Page 1 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, September 2020
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“We train the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat ready Airmen” September 2020
Vol. 19, No. 9
INSIDE
StorIES
Education center guides
Airmen, 3
Loaner library, 5
The hats I wear, 7
Friendship in death, 10
Travis AFB joins fire-
fight, 12
Red Flag welcomes
F-35, 13
Continue to get Luke’s latest
news and information from
these sources: https://www.
aerotechnews.com/lukeafb/
https://www.luke.af.mil Senior Airman Danielle Charmichael
and social media An F-35A Lightning II pilot with the 56th Operations Group prepares to refuel over southern Idaho on Aug. 18, 2020. The F-35s
were participating in a quarterly exercise known as Gunfighter Flag, in which United States partners and fighter squadrons na-
tionwide train for air-to-air and air-to-ground scenarios to maintain the lethality of the force.
Luke56thFW @LukeAFB
Date of publication Luke trains in Gunfighter Flag exercise
First Friday
of the month by Senior Airman “The exercise brought together many “As an F-35 pilot, I know my jet’s advan-
Submission deadline LeALA MARquez different airframes in order to train at a tages and disadvantages very well,” said
15th day of the month 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs more difficult and complex level than we Levine. “Flying with such a diverse number
prior to date of publication The 62nd and 308th fighter squadrons normally train to on a weekly basis at of jets allows us to expand our knowledge
home,” said Maj. Jordan Levine, 62nd FS
base to platforms that we don’t typically
Veterans participated in the Gunfighter Flag Large activity security manager. train with. We figure out how to leverage
Force Exercise, Aug. 17-21 at Mountain
The exercise featured many aircraft
each platform’s strengths and how to miti-
Home Air Force Base, Idaho. including the F-35A Lightning II, F-15 gate the weaknesses.”
Tell us Your Story The five-day exercise deployed U.S. Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, HH-60 Pave Hawk, For the 62nd FS the exercise was executed
Active-duty, Reserve, Retirees and foreign partners’ fighter squadrons A-10 Thunderbolt II, EA-18G Growler, KC- largely by F-35 instructor pilots as continu-
All military branches are included and units from across the Department of 135 Stratotanker and the KC-10 Extender. ation training and gave them better insight
Email name, phone number and a Defense to train in air-to-air and air-to- Different aircraft worked together to com- into F-35 capabilities, so they can in turn
brief description of your service to ground missions. Luke AFB sent 38 pilots plete missions with Offensive Counter-Air provide better training for student pilots.
56fwpathunderbolt@us.af.mil throughout the week to execute the mission (OCA) and Defensive Counter-Air (DCA)
at Mountain Home. scenarios. See flAg, Page 4
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