Luke Air Force Base

Luke Air Force Base
Part of Air Education and Training Command (AETC)
Located in: Maricopa County, Arizona
21st Fighter Squadron F-16A TAF 6610 (93-0711)
Coordinates	33°32′06″N 112°22′59″W
Type	Air Force Base
Site information
Controlled by	United States Air Force
Site history
Built	1940
In use	1941-Present
Garrison information
Garrison	56th Fighter Wing (USAF)

Airfield information
IATA: LUF ICAO: KLUF FAA LID: LUF
Summary
Elevation AMSL	1,085 ft / 331 m
Website	www.luke.af.mil
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 3L/21R 10,012 3,052 Asphalt 3R/21L 9,904 3,019 Concrete
Sources: official web site and FAA

Luke AFB

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Location of Luke AFB, Arizona

USGS photograph of Luke AFB, 6 September 1992

Luke Air Force Base (IATA: LUF, ICAO: KLUF, FAA LID: LUF) is a United States Air Force base located seven miles (11 km) west of the central business district of Glendale, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is also about 15 miles (24 km) west of Phoenix, Arizona. The base is named after World War I Medal of Honor recipient and former Phoenix native, Lieutenant Frank Luke, Jr. Luke AFB is a major training base of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC), training pilots in the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Overview

Luke Air Force Base is the largest and only active-duty F-16 Fighting Falcon training base in the world with more than 200 F-16s assigned. The host command at Luke is the 56th Fighter Wing (56 FW), under Air Education and Training Command's 19th Air Force.

The 56th FW is composed of four groups, 27 squadrons, including six fighter squadrons. There are several tenant units on base, including the 944th Fighter Wing, assigned to 10th Air Force and the Air Force Reserve. More than 470 pilots graduate from Luke annually and proceed to combat assignments throughout the world. The 56th Fighter Wing also trains more than 700 maintenance technicians each year.

The base population includes about 7,500 military members and 15,000 family members. With about 80,000 retired military members living in greater Phoenix, the base services a total population of more than 100,000 people.

An integral part of Luke's F-16 fighter pilot training mission is the Barry M. Goldwater Range. The range consists of 1.9 million acres of relatively undisturbed Sonoran Desert southwest of Luke Air Force Base between Yuma and Tucson south of Interstate 8. Overhead are 57,000 cubic miles of airspace where pilots practice air-to-air maneuvers and engage simulated battlefield targets on the ground. Roughly the size of Connecticut, the immense size of the complex allows for simultaneous training activities on nine air-to-ground and two air-to-air ranges. The Luke Air Force Base Range Management Office manages the eastern range activities and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma oversees operations on the western portion.

In addition to flying and maintaining the F-16, Luke Airmen also deploy to support on-going operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and to combatant commanders in other locations around the world. In 2004, more than 900 Luke Airmen deployed, with most supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The base population includes about 7,000 military and civilian members and 15,000 family members. With about 80,000 retired military members living in greater Phoenix, the base services a total population of more than 100,000

Units

The host unit, the 56th Fighter Wing, is tasked to train the world's greatest F-16 fighter pilots and maintainers, while deploying mission ready warfighters. The wing graduates more than 400 F-16 pilots and 470 crew chiefs annually.

Groups:

• 56th Operations Group (OG) (Tail Code: "LF")

The 56th OG has operational control and responsibility for the entire fighter-training mission at Luke.

21st Fighter Squadron, ("The Gamblers", Tailband: White & Red)

62d Fighter Squadron, ("Spikes", Tailband: White & Blue)

308th Fighter Squadron, ("Emerald Knights", Tailband: Green & White (checkerboard))

309th Fighter Squadron, ("Wild Ducks", Tailband: Blue & White)

310th Fighter Squadron, ("Top Hats", Tailband: Green & Yellow)

425th Fighter Squadron, ("Black Widows", Tailband: Red & Black)

• 56th Maintenance Group (MXG)

The 56th MXG provides aircraft maintenance on more than 170 F-16s for the Air Force's only active duty F-16 training wing.

• 56th Mission Support Group (MSG)

The 56th MSG sustains the F-16 Fighting Falcon, provides for the community, and delivers responsive combat support.

• 56th Medical Group (MDG)

The 56th MDG is an outpatient only Medical Treatment Facility, which serves more than 84,000 beneficiaries in the Phoenix area.

