Thunderbolt


Featured Headlines

Senior Airman DAVID OWSIANKA Air Force

Student pilot survives lymphoma, continues dream

Senior AirmanDAVID OWSIANKA Capt. Dakota Olsen, 310th Fighter Squadron student pilot, performs a preflight check during his training at Luke Air Force Base. What if your childhood dream job became a reality? Now imagine that dream coming to a screeching halt with the possibility of not just losing the dream, but your life as well….

Airman 1st Class GRACE LEE Local

308th signs on to clean up

Airman 1st ClassGRACE LEE Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, middle back row, Adopt-A-Street representatives and 308th Fighter Squadron pilots pose June 7 at the northwest corner of Glendale Avenue and Dysart Road. The Adopt-A-Street program invites the community, civic organizations, private businesses and individuals to help keep up the overall appearance of local streets. The Glendale…

Samuel King Jr. Local

Luke looks back at F-35 mission

Samuel King Jr. The pilot and crew chief salute each other as the F-16 Fighting Falcon taxies toward the runway for another sortie Sept. 6, 2012, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. With an average of 106 takeoffs per day and an inventory of 138 F-16 Fighting Falcons, it would have been easy to not…

130610-F-HT977-012 Air Force

FSS gets new boss

Airman 1st Class James Hensley Col. Nathan Mooney, 56th Mission Support Group commander, passes the guidon to Lt. Col. Todd Ladd, incoming 56th Force Support Squadron commander, during a change-of-command ceremony June 10 at Club Five Six on Luke Air Force Base. The 56th FSS supports the Luke community by providing manpower and personnel, airman…

Untitled-1 Air Force

This week in history: June 14

By June 12, 1943, the 56th Fighter Group had lost a couple of pilots in combat. On that date, the 62nd Fighter Squadron conducted a fighter sweep with two flights between Blankenburge, Belgium, and Calais, France. Flying at 20,000 feet near Ypres, Belgium, they saw two flights of four FochWolf-190s each at 15,000 feet. Maj….

Recent Reactions


All of this week's top headlines to your email every Friday.


 
 

Pg-2-F16-and-35-HGP_5252-13x19a-jpg
0
comments
Air Force

Stepping into 2013

Posted  January 11, 2013

As we open up on what I hope to be a terrific 2013, I’d like to start it off with a heartfelt thank you to everyone here at Luke Air Force Base. I’m so grateful for our talented and dedicated Airmen — enlisted, officers and civilian — who work hard each and every day to…

Full Story »

Senior Airman Sandra Welch
0
comments
Air Force

Year in Photos

Posted  January 11, 2013
Full Story »

Pg-1-photo
0
comments
Salutes & Awards

Top Hats graduate 16 into combat Air Force

Posted  December 21, 2012

Basic F-16 Course class 12-DBG of the 310th Fighter Squadron is well on its way to being “Dressed to Kill” as combat ready F-16 pilots. When they graduate on Jan. 4, 2013, they will continue the legacy of 310th Fighter Squadron trained fighter pilots who have fought in every war from World War II to…

Full Story »

309-deployment-jump-page-photo-if-needed
0
comments
Air Force

Ducks train in high desert

Posted  December 21, 2012

One Luke Air Force Base fighter squadron spent last week in a cold, unforgiving high desert environment doing training with remote piloted aircraft, F-22s and German Tornadoes. The 309th Fighter Squadron might not have actually been cold, but they did spend Dec. 7 through 14 flying and training in the 5,000′ elevation high desert of…

Full Story »

0
comments
Air Force

Thunderbirds headline 2013 open house

Posted  December 21, 2012

The U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds, will join Luke Air Force Base March 16 and 17 for Luke’s biennial open house and air show. Performing alongside the Thunderbirds in the air show lineup thus far include an F-16 close air support demonstration and a Marine Corps AV-8 Harrier demonstration, among others. Previous…

Full Story »

Pg-2-AMDS-Holiday-commentary-Smith
0
comments
U.S.

Life experience leaves lasting impression

Posted  December 21, 2012

Easter vacation had begun, I had a good 6th grade term report card in hand and my mind was filled with multiple ideas of how I would use the forthcoming week of freedom as I walked home from school. Mom had told me she would be off doing errands, and I was to come straight…

Full Story »

0
comments
Air Force

Leadership: Matter of ABCs

Posted  December 21, 2012

Leadership, depending on who you ask, can have many definitions. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines leadership as: “1. the office or position of a leader; 2. capacity to lead; and 3. the act or an instance of leading.” Wikipedia defines leadership as “organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal.” In a military environment, these…

Full Story »

squarre
0
comments
Salutes & Awards

THUNDERBOLT OF THE WEEK

Posted  December 21, 2012

Airman 1st Class Sharonda Walker: 56th Fighter Wing Command Post Emergency actions controller Hometown: Meridian, Miss. Years in service: One Family: Husband and 2-month-old son Education: Pursued an accounting degree from Alcorn State University, Miss. Previous assignments: Air National Guard, 186th Air Refueling Wing, Key Field, Miss. Inspirations: Mother, husband and an older sister Goals:…

Full Story »

0
comments
Salutes & Awards

ALS graduates 53 Airmen in class 13-1

Posted  December 21, 2012

The 56th Fighter Wing Airman Leadership School graduated one staff sergeant and 52 senior airmen Dec. 13 from class 13-1. The graduates are senior airmen unless otherwise noted. The award winners are: John L. Levitow: Christopher Williamson, 56th Contracting Squadron Distinguished graduates: Kassandra Parot, 56th Force Support Squadron; Christopher Pearce, 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron; Alfredo…

Full Story »

0
comments
Health & Safety

Firefighters rely on good nutrition

Posted  December 21, 2012

Most would think the highest risk for firefighters would be fire related. However, that’s not the case. “The number one killer of firefighters is heart disease,” said Marty Yates, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron health assistant chief and safety officer. “Proper nutrition, cardio, strengthening and rest can help lower the risk.” Aaron Anderson, 56th Aerospace Medicine…

Full Story »

 
 

 

Weather

 

[WeatherSlider] Invalid slider
 

Pick up a copy!

 

Find out where to pick up a print copy of Thunderbolt in the Phoenix area by checking our handy Distribution List.

 

Local Military Discounts

 

 

Action Line

 

56fw.pa@luke.af.mil
(623) 856-7011

The commander’s Action Line is your direct line to me with questions or suggestions about subjects of concern to the entire Luke Air Force Base community.

I appreciate your feedback. Your ideas and concerns help build a stronger foundation on which we can successfully complete our mission and take care of our people.

To receive a response, leave your name and telephone number. Action Lines of general interest are printed in the Thunderbolt. Remember, the quickest and most efficient way to resolve a problem is to talk directly to the responsible agency or through your chain of command.

The Action Line isn’t just for complaints. Send along your kudos when someone provides exceptional service, goes out of their way to help or deserves a kind word.


Directory powered by Business Directory Plugin