493rd Fighter Squadron – F-15C “Grim Reaper Rum”

493rd Fighter Squadron – F-15C “Grim Reaper Rum” poster art.

The 493d Fighter Squadron, nicknamed ‘The Grim Reapers‘,is part of the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England. The F-15 in all air forces has a combined air-to-air combat record of 104 kills to 0 losses. Fittingly, this fictitious rum is ‘104 Proof’ because the 104 kill record is proof that the F-15 Eagle is the world’s greatest combat proven air superiority fighter ever created. The 493d FS is a combat-ready F-15 Eagle squadron capable of executing air superiority and air defense missions in support of United States Air Forces in Europe, United States European Command, and NATO operations. It employs air-to-air weapons and electronic identification systems. The 493d is routinely tasked to deploy in support of Air Force One referred to as ‘POTUS taskings.‘ Recent instances include the most recent G-8 summits and the 2008 NATO Summit.