Posted on 08/02/2007 10:31:53 AM PDT by CHEE
Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were.
A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit.
The complaint: "Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 a.m., a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special? Any response would be appreciated."
The response: Regarding "A wake-up call from Luke's jets" (Letters, Thursday): On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship flyby of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day. At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the flyby, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured. A four-ship flyby is a display of respect the Air Force pays to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects. The letter writer asks, "Whom do we thank for the morning air show?" The 56th Fighter Wing will call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.
Lt. Col. Scott Pleus CO 63rd Fighter Squadron Luke AFB
God I love stories like these. I grew up in the traffic pattern around Richards-Gebaur AFB with C-124s, F-106s, C-130s, and A-10s buzzing overhead. I have since moved to Columbia, Missouri and I actually miss those sounds along with the roar of the diesels on the start carts.
They're not. Probably F-106s, but might be F-102s, like Lt. Geo. Bush flew. The two jets look very much alike.
LOL. I missed that completely. I don’t know what they are but they’re certainly not F-16s.
I give the guy credit to owning up to his error in judgment. Many people may not have apologized. I guess deep down he is a good man and even American.
16....106...close enough!
A LtCol who doesn't know the difference between three rifle volleys and a 21-gun salute.
Thanks for the link. It was nice to see his letter of apology.
Oh barf. Probably doesn't hesitate to stab someone in the back for stealing her girlfriend either.
The firing squad is normally 7 people -- they fire 3 rounds -- thus what most folks now-s-days call a 21 gun salute.
In fact, it carries, in my mind, more honor than the trditional 21 gun (cannon) salute which is for heads of state. Even Hitler, Pol Pot, Mao, and Staling received one of those -- earned or not.
This kind is earned the hard way.
e-mail to me | August 8, 2007 | Unknown
You get emails from the future???!!!
That’s Kewl!!!
I read the whole Snopes link and they mention that after response was publiched in the paper the guy who wrote the original complaint wrote back to the paper and profusely and humbly apologized. Turns out he’s Vietnam Vet himself. His letter sounded like he would have paid good money for a rock to crawl under.
re[ #55
Maybe he should ease up a bit on the Wild Turkey, ya think??
Emails need to be posted in chat.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thanks much for this info. CHEE
What you would have really loved ( and might have experienced part of) was an Alert drill. 2 weeks on Alert at the Alert barracks with the 52’s and 47’s lined up and ready to take off. The sirens wail, the crews race for the planes and in a matter of minutes dozens are airborn. The ground actually shakes from the power of the engines.
And all the while you know the crews are practicing to protect us.
Yes. We experienced the alerts as they took off over us. It did cause the ground to shake. From what I understand they were also carrying nuclear bombs as well. Cool. That was classified but well known.
I know— nauseating isn’t it? These people have no concept of what it means to defend yourself.
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