Luke Air Force baseLocated just north of Litchfield Park, Luke Air Force Base is home to the 56th Fighter Wing, the largest fighter wing in the world and the only active-duty Air Force F-16 training wing. The 944th Fighter Wing, a U.S. Air Force Reserve unit, is also based at Luke with a mission to train and provide combat-ready Citizen Airmen in support of national objectives.
The 56th Fighter Wing has 137 aircraft, 24 squadrons, two tenant units, more than 4,830 military and civilian personnel, and supports more than 70,000 family members and military retirees each year. The wing also has stewardship of the 1.7 million acre Barry M. Goldwater Range, located near Arizona’s southern border. The air base is named after WWI flying ace and Phoenix native 2nd Lt. Frank Luke Jr., the first aviator to receive the Medal of Honor. Lt. Luke scored 18 aerial victories, 14 against German observation balloons, before being killed at the age of 21 on Sept. 29, 1918. In 2013, Luke AFB was selected as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter training site with six squadrons & 144 aircraft. The F-35A, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is intended to be the Air Force's premier strike aircraft through the first half of the 21st century. It is a multirole fighter that is expected to eventually phase out the service's F-16s and A-10s. Aircraft are expected to begin arriving at Luke in spring 2014, although exact timing will depend on production schedules. Construction on base to prepare for the aircraft is currently underway. Luke AFB is an important member of the Southwest Valley community. They have a $2.17 billon economic impact in the area and throughout Arizona. The military personnel, civilian employees and their families volunteer over 100,000 hours in the community annually. |
56th Fighter Wing Units
56th Medical Group
56th Fighter Wing Staff Agencies 56th Operations Group 56th Maintenance Group 56th Mission Support Group 56th Contracting Squadron 54th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
14185 West Falcon Street Luke Air Force Base, AZ 85309 Comm: (623) 856-5853 DSN: 896-5853 luke.af.mil |
