Portal:United States Air Force/news/2007June

12 February 2007; LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZONA — February 12 was a bittersweet day for the 944th Fighter Wing on Luke AFB's flightline.

Reservists in the Air Force Reserve Command wing closed a chapter of their almost 20-year history as they bid farewell to the last three of 17 remaining F-16s. The unit's F-16s are being reassigned to other locations on the recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

"This is like a family that's moving on," said Lt. Col. Donald Lindberg, 302d Fighter Squadron commander. He compared the emotions of the event to sending a child to college.

As part of the farewell, the trio of planes performed a ceremonial flyover for the crowd of 944th Fighter Wing members, past and present, and their families before flying toward Las Vegas, Nevada.

Two of the F-16s, piloted by Lt. Col. Lindberg and Col. Derek Rydholm, 944th Fighter Wing commander, will become part of the aggressor squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

The third jet, flown by Maj. Mike Sharp, 944th Operations Group deputy commander, will undergo maintenance at Hill AFB, Utah, before being assigned to an Air National Guard unit in Tucson, Arizona.

For the entire story, see: http://www.afrc.af.mil/newsreleases/story.asp?id=123040912&page=4