A Wake Up Call From Luke AFB, AZ

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A Wake Up Call From Luke AFB, AZ

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 10:10 PM

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 9a.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




http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp

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[JQ]

........

[427TJ]

There's always some as$hole who insists on living next to the airport and then complaining about the noise. But you have to blame developers for this too. Developers love to build next to airports because the ground is usually flat and easy to build on and so houses get crammed right up against the airfield fence. The area around Luke has been under the developer's onslaught for years and if it weren't for the huge military retirement community nearby Luke would have been closed and paved-over long ago. It still may go as development pressure continues out there.

People like that want wars fought out of sight and out of mind. "Please fight the war for me but don't remind me or bother me about it." Yeah, well up yours you f-ing whiner. Better yet, sell me your house, I LOVE jet noise, especially from fighters. I'd love to fly an F-16 right on the deck in full afterburner over that crybaby's house, then pull I'd up and bang-out about 10 vertical rolls with my middle finger out. (Sorry, that fly-by story just got to me.)

[1970Ls6]

Better yet, break the sound barrier over the crybaby's house.

[ORIGLS6]

I believe Xplantdad and mockingbird812 have a story to tell about this specific incident as they live and work close to Luke AFB.
I, for one think the reply was first class!

[nuch_ss396]

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Better yet, break the sound barrier over the crybaby's house.

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Well,

The crybaby's house and every other house in a 6 block radius. That's OK, what wrong with a little
collateral damage anyway Good cause...

[Xplantdad]

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I believe Xplantdad and mockingbird812 have a story to tell about this specific incident as they live and work close to Luke AFB.
I, for one think the reply was first class!

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Here's the email that I sent to Dennis Cumby when he sent me this same story a week ago.

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Hey all...

These same planes flew over our house....as they do every day. I knew that because they were flying in the missing man formation...that it had to do with a valued and important man. If I would have had my camera at the ready, I would have taken a few shots. It was awesome.

We are in the flight training path for Luke on most days. They fly at all hours...day and night...practicing...so that they know what to do...if and when the time comes!

I thank God that they are there...and that they are serving our country. The lady who complained was probably angry that all the snowbirds hadn't left yet...and that she was late in getting to the mall.

She's an idiot.

'Nuff said!

Bruce

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Darren can back me up as far as the planes flying over at all hours...

PLUS they were there before we were...

[427TJ]

Update: I read the entire story on the Snopes page and the guy who complained wrote an eloquent apology after learning what the jets were doing and why.

[olredalert]

-------The complaintant stood up, took his medicine like a man, and did the right thing just as any other vet would do. In this case I believe he could be excused, as he was a Vietnam vet according to his apology.......Bill S