Luke Days, AF Week, big job

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 56th Fighter WIng Public Affairs
Luke is hosting the first Air Force Week of the year in observance of the Air Force's 60th anniversary starting Monday and concluding with Luke Days air show March 24 and 25. 

An event of this magnitude, which features several offbase and on-base activities, is a culmination of months of planning and coordination. 

Planning for Luke Days and Air Force Week began in August of 2006 with several organizational meetings to determine the scope of the mission. 

Unlike regular Air Force open houses where the gates are opened to the general public to see how the base operates, Air Force Week is an opportunity for the Air Force to go into the community as an outreach and recruiting tool. 

"We found out last fall that Luke was selected as one of six bases to host an Air Force Week and we will be the first Air Force week of the season," said Lt. Col. Kit Lambert, 56th Mission Support Group deputy commander.
 
Along with pooling resources at Luke, to make this happen required the help of outside agencies as well, according to Colonel Lambert.
 
"We're in contact with the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs who helped to get other bases involved," Colonel Lambert said. "They sent military equipment, airframes and organizations to showcase what we don't have here. We also received the services of outside media and advertising outlets to get our message out." 

Likewise, the Luke Days Air Show is at the pinnacle of Air Force Week and months of
planning and organization were important to the success of this event as well.
 
"My executive air show committee and I have been at this for about eight months," said
Lt. Col. Gary Larberg, 56th Mission Support Group deputy commander and air show director. "We've also pulled in several off-base municipalities such as the cities of Glendale and Peoria. Without their assistance with public parking, this wouldn't be possible." 

Luke is also working with off-base police departments and emergency organizations
to help provide for public safety, according to Colonel Larberg. 

Moreover, the logistics of putting together an air show with more than 17 aerial performers and 60 static displays took months of preparation. 

"I'm in charge of the logistics that is required to help the performers, whether military or civilian," said Maj. Todd Halverson, 309th Fighter Squadron and air show assistant director of operations. "That includes helping them with lodging, getting their planes in shape, aircraft placement on the ramp, paying contracts and anything else that they require to put the show on. Coordination with all wing agencies is required to make it possible." 

The organization and planning for an undertaking like Air Force Week or Luke Days requires the efforts of many. 

"It's a huge exercise in making sure the information flow is accurate," Major Halverson
added. "It's been challenging and fun and everyone has done an outstanding job."