01VIPERGTS/ACR
Full Access Member
Wake up call from Luke Air Force Base, AZ>
> 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. (We can hope.)
>
> 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 9 a.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 63rd 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
> 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. (We can hope.)
>
> 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 9 a.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 63rd 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
,and i can say WE HAVE IT IT F-IN MADE in this country:rock: .so who will be the next ASS:reddy: to bitch about some fighter jet noise?