Tenant Units:

• 607th Air Control Squadron
• 944th Fighter Wing

The 944th Fighter Wing is an adjunct Air Force Reserve wing to the 56th FW that trains Air Force F-16 pilots for reserve duty.

69th Fighter Squadron ("Werewolves", Tailband: Black)

History

Frank Luke, Jr.

Second Lieutenant Frank Luke, Jr.

Luke Air Force Base is named in honor of Second Lieutenant Frank Luke, Jr. (1897–1918). Lt Luke is a posthumous Medal of Honor recipient and the number two United States ace in World War I.

Born in Phoenix in 1897, the "Arizona Balloon Buster" scored 18 aerial victories during World War I (14 of these German observation balloons) in the skies over France . Lieutenant Luke was shot down near Petain, France, on 29 Sep 1918, after he had destroyed three enemy balloons. Surviving the crash of his Spad, Lieutenant Luke drew two pistols and fired on German soldiers, killing several of them before he was killed.

Luke Field, Oahu, Hawaii Territory (now the Naval Air Station Ford Island) was previously named in his honor.

Origins

In 1940, the U.S. Army sent a representative to Arizona to choose a site for an Army Air Corps training field for advanced training in conventional fighter aircraft. The city of Phoenix bought 1,440 acres (5.8 km²) of land which they leased to the government at $1 a year effective March 24, 1941. On March 29, 1941, the Del. E. Webb Construction Co. began excavation for the first building at what was known then as Litchfield Park Air Base. Another base known as Luke Field, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, released its name so the Arizona base could be called Luke Field. Advanced flight training in the AT-6 began at Luke in June that same year. The first class of 45 students, Class 41 F, arrived June 6, 1941 to begin advanced flight training in the AT-6, although a few essential buildings had been completed. Flying out of Sky Harbor Airport until the Luke runways were ready, pilots received 10 weeks of instruction and the first class graduated August 15, 1941. Then-Captain Barry Goldwater served as director of ground training the following year.

World War II

During World War II, Luke Field was the largest fighter training base in the Army Air Forces, graduating more than 12,000 fighter pilots from advanced and operational courses earning the nickname, “Home of the Fighter Pilot.”

The base was under the control of the 37th Flying Training Wing (Advanced Single-Engine), Western Flying Training Command, AAF Flying Training Command. During the years of World War II, more than 17,000 pilots trained at Luke Field, making it the largest single engine advanced flying training school in the U.S. More than a million hours of flying were logged, primarily in the AT-6 Texan, along with some transitioning to P-40 Warhawk fighters and later the P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt.

Although continually modified during the war years, the course of advanced flight training at Luke averaged about 10 weeks and included both flight training and ground school. Approximately 60 hours of flying instruction covered formation flying, navigation, and instrument flying, as well as a bit of aerial acrobatics. About 20 additional hours of flight practice concentrated on aerial and gunnery training.

Ground school, or classroom training for the advanced flying course, varied from about 100 to 130 hours and was intermingled with flight time in the aircraft. Cadets flew in the morning and attended ground school in the afternoons, or flew training missions in the afternoon after a morning of ground school. At the peak of the training program at Luke, some students were required to attend night classes. Ground school included instruction in navigation, flight planing, radio equipment, maintenance, and weather.

By February 7, 1944, pilots at Luke had achieved a million hours of flying time. A World War II film "A Guy Named Joe" included some footage filmed at Luke. By 1946, however, the number of pilots trained dropped to 299 and the base was deactivated November 30 that year.

United States Air Force

Air Training Command

Soon after combat developed in Korea, Luke field was reactivated on February 1, 1951 as Luke Air Force Base, part of the Air Training Command (ATC) under the reorganized United States Air Force. A steady pipeline of trained bomber-escort pilots was needed by Strategic Air Command, and the mission of Luke AFB was to augment the jet fighter combat crew training in operation at Nellis AFB. The school at Luke was designated by ATC as the USAF Air Crew School (Fighter Bomber/Escort).

The program was to be conducted by the Federalized Michigan Air National Guard 127th Fighter Wing, which had transferred from Continental Air Command to ATC, effective 10 February. The wing moved from Romulus Airport, Michigan, to Luke on 23 February, and on 1 March ATC established the USAF Air Crew School (Fighter-Bomber/Escort) at Luke. Fighter-bomber training began on 1 March 1951 in the F-51 Mustang, being replaced by early-model F-84D Thunderjets.

