Page 1 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt – July 2024
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“We train the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat ready Airmen”
56th Commander’s ‘fini flight’ ends with splash
INSIDE
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rue- schhoff, 56th Fighter Wing commander, is sprayed with water after his final flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The final flight, commonly known as a fini flight, is a tradition for pilots and some aircrew members who are retiring or moving to another base. Part of the tradition is getting hosed with water
by fellow Airmen as soon as they step out of the aircraft after the flight.
StorIES
Luke says goodbye, 3
U. S. Sen. Mark Kelly
visits, 4
Chaplain’s thoughts, 5
Combatting suicide, 9
FEAtUrE
Senior Airman Elias Carrero
A Knight’s tAle
See Pages 6 and 7
U.S. Air Force Photos by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson
July. 2024 Vol. 23, No. 7
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U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff, 56th Fighter Wing commander, prepares for take-off in an F-35 Lightning II before his finial flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base. In July of 2022, after serving as Deputy Commander at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Rueschhoff assumed command of the 56th FW. After two years of serving at Luke AFB, he will relinquish command in July of 2024.
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff, 56th Fighter Wing command- er, sprays people with a water gun from an F-35 Lightning II after his fini flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff, 56th Fighter Wing command- er, struggles out of the grasp of his fellow Airmen while they attempt to tie him up after his final flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base.
LEFT: U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff (right), 56th Fighter Wing commander, smiles at Col. Matthew Johnston (left), 56th Operations Group commander, before Rueschhoff’s finial flight, June 14, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.
