b'luke air forceBase historyIn July and August 1948, a 56th major operation involvedOn June 30, 1975, some of the wings subordinate units 16 of the wings F-80 Shooting Stars. By way of Maine,were inactivated. The wing, with combat support groupLabrador, Greenland, Iceland and Scotland, the flight flew to(containing its security police and civil engineering squadrons), Furstenfeldbruck, Germany. Although not connected withsupply and transportation squadrons moved without personnel the Berlin Airlift, which was in progress, the operation focusedor equipment to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The wing world attention on the U.S. Air Forces ability to rapidly deploywas redesignated the 56th Tactical Fighter Wing and assigned jet fighters during a crisis. to Tactical Air Commands 9th Air Force.The wing was transferred to the Continental Air CommandsAs part of the move, the 61st FS and 62nd FS reactivated 10th Air Force Dec. 1, 1948, and the mission of the wingsas tactical fighter squadrons. The 63rd Fighter Interceptor tactical units shifted to air defense. The unit was redesignatedTraining Squadron moved from Tyndall Air Force Base, as the 56th Fighter Interceptor Wing Jan. 20, 1950. Its 61st,Florida, without personnel or equipment. Redesignated a62nd and 63rd Fighter Interceptor squadrons (FIS) convertedtactical fighter squadron, it was assigned to the wing as was to the F-86 Sabre jet in April 1950. the 4501st Tactical Fighter Replacement Squadron, which later became the 13th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron. In November 1979, the wing began converting from the F-4D Phantom II to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. As they converted, they became tactical fighter training squadrons. On Oct. 1,1981, the 56th FW became a tactical training wing. On July 1, 1982, the 13thinactivated and the 72nd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron took its place.On June 27, 1988, the 56th FW began converting from the F-16A/B models to the updated F-16C/Ds. Then another reorganization redesignated the 56th as a fighter wingOct. 1, 1991. Its flying units once again became fighter squadrons. The 56th FW was reassigned to Luke Air Force Base April 1, 1994.With the F-16C/Ds, the 56th FW remains the primary F-16 A 56th Fighter Wing Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star being loaded with munitions in 1949. (DoD photo) aircrew and maintenance training wing in the Air Force. Under While the wing inactivated Feb. 6, 1952, Air Defensethe 56th FW, which retains its F-16C/D training mission, are Command reorganized its tactical squadrons reassigning themthe 21st, 309th, 310th and 425th Fighter squadrons at Luke to other wings. AFB, along with the Wing. At Kingsley Field Air National Almost nine years later, the wing reactivated at K.I. SawyerGuard Base, the 550th Fighter Squadron trains F-15C pilots Air Force Base, Michigan, as the 56th FW (Air Defense) withand reports to the 56th Operations Group.an air defense mission. The wing controlled a single tacticalSince 2015, the 56th FW at Luke AFB has trained pilots to unit, the 62nd FIS, flying the F-101 Voodoo. fly the F-35A Lightning II. Units flying the F-35A Lightning II Starting Feb. 1, 1961, the wing was part of two air defenseare the 61st, 62nd, 63rd and 308th Fighter Squadrons.sectors. As such, the 56th FW participated in many air defense exercises, tactical evaluations and other operations. On Dec. 16, 1963, the Duluth Air Defense Sector reassigned the squadron directly underneath itself. On Jan. 1, 1964, the 56th FW was assigned to the Strategic Air Command and inactivated.Just over three years later, the wing reactivated as the 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. War then raged in Southeast Asia. Assigned to 13th Air Force, the 56th FW received operational direction from 7th Air Force in Saigon. The wings combat and support operations in Southeast Asia were numerousand varied. Until Aug. 1, 1968, the wing operated as an air commando organization. From Aug. 1, 1968 to June 30, 1975, the 56th FW was designated a special operations wing. DueThree U.S. Air Force fighters and a German F-104G from the 58th Tactical Training Wing from Luke Air Force to its efforts in every military campaign beginning with theBase, Arizona (USA), in flight on 1 August 1979 (front to back): A Northrop F-5E Tiger II from the 425th Tactical Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II, the wing earned severalFighter Training Squadron; a German Lockheed F-104G Starfighter from the 69th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron a McDonnell F-4C-15-MC Phantom II from the 310th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron; and a awards for valor. McDonnell Douglas F-15A-16-MC Eagle from the 555th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron. (DoD photo)THE Premier Fighter Wing LUKE AIR FORCE BASE 35'