Effective 5 March, the 127th was redesignated as the 127th Pilot Training Wing. On 1 November 1952, the active-duty 3600th Flying Training Wing (Fighter) replaced the Air National Guardsmen. ATC flying training squadrons at Luke included:

• 3601st Fighter Interceptor (later Combat Crew Training) Squadron, 1 November 1952-31 December 1957
• 3602d Fighter Interceptor (later Combat Crew Training) Squadron, 20 November 1952-31 December 1957
• 3603d Fighter Interceptor (later Combat Crew Training) Squadron, 20 November 1952-31 December 1957
• 3604th Fighter Interceptor (later Combat Crew Training) Squadron, 20 November 1952-31 December 1957

The 3600th FTW became the dedicated training organization for both USAF and NATO pilots in the F-84. The F-84D began having electrical problems with the hot, dry Arizona air which dried out the aircraft's electrical insulation. They were replaced by F-84E, and shortly afterwards to the F-84G which was then in use by SAC. In October 1954, ATC re-designated the 3600th as a "Combat Crew Training Wing" to describe its mission better.

In January 1954, the swept-wing F-84F Thunderflash began to arrive, and three additional dedicated squadrons were activated:

• 3605th Fighter Interceptor (later Combat Crew Training) Squadron, 12 May 1954-31 December 1957
• 3606th Fighter Interceptor (later Combat Crew Training) Squadron, 12 May 1954-13 October 1954

Re-designated 3607th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 20 October 1954-10 June 1957

• 3608th Fighter Interceptor (later Combat Crew Training) Squadron, 12 May 1954-31 December 1957

F-84F's replaced the straight-winged earlier models in the original four squadrons by the end of 1956, giving the wing seven squadrons of twenty-one aircraft each, or about 150 aircraft. Thirty more were received in 1957 as some of the older production blocks were transferred to Air National Guard units or to reclamation at Davis-Monthan AFB.

For several years, the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project at Sandia Base, New Mexico, had provided all atomic, biological, and chemical (ABC) warfare training for the Air Force. Beginning in October 1954, ATC added ABC instruction to its fighter pilot programs at Luke and Nellis. In addition, ATC established six general ABC courses to train aircrews already in the field, using mobile training teams.

Tactical Air Command

F-100 Super Sabre era

58th TTW aircraft in 1979: F-5E, a German F-104G, F-4C, and F-15A.

By the end of 1957, ATC basing structure had changed considerably as the result of tactical commitments, decreased student load, and fund shortages. During 1958 ATC discontinued its Flying Training and Technical Training Air Force. As a result, Luke AFB was transferred to Tactical Air Command. This reassignment came about as the result of a USAF-directed study of the feasibility of putting combat crew training under the appropriate zone of interior operational commands.

With the transfer to TAC, the ATC 3600th FTW was re-designated as the 4510th Combat Crew Training Wing, and flying training at Luke was changed to the F-100 Super Saber. F-100 training squadrons were:

• 4511th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 January 1958-1 October 1964 (Formerly ATC 3601st CCTW)
• 4512th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 January 1958-15 October 1969 (Formerly ATC 3602d CCTW)
• 4513th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 January 1958-1 November 1958 (Formerly ATC 3603d CCTW)
• 4514th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 January 1958-15 December 1969 (Formerly ATC 3604th CCTW) 33
• 4515th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 January 1958-18 January 1970 (Formerly ATC 3605th CCTW) 33
• 4516th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 January 1958-1 April 1970 (Formerly ATC 3608th CCTW)

During the 1960s, thousands of American fighter pilots left Luke to carve their niche in the annals of Air Force history in the skies over Vietnam in the F-100. In July 1968, the first "LA" tail codes were placed on the tails of Luke-based aircraft.

58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing

F-4 Phantom II era

The 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing replaced the provisional 4510th CCTW on 15 October 1969. The provisional squadrons of the 4510th were re-designated as follows:

• 310th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, (Formerly 4514th CCTS)
• 311th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, (Formerly 4515th CCTS)
• 425th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, (GSU at Williams AFB, Arizona)
• 426th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, (Formerly 4515th CCTS)
• 550th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, (Formerly 4516th CCTS)

Upon activation of the 310th TFTS, the squadron began receiving new A-7D Corsair II ground attack aircraft from Ling-Temco-Vought, with a mission to train USAF pilots in the new aircraft. It's F-100s were reassigned to other squadrons which flew the F-100s of the 4510th CCTS. The 310th TFTS sent it's A-7Ds to the 333d TFS at D-M in July 1971.

