Page 3 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, Jan. 5 2018

Thunderbolt 2017 in photos January 2018 3 http://www.luke.af.mil Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt
2018 Haboob Havoc: Legacy of Airpower Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Frank Luke’s sacrifice
IN BRIEf
Illusionist Mike Super
Illusionist Mike Super will perform at 5 p.m . Jan. 18 at Club Five Six. The free, family friendly event is open to the Luke community. For more information, call 623-856-6446.
Annual Awards Banquet
The Luke Air Force Base 2017 Annual Awards Banquet is Jan. 20 at the historic Wigwam Resort located in Litchfield Park. “Spirit of Warriors” is this year’s theme. The celebra- tion will honor those who have embodied the Air Force core values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. Tickets are $40 per E-1 to E-6/GS-1 to GS-8, $45 per E-7 to E-9/O-1 to O-3/GS-9 to GS-11, $50 per O-4 to O-5/ GS-12 and $56 per O-6 and above/GS-13 and above. RSVP via the e-invitation by Jan. 12. For more information, call Senior Master Sgt. Chaunda Wharton at 623-856-7262 or Senior Master Sgt. Javier Gonzalez at 623-856-4172.
MLK Day luncheon
The MLK Day luncheon, themed “Our Time, Our Past, Our Right Now,” is 11:30 a.m. Jan. 12 in the Club Five Six Main Ballroom. A barbecue lunch is $15 per guest. RSVP by Jan. 8 via https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim. cfm?i=374032&k=016646097855. For more information, call Master Sgt. Aisha Carr at 623-856-6376.
March on Luke
The MLK Day march on Luke is 7:30 a.m. Jan. 12 beginning in front of Club Five Six. For more information, call Master Sgt. Aisha Carr at 623-856-6376.
New year, new you
Lose weight, be healthy and win prizes in the new year, new you program. Required to weigh-in 6 to 7 a.m. or 5 to 6 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Bryant Fitness Center. The cost is $25. For more information, call 623-856-6241.
Family Glow Run
The 56th Force Support Squadron is featuring a 2-mile family glow run at 5 p.m. Jan. 19 at the auxiliary parking lot across from 944th Fighter Wing HQ on Super Sabre Street. Strollers and pets (on the leash) are allowed.
Outdoor recreation
Outdoor recreation is featuring the following events:
• Mystery Escape Room: DaVinci’s Secret, $5 per person,
is 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 12, individuals or teams
• Hover board scavenger hunt, free, is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 17
• Arizona Snowbowl ski trip, $20 per R4R single airman only, is 6:30 a.m. Jan. 20, includes lift tickets, equipment rental and transportation
• Grand Canyon day trip, $20 per person, is 6 a.m. to
7 p.m. Jan. 27. For more information, call 623-856-6267.
Golf tournament
The 20th anniversary Falcon Dunes Golf Tournament is 8 a.m. Jan. 28. The format is 2-player scramble and is free. For more information, call 623-535-9334.
Fort Tuthill
Reserve a cabin for a winter ski trip. Ski package available for rental is $19 and snowboard package is $24. For more information, call 928-774-8893.
Cruise-In
Put your vehicle on display and listen to live music free 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month in the Com- munity Commons parking lot. Refreshments will be available for purchase. For more information, call 623-856-7152.
Toastmasters on base
Toastmasters meets noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays in Bldg. 1150, 3rd Floor Conference Room. Improve communication and leadership skills through friendly, constructive exercises involving prepared and impromptu speaking, and group lead- ership. Instructional materials are provided. The cost is $20 to join and $7 per month thereafter. For more information, call Lynne Nutter at 623-856-8711.
by Lt. Col. JASON BARTELS
2018 Haboob Havoc director
The 2018 Haboob Havoc, held Jan. 29 through Feb. 2, will be hosted by Luke Air Force Base. It is an annual competition where fighter pilots hone their skills in aerial combat, bringing together fighter pilots from across the Air Force to build comradery as well. This competition builds on the legacy of Frank Luke being the sec- ond-highest scoring ace of World War I.
The 2018 HH is par- ticularly special as it’s the 100th anniversary of Luke making the ultimate sacrifice when his Spad biplane crashed in the French countryside during the First World War.
Luke, the fighter pilot’s pilot, met the enemy head- on destroying numerous balloons and enemy air- craft during his short time. On that fateful day in September 1918, Luke’s Spad was shot down by a machine gun that fatally wounded him. Once on the ground, his bravado continued as he drew his pistol and fought the Ger- man infantry until his last breath. His distinguished actions led him to receive the Medal of Honor.
This year’s competition continues in the spirit of Frank Luke and encom- passes aerial and social competitions. Pilots flying the F-35 Lightning II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15E Strike Eagle and A-10 Thunderbolt II will meet in the Southern Arizona skies
Courtesy photo
Lt. Frank Luke Jr. poses in 1918 with a Spad biplane. During a seven-day period, Sept. 12-18, 1918, two days of which he did not fly, he scored 13 confirmed vic- tories, including an amazing five victories (two balloons and three airplanes) on the last day. His attributes included the requisite qualities of a fighter pilot: ex- ceptional courage, the ability to think and act quickly, skill, and creativity in the air. His exploits had a direct effect upon the development of American air tactics and he stands tall in all history as an unforgettable example of true valor and self-sacrifice, according to the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
of the Barry M. Goldwater Range and put their skills to the test.
First, they will joust in basic fighter maneuvers with the quickest one to the simulated kill earning the top prize. The team with the lowest time will garner, not only the best team bragging rights, but, most importantly, the ad- miration of their peers.
The next aerial competi- tion will find pilots execut- ing air-to-surface attacks where the lowest score wins the highest marks. Again, the best team will
earn the overall air-to- surface trophy and the envy of their peers.
Once back on the ground, the pilots will form teams for a golf competition with match play. Local Luke units will invite their honorary commanders to participate as well. This support along with that of the surrounding Phoenix community is pivotal in creating the world’s best fighter pilots.
The culmination of the night is an age-old fighter pilot tradition – a crud tournament. In this cre-
scendo event, pilots will form teams and battle with two billiard balls until there is only one man left standing.
This year’s event is unique as Luke has opened its doors to all pilot train- ing bases to send their stu- dents and instructors for a hands-on experience of life in the combat air force.
Our aim is to encour- age aviators, young and old, to act with the same bravado Luke displayed 100 years ago and continue the fighter pilot legacy for another century.
THUNDERBOLT ALMANAC
Fiscal 2018 graduates
21st FS (calendar year).................................. 8 61st FS ............................................................ 6 62nd FS........................................................... 7 63rd FS ........................................................... 0 69th FS ........................................................... 0 309th FS ......................................................... 1 310th FS ....................................................... 27 311th FS ......................................................... 1
314th FS ........................................................ 1 425th FS (calendar year) ............................... 7 550th FS ........................................................ 8 56th TRS ...................................................... 17 607th ACS.................................................... 42 372nd TRS, Det. 12 ................................... 169 944th OG, Det. 2 ............................................ 3
Hours flown F-35 2,939.4 F-16 4,014.8
Sorties flown
2,004 2,896
(As of Jan. 2, 2018)
T-Bolts
Deployed around the world.
137 Luke Airmen are deployed to 14 locations