnam during the month of May 1969. After a planned escape from the "Zoo Camp", the enemy launched a massive torture purge attempting to gain prisoner secrets and propaganda materials. Tortured well beyond the normal threshold of pain, he continued to resist the enemy. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Colonel Wilson has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force."

Charles A. (“Chuck”) Horner ("A" Flight Pilot):
During the operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm he was the single air commander for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and coalition air operations, answerable directly to the theater commander, Army Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. Horner oversaw 100,876 coalition air sorties from Jan. 17 to Feb. 28, 1991.
General Charles A. Horner; Official United States Air Force Website

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Silver Star with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze star
Vietnam Service Medal with bronze star
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Transcription:

HEADQUARTERS
48TH TACTICAL FIGHTER WING
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
APQ 179, US FORCES

1 NOV 1965

SUBJECT: LETTER OF APPRECIATION

TO: CAPTAIN ROY J. BLAKELEY,45482A

THRU: COR 492 TFS

1. THE FOLLOWING LETTER FROM GROUP CAPTAIN, J. FINCH, OFFICER COMMANDING RAF WADDINGTON, LINCOLN, ENGLAND, IS QUOTED FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

"A MOST SINCERE THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORTS OF CAPTAIN BLAKELEY AND 1ST LIEUTENANT [CAPTAIN SAMUEL] JOHNSON ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH WHEN WE WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THEY ACQUITTED THEMSELVES WELL AND CONTRIBUTED IN NO SMALL MEASURE TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR DAY".

2. THIS HEADQUARTERS WOULD LIKE TO ADD OUR SINCERE THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR A JOB WELL DONE. YOUR INTEREST THAT YOU DISPLAYED IN THIS PROJECT AND ATTENTION TO DUTY REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT UPON YOURSELF AND THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THIS NATURE ENHANCE OUR ANGLO-AMERICAN RELATIONSHIPS AND PROVIDE FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR PURPOSE IN ENGLAND.

FOR THE COMMANDER:

FRANCIS E. BINNELL
LT. COL. USAF
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Samuel R. "Sam" Johnson:
(11 Oct 1930–27 May 2020; 89 years old)
Burial: Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas
FAG Memorial
Further Bio Information for Sam Johnson

He flew with the 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Chaumont AB, France, from January 1959 to January 1960, and with the same squadron but flying out of RAF Lakenheath, England, from January to April 1960. He served as the Chief of Weapons Training with the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing at Lakenheath from April 1960 to February 1962

On April 16, 1966, Major Johnson was forced to eject over North Vietnam and he was taken as a Prisoner of War. After spending 2,494 days in captivity, he was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973.

He served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 3rd congressional district in Congress from 1991 to 2019.