The 425th TFTS was assigned to the 58th as a Geographically Separated Unit, assigned to Williams AFB. The squadron was established in December 1963 as thee 4441st CCTS, with a mission to train South Vietnamese Air Force pilots on the Northrup F-5A Freedom Fighter. The F-5 training continued at Williams until 1989, becoming a squadron to train Military Assistance Program (MAP) pilots from over 20 nations on the F-5.

In the summer of 1971, the 58th TFTW received F-4C Phantom IIs, and the wing assumed the F-4 pilot training role that was formerly done by the 4453d CCTW at Davis-Monthan AFB, when D-M was converted to an operational A-7D base by the arrival of the 355th TFW from Takhli RTAFB, Thailand.

F-15 Eagle era

In November 1974, the Air Force’s newest air superiority fighter, the F-15 Eagle, came to Luke. To accommodate the F-15, the 555th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron was activated. The early F-15A's, however, were quite troublesome, with engine problems limiting their effectiveness and also their availability. It was not until June 1976 that a second F-15 training squadron was established, with the 4461st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron sanding up on 23 June. The assets of the 4461st TFTS were re-designated as: 461st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron: 1 July 1977.

The 550th TFTS traded in it's F-4s in August 1977 becoming the third F-15 training squadron. The 426th converted from F-4 to F-15 training in January 1981. The F-15As, which remained troublesome throughout the 1970s, were replaced in 1982 with the updated F-15D.

The 310th and 311th TFTS retained their F-4Cs until April 1982, ending the Phantom era at Luke.

F-16 Falcon era

December 1982 by the first F-16 Fighting Falcon, which officially began training fighter pilots February 2, 1983. Luke units continued to set the pace for the Air Force. The 58th TTW had two squadrons – the 312th and 314th Tactical Fighter Training Squadrons – conducting training in the newest C and D models of the Fighting Falcon. The 405th TTW received the first E model of the F-15 Eagle in 1988 and two of its squadrons – the 461st and 550th – began training in this dual-role fighter.

In July 1987, the Reserve function at Luke changed when the 302d Special Operations Squadron deactivated its helicopter function and the then-Air Force Reserve's 944th Tactical Fighter Group (944 TFG) was activated to fly the F-16C/D.

The early 1990s brought significant changes to the base. As a result of defense realignments, the 312th, 426th and 550th TFTSs were inactivated as were the 832nd Air Division and the 405th TTW. The F-15A and B models were transferred out. Tactical Air Command was replaced by the Air Combat Command (ACC), the Air Force Reserve by the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and the 944 TFG redesignated the 944th Fighter Wing (944 FW).

Air Education and Training Command

In April 1994, after 24 years at Luke, the 58th Fighter Wing was replaced by the 56th Fighter Wing (56 FW) as part of the Air Force Heritage Program and the relocation of the 56 FW and the F-16 training mission from MacDill AFB, Florida as part of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action. Air Force officials established the Air Force Heritage Program to preserve the Air Force legacy and its history during the defense draw down of the early and mid 1990s. The 56 FW is one of the most highly decorated units in Air Force history and its units flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon include the 21st, 61st, 62nd, 63rd, 308th, 309th, 310th, and 425th Fighter Squadrons.

Since 1998, there have been 17 crashes, most recently March 14, 2008, when an F-16 crashed during a combat training sortie northwest of the base.

Germans at Luke AFB

A German TF-104G of the 69th TFTS in 1982 at Luke AFB.

From 1957 to 1965 830 pilots from the German Luftwaffe (air force) were trained on the F-84 at Luke AFB. Further 1,868 F-104G Starfighter-pilots, flying more than 235,000 hours, were stationed on the base during training from 1964 to 1983. Since Northern European weather and operational restrictions placed severe limitations on the amount of training, Luke AFB was chosen, where flying conditions were ideal for most of the time. The F-104Gs and TF-104Gs were assigned to the 4512th, 4518th, and 4443rd Combat Crew Training Squadrons and the 69th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron of the USAF. The German unit was named "2. Deutsche Luftwaffen-Ausbildungsstaffel F-104 USA (2. DtLwAusbStff F-104 USA)" (2nd German Air Force Training Squadron F-104 USA). Although remaining German property, the Starfighters carried USAF insignia and were assigned USAF serial numbers.

