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Luke AFB F-16 Fighting Falcon “Viper”

Luke AFB F-16 Fighting Falcon “Viper” poster art.

The 56th Fighter Wing‘s mission is to train the world’s greatest F-16 fighter pilots while deploying mission-ready warfighters. The wing, part of Air Education and Training Command, is home to 138 aircrafts, 24 squadrons and four tenant units. The 56th Fighter Wing graduates more than 285 F-16 pilots and 350 crew chiefs annually. The wing is one of the most highly decorated aviation units in history, traces its history to the 56th Fighter Group which was a World War II P-47 Thunderbolt fighter group. Assigned to the Eighth Air Force in England, the 56th FG flew its first combat missions of World War II on 13 April 1943. The 56th FG also produced 39 fighter aces.