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June 12, 2015 Thunderbolt
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Emerald Knights s
Airman Pedro Mota by Senior Airman Senior Airman Dev
DEVANTE WILLIAMS
Airmen from the 308th Fighter Squad- F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 308th Fighter Squadron deploy flares during a training sortie
ron picked up trash along Glendale 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs over the Arizona desert. Flares are used to defend against infrared homing surface-to-air mi
Avenue outside Luke Air Force Base air-to-air missiles during aerial combat.
July 26, 2013. The 308th FS Airmen The 308th Fighter Squadron and Air-
posted adopt-a-street signs along craft Maintenance Unit officially stands
the roads indicating the squadron’s down this month at Luke Air Force Base
pledge to improve the area. after 73 years of service.
Senior Airman Devante Williams The base has trained “Emerald Knights”
F-16 pilots and maintainers since 1993.
Patton packs equipment in prepara-
tion for the move Holloman. Patton is Luke is hosting a base-wide event hon-
in charge of inventorying and prepar- oring the 308th FS highlighting its legacy
ing the equipment for pick up. The at Luke and their transition to Holloman
308th FS and AMU will stand down Air Force Base in New Mexico where
after 73 years of service. they will start their new journey as the
314th FS and AMU, the second F-16 unit
to stand up at Holloman. The 314th FS
mission remains the same as the 308th
FS, ‘To provide the finest single-seat,
single-engine F-16 fighter pilots for the
combat air force and produce top quality
F-16 instructor pilots.’
The 308th was constituted Jan. 30, 1942,
as the 308th Pursuit Squadron and was
activated at Baer Field in Fort Wayne,
Indiana. Fast-forward to Oct. 1, 1986. The
pursuit squadron was designated a fighter
squadron and was re-equipped with the
F-16A and F-16B. The 308th FS was first
assigned to Homestead AFB, Fla., and
then to Moody AFB, Ga. It wasn’t until
April 1, 1994, when Luke AFB became the
home of the 308th.
During the 308th FS’s almost 22 years
at Luke, they achieved many milestones.
Since activation, they have trained ap-
proximately 270 students to enter the
Combat Air Forces as the world’s greatest
fighter pilots. In 2012, the 308th received
Top Operations Squadron honors within
the 56th Fighter Wing. The legacy of the
308th will continue to be a part of Luke
Air Force Base.
‘We can be sad about losing a squadron,
but we’re going out on a high note,” said
Lt. Col. Christopher Bacon, 308th FS
commander. “Best instructor pilots in the
wing, best students in the wing, and we
were 2014 Operations Squadron of the
year. It’s sad to shut down the squadron,
but I couldn’t be more proud of each and
every member of the Emerald Knights.”
As the 308th FS and AMU depart for
New Mexico, 1st Lt. Allana Gallant, 56th
Equipment Maintenance Squadron 308th
AMU officer in charge, said she definitely
enjoyed her time with the 308th and
wishes them nothing but success as they
embark on their journey to Holloman.
“I’m sad to see the squadron go,” she
said. “We’ve become a great family and
were able to overcome any obstacles we
faced. It’ll be nice for the young 308th Air-
men to experience Holloman and see how
they run their mission, but Luke AFB will
always be the home of the 308th.”
