A Wake Up Call From Luke AFB, AZ
Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by
civilization that complains about the noise from the base and
it's 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 The Gap's 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 Captain Jeremy Fresques. Captain 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 Captain 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 fly-by is a
display of respect the United States 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, forward your thanks to the widow
and parents of Captain Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor
that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.
Lieutenant Colonel Scott Pleus
Commanding Officer
63rd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ
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