of up to forty-two F-35A aircraft in dual-occupancy shelters constructed from a light weight, canopy structure with open sides. The total area of Charlie Apron once extended will be approximately 78,392 square metres, combining the retained area of 58,780 square metres with the new area of 19,612 square metres. It will be connected to Maintenance Hangars 4-1 and 4-2 and the Squadron Operations/AMU building. Alpha-Bravo Apron will be extended to accommodate existing F-15 aircraft currently using Charlie Apron. The total area of Alpha-Bravo Apron once extended will be approximately 54,179 square metres, combining the retained area of 39,750 square metres with the new area of 14,429 square metres. Up to thirty-eight F-15 aircraft will be capable of being accommodated on the open apron which would not feature any shelters. Infrastructure delivery Investment of $148.4 million (£116.7M) for the delivery of F-35A infrastructure at Lakenheath was authorised by the US administration in August 2018. In November 2018, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation awarded a £160M contract for infrastructure work to a joint venture between Kier Group and VolkerFitzpatrick. To make way for the F-35 Campus, demolition of the first of eighteen buildings began in March 2019. The work on Alpha-Bravo Apron was completed in August 2020, allowing F-15E Strike Eagle operations of the 492nd and 494th Fighter Squadrons to be consolidated on one ramp. Accidents involving nuclear weapons Two accidents involving nuclear weapons happened at RAF Lakenheath, in 1956 and 1961. Based units Flying and notable non-flying units based at RAF Lakenheath. United States Air Force United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) 48th Fighter Wing 48th Operations Group 48th Operations Support Squadron 492nd Fighter Squadron – F-15E Strike Eagle 493rd Fighter Squadron – F-35A Lightning II 494th Fighter Squadron – F-15E Strike Eagle 495th Fighter Squadron – F-35A Lightning II 48th Maintenance Group 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 48th Component Maintenance Squadron 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron 48th Maintenance Operations Squadron 48th Munitions Squadron 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 48th Medical Group 48th Dental Squadron 48th Inpatient Operations Squadron 48th Medical Operations Squadron 48th Medical Support Squadron 48th Surgical Operations Squadron 48th Mission Support Group 48th Civil Engineer Squadron 48th Communications Squadron 48th Contracting Squadron 48th Force Support Squadron 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron 48th Security Forces Squadron Heritage Gate guardian RAF Lakenheath's gate guardian is North American F-100D Super Sabre, serial number '54-2269'. The aircraft was originally delivered to the