Air Defense Command

In 1959 a Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Data Center (DC-21) was established at Luke AFB. The SAGE system was a network linking Air Force (and later FAA) General Surveillance Radar stations into a centralized center for Air Defense, intended to provide early warning and response for a Soviet nuclear attack. It was initially under the Phoenix Air Defense Sector (PhADS), established on 15 June 1959. PhADS was inactivated on 1 April 1966, and re-designated as the 27th Air Division. DC-21 with its AN/FSQ-7 computer remained under the 27th AD until 19 November 1969 it was inactivated and its assets absorbed by the 26th Air Division. DC-21 was inactivated on 9 December 1983 when technology advances made SAGE obsolete.

Previous names

• Litchfield Park Air Base, c. 15 February 1941
• Luke Field, 6 June 1941
• Luke Air Force Base, 10 June 1949

Major Commands to which assigned

• West Coast Air Corps Training Center, 3 July 1941 - 23 January 1942
• Air Corps Flying Training Command, 23 January 1942 - 15 March 1942
• AAF Flying Training Command, 15 March 1942 - 31 July 1943
• AAF Training Command, 31 July 1943 - 1 July 1946
• Air Training Command, 1 July 1946 -December 1946, 1 January 1951 - 1 July 1958
• Tactical Air Command, 1 July 1958- 1 June 1992
• Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992 - 1 July 1993
• Air Education and Training Command, 1 July 1993–present

The facility was placed on temporary reduced activity status, 6 July 1946; temporarily inactivated, 31 October 1946. It became a sub-installation of Williams Field, Arizona, 3 Dec 1946-5 Mar 1951. It was removed from inactive status, placed on active status, 1 January 1951.

Major units assigned

• Air Corps Advanced Flying School

Re-designated Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School

Re-designated Army Air Forces Pilot School (Advanced Single-Engine), 20 May 1941-6 July 1946

• 90th Air Base Group, 1 August 1941-19 May 1942
• 3003d Army Air Force Base Unit, 1 May 1944-31 October 1945
• 3028th Army Air Force Base Unit, 1 May 1944-30 November 1946
• 408th Army Air Force Base Unit, 1 October 1946-1 March 1947

• 127th Fighter (later Training) Group, 23 February 1951-1 November 1952
• USAF Air Crew School

Re-designated USAF Combat Crew Training School, 1 March 1951-1 November 1943

• 4510th Combat Support Group, 1 November 1952-15 October 1969

• 4510th Combat Crew Training Group, 1 November 1952-1 August 1963
• 4510th Combat Crew Training Wing, 1 November 1952-15 October 1969
• 3600th Air Demonstration Flight, 25 May 1953-23 June 1956
• Phoenix Air Defense Sector, 15 June 1959

Re-designated: 27th Air Division, 1 April 1966

Re-designated: 26th Air Division, 19 November 1969-31 August 1983

• 4629th Air Defense Squadron (SAGE)*, 1 July 1972

Re-designated 26th Air Defense Squadron (SAGE)*, 1 January 1975-9 December 1983

• 58th Tactical Training Wing, 15 October 1969-1 April 1994
• 405th Tactical Training Wing, 29 August 1979-1 October 1991
• 832d Air Division, 1 December 1980-1 October 1991
• 56th Fighter Wing, 1 April 1994–present

Note: * Operated DC-21 ADCOM/ADTAC SAGE blockhouse

See also

• Arizona World War II Army Airfields
• List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations

Other sources

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
• Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
• Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC
• Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-513-4.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to present
• Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
• Luke AFB, Arizona at GlobalSecurity.org (source of history)
• A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
• Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
• Information for Luke AFB, AZ

External links

• Luke AFB Home Page
• Luke AFB Services Squadron
• Luke Field in World War II
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective May 16, 2024
• FAA Terminal Procedures for LUF, effective May 16, 2024
• Resources for this U.S. military airport:
  • FAA airport information for LUF
  • AirNav airport information for KLUF
  • ASN accident history for LUF
  • NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KLUF