History office
The last F-4 Phantom II left Luke AFB on Nov. 4, 1982, ending a program that produced 3,147 graduates since its inception in 1971. (Photos courtesy of 56th Fighter Wing)
The first F-16A/B jets assigned to Luke AFB arrived on Dec. 6, 1982. During the next 15 months the fleet grew to 63 jets.Maintainers of the Block 42 F-16 fleet in mid to late 1989 posted the highest mission capable rates of any aircraft type ever assigned at Luke AFB.The end of the 1980s saw a lessening of international tensions. One result was a visit to Luke AFB on Oct. 5, 1989, by Soviet Defense Minister Dimitri Yazov, left.Lt. Gen. Fredrich Obleser, fourth from left, German air force chief of staff, and Gen. Wilbur Creech, fourth from left, Tactical Air Command commander, attended a March 16, 1983, ceremony marking the end of the German Air Force/USAF F-104 program at Luke AFB.The first Block 25 F-16C and D model Fighting Falcons in the Air Force’s inventory were delivered Nov. 5, 1984, to the 58th Tactical Training Wing at Luke AFB.The German Air Force/USAF F-104 program produced some 2,200 graduates during the program’s 19-year tenure at Luke.