63 FS slated for deactivation

[BUFF 8]

February 13, 2008 (by Maj.Paul Kirmis) - The 56th Fighter Wing commander

officially announced the future deactivation of one of Luke's eight fighter

squadrons Tuesday during a forum.

 

 

. Gen. Tom Jones formally announced that the 63rd Fighter Squadron

'Panthers' will shut its doors with a closure ceremony tentatively scheduled

in spring 2009.

 

The general's decision was based solely on current United States Air Force

Historical Heritage Points kept by the Air Force Historian in Washington,

D.C. The squadron flag and historical memorabilia will be packaged, shipped

and stored at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

 

Base re-alignment and closure actions are ongoing in the U.S. military for

more than a decade, and they continue to shape our forces to meet emerging

technology and challenges of the future. In 2005, Congress signed the most

recent BRAC recommendations into law. From that document Luke was tasked to

distribute 37 F-16s, and re-align the 56th FW targeting pod repair facility

in order to stand-up a combined intermediate repair facility at Hill Air

Force Base, Utah.

 

The most recognizable BRAC action with greatest impact on the 56th FW

mission is the retirement of 25 F-16 aircraft, loss of a fighter squadron

and its associated aircraft maintenance unit, and reduction of some

supporting positions throughout the wing.

 

BRAC mandated that Luke would redistribute 37 F-16s; this includes the F-16s

redistributed last year during the 302nd Fighter Squadron closure. Through

BRAC and future force funding decisions, the 56th FW was left to reduce 25

block 25 aircraft in its inventory.

 

Personnel reductions and unit closures go hand-in-hand with aircraft

reduction, but General Jones reassured Luke Airmen during his commander's

calls Jan. 28 through Feb. 1 that personnel will still continue to produce

sorties until the last aircraft retires. Overall, the 56th FW will lose 425

positions: 364 from the 56th Maintenance Group, 31 from the 56th Operations

Group and 30 from the 56th Mission Support Group and 56th FW staff agencies.

These reductions in manpower will be realized over the next year and a half

through normal permanent change of station cycles where Airmen are expected

to PCS through attrition or be absorbed by other squadrons.

 

The 63rd FS currently flies the block 42 F-16 and its jets will transfer to

the 61st Fighter Squadron in the spring of 2009. The squadrons flying Block

42s in post-BRAC will be the 61st, 308th and 310th Fighter Squadrons. The

62nd and 309th Fighter Squadrons will continue to fly the Block 25 F-16.

Personnel from the 63rd FS will be re-assigned to other flying or support

squadrons on base. The 63rd FS operations building will be turned over to

the wing facilities board for disposition. The remaining squadron

maintenance organizations will perform minor relocations in order to

optimize existing base facilities and geographical operations and

maintenance efficiencies.

 

In another BRAC decision, the U.S. General Accounting Office estimated that

the transition from repairing the 56th FW's low altitude navigation and

targeting infrared for night targeting pods locally to a CIRF at Hill AFB

will save the Air Force $1.2 million annually. For the 56th Maintenance

Group, this action involves the transfer of 25 positions from the 56th

Component Maintenance Squadron to Hill AFB, along with all of their LANTIRN

test and repair equipment. By May 2008, all 56th FW targeting pods will be

transported to Hill AFB for repair, with a replacement pod shipped

simultaneously to Luke to keep enough serviceable targeting pods on hand to

support the wing's flying mission.

 

The first F-16s are scheduled to depart Luke in November 2008, with a number

of F-16s departing every month until the last of the retiring F-16s leave in

early August 2009. All 25 of these F-16s are scheduled to be turned over to

the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group located at

Davis-Monthan AFB.

 

Courtesy of 56th Fighter Wing Chief of Plans

[FastCargo 412]

That's a bummer...I sort of 'grew up' watching the 63rd at MacDill AFB in the 80s (2 miles from the house)...even got a F-16 ride back in 1990 with those guys.

 

FastCargo

[GASCAN39 7]

One of my dad's buddies flew as an IP with them at McDill (F-4 era). Hate to see units with a proud history go out of business. The old man was an IP at Homestead in F-4Ds, and they flew against the McDill guys when they got F-16s. There were issues at first, due to the short legged F16s, more than one parked in the gulf!!! I imagine the first engagements between these two jets resulted in the original version of that famous line from TOPGUN -

 

"Where'd he go!?!"

 

'Where'd who go!?!"

[Atreides 144]

I don't claim to know anything about the U.S armed forces but in light of the post 9/11 defence budget increase in the billions, what's up with the deactivation's and cutback's ?

[BUFF 8]

Hate to see units with a proud history go out of business.

Happening in the UK too & no doubt elsewhere.

XXV squadron goes in April & 43 (F) & 56® will merge shortly.

[+Viggen 516]

Happening in the UK too & no doubt elsewhere.

XXV squadron goes in April & 43 (F) & 56® will merge shortly.

 

So with 43 and 56 merging, Leuchars wing will have 2 squadrons consisting of 111 and 43/56??

[BUFF 8]

So with 43 and 56 merging, Leuchars wing will have 2 squadrons consisting of 111 and 43/56??

Yes as the last 2 Tornado F3 units, plus the East of Scotland University Air Squadron (Grob Tutors), an Army Air Corps Reserve unit with Gazelles, a Territorial Army Engineer Squadron in the Airfield Damage Repair role & 612 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force (a medical unit).

We were due to be getting Typhoons shortly but the Saudi order put that back for a while ...

[+Dave 2,318]

I don't claim to know anything about the U.S armed forces but in light of the post 9/11 defence budget increase in the billions, what's up with the deactivation's and cutback's ?

 

Ask our CSAF Mosely...

[JediMaster 451]

I don't claim to know anything about the U.S armed forces but in light of the post 9/11 defence budget increase in the billions, what's up with the deactivation's and cutback's ?

 

All that money is going into operations in SW Asia. The pace of buying replacement equipment has not increased, but the rate of wearing down the old stuff did. Instead of being good for another 10 years, things are going to need replacing in less than 5. However, the JSF program can't be rushed anymore than it is, and buying more of the older planes looks bad politically plus it's just plain money that isn't there.

The money is being burned up in Iraq pretty much. Afghanistan and other ops by comparison are chump change.

[Atreides 144]

Ask our CSAF Mosely...

 

Almost every post here that refers to CSAF Mosely is in a negative light, I wonder is the guy truly that inept for the role, that service personnel truly wish that he would just go away ?

Edited February 16, 2008 by Atreides

[+Viggen 516]

Almost every post here that refers to CSAF Mosely is in a negative light, I wonder is the guy truly that inept for the role, that service personnel truly wish that he would just go away ?

 

Asked a buddy of mine who's in the 104th FW at Barnes. He just said to not even mention him.

[Atreides 144]

Asked a buddy of mine who's in the 104th FW at Barnes. He just said to not even mention him.

 

 

So in the comic guy voice (from Simpsons) "Worst CSAF ever !"