Luke fighter squadron to deactivate next year

[unhappycamper]

Luke fighter squadron to deactivate next year
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 15, 2008 7:11:15 EST

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — Air Force officials say one squadron of F-16 fighter jets at Luke Air Force Base will be retired by early next year as part of a planned base downsizing.

Brig. Gen. Tom Jones, the commander of the 56th Fighter Wing, made the announcement Thursday. The base will lose about 425 military and civilian jobs once the 63rd Fighter Squadron is deactivated and an unrelated repair facility closes.

The squadron’s 25 F-16s are among the oldest still in service at the base west of Phoenix and will be retired to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. Luke will still have 160 F-16s.

The downsizing is part of the 2005 Base closure and realignment process.


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_luke_080214/