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Thunderbolt NEWS 19July 24, 2015
http://www.luke.af.mil
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HILL (from Page 7)
314 FS activates
STREET BEAT the first 419th FW pilot to fly the F-35 will begin training
this fall. Courtesy photo
The 56th Security Forces directed medical personnel to
Squadron handed the following the victim and conducted traffic When the F-35s begin to arrive at Hill AFB, they’ll be Lt. Col. Andrew Caggiano took com-
incidents at Luke Air Force Base control procedures. The victim divided among three fighter squadrons and flown and mand of the 314th Fighter Squadron
July 13 through 19: was transported to a nearby maintained by members of both the 388th FW and its in an activation ceremony July 14
hospital for minor dehydration. Reserve component, the 419th FW. at Holloman Air Force Base, New
Tickets Mexico. Caggiano graduated with
Nonemergency “There are slated to be a total of 72 F-35s at Hill AFB military distinction from the U.S. Air
Security forces issued cita- by 2019, with approximately 35 to 40 pilots in each of the Force Academy in 1997. He earned
tions for four moving violations responses three fighter squadrons. his pilot wings at Euro-NATO Joint
and one nonmoving violation. Jet pilot training in 1999 at Shep-
July 16: Security forces re- Hill officials hope to have 15 jets by August 2016 and pard Air Force Base, Texas. He is
Traffic-related sponded to a warrant’s hit at reach a status known as “initial operational capability,” a command pilot with more than
incidents South Gate Visitor Center on which means the fighter wings meet the minimum opera- 1,850 hours in the F-16 Fighting
a civilian nonmilitary affili- tional capabilities to use the jet for normal operations.” Falcon. The 54th Fighter Group,
July 14: Security forces respond- ated contractor. Security forces a detachment of the 56th Fighter
ed to a report of a minor two-vehi- detained the individual and The 34th FS is scheduled to have five qualified pilots Wing, activated the 314th FS at Hol-
cle accident at the intersection of contacted the Maricopa County during the first month of flying, taking turns in what will loman. Their mission is to produce
Thunderbird and Kachina streets. Sheriff Department who took be two F-35s on base. The 388th FW is sending pilots the world’s greatest F-16 Fighting
There were no injuries. control. through training at Eglin AFB, Florida, and Luke AFB, Falcon fighter pilots and deploy
Arizona. By January 2016, the wing will have 10 pilots combat mission-ready Airmen.
July 15: Security forces re- Alarm activations qualified to fly the F-35, including Watkins and Lyons, Caggiano will lead the more than
sponded to a report of a minor who both finished their training earlier this year. 30-member squadron. The 314th FS
two-vehicle accident at the Bldg. Security forces responded to was first activated July 6, 1942.
1514 parking lot. There were no 13 alarm activations on base. The colonels answered to those who have criticized the
injuries. F-35 program for its expense and apparent lack of perfor-
Tip of the week mance. The most recent cost estimate for operating and
Emergency supporting the F-35 fleet exceeds $1 trillion and a leaked
Avoid walking alone at night internal brief written by a test pilot who was flying the
responses as much as possible. Walk or F-35 during a January test run revealed the jet was losing
travel with a friend including dogfights to the F-16.
July 15: Security forces re- during daytime.
sponded to a report of a medical “Things aren’t perfect, but things are still in develop-
emergency of a military member Courtesy of Senior Airman Brian Lefevre ment and you can see the potential,” Lyons said, adding
at Kachina Gate. Security forces 56th SFS that the F-35 flies similarly to the F-16, but by fusing
many different sensors together, makes the pilot’s job
easier in the cockpit.
Fighter wing spokesman Nathan Simmons said that by
the time the F-35 is in full operation at Hill in 2019, the
388th will have added more than 260 active-duty positions.
Courtesy of af.mil
