Vermont Air National Guard F-35As Return from Middle East Deployment via RAF Lakenheath
Eight of twelve Vermont Air National Guard F-35A Lightning IIs have arrived at RAF Lakenheath in the UK on their way back to Burlington, Vermont, after a combat deployment to the Middle East.
The first eight of a dozen Vermont Air National Guard F-35As have arrived at RAF Lakenheath in the UK while returning to their home base at Burlington Air National Guard Base, Vermont, following a combat deployment in the CENTCOM area of operations. The jets, from the 158th Fighter Wing's 134th Fighter Squadron, landed on Sept. 4, 2026, according to The Aviationist.
The eight aircraft flew in two flights under the callsigns TABOR 81-84 and TABOR 91-94. Their airframe serial numbers were identified as 17-5280, 18-5336, 18-5360, 18-5340, 18-5338, 18-5339, 18-5341, and 18-5343. Four KC-135 Stratotanker tankers, callsigns CLEAN 35, 36, 45, and 46, launched from Romania to support them.
One of the returning jets, airframe 18-5336, has almost all of its identifying marks obscured. Other aircraft in the group have full tail numbers visible. The remaining four F-35s from the deployment are expected to arrive in the UK for a stopover during the weekend.
The Vermont Air National Guard F-35s deployed to the Middle East via Lakenheath and Moron Air Base in February 2026 to support Operation Epic Fury.
Sources
- theaviationist.comEight VT ANG F-35A Jets Arrive at RAF Lakenheath on Their Way Back from Middle East Deployment