The decade of the 1990s opened with Luke AFB boasting a fleet of the world’s premier superfighters, the F-15 Eagle (airborne) and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. (Photos courtesy of 56th Fighter Wing History office)
The 56th Fighter Wing flag, with its many campaign and awards streamers, was unfurled for the first time April 1, 1994, at Luke AFB when the wing took over host unit duties at the base.The 56th compiled an incredible record in World War II, damaging or destroying 1,598.5 enemy aircraft while losing only 25 fighters in aerial combat. The unit’s top ace was Lt. Col. Francis Gabreski, who had 28 aerial victories.The F-15 fighter training program at Luke AFB in A, B, C, D and E models began in 1974 and ended in 1995 after producing 4,200 graduates.The first female fighter pilot in the history of the Air Force was 1st Lt. Jeannie Flynn, who completed F-15E qualification training with the 555th Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB on Feb. 10, 1994.