Unit closes chapter in history

  • Published
  • By Satff Sgt. Susan Stout
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  February 12 was a bittersweet day on the fightline of the 944th Fighter Wing at Luke. 

The wing closed a chapter of its almost 20-year history as members bid farewell
to the last three F-16s. The reserve unit's F-16s are being reassigned to other
locations following recommendations by the Base Realignment and Closure
Commission. 

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

As part of the farewell, the trio performed a ceremonial fyover for the crowd of 944th Fighter Wing members, past and present, and their families before fying toward Las Vegas. Two of the F-16s, piloted by Colonel Lindberg and Col. Derek Rydholm, 944th Fighter Wing commander, will become part of the aggressor squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. 

The third jet, flown by Maj. Mike Sharp, 944th Operations Group deputy commander, will undergo maintenance at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and then be assigned to an Air National Guard unit in Tucson, Ariz. 

For Master Sgt. Bob Rydzynski, 944th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, the day was very emotional. He has worked on these F-16s since they arrived from the factory in 1987. 

"Today is an emotional day," he said. "On one hand I have a great feeling of pride seeing my jet fly, but at the same time, I know it's not coming back." 

The 302nd Fighter Squadron, which traces its roots to the Tuskegee Airmen, will be inactivated at Luke AFB but will return to the Air Force Reserve Command when it stands up as an F-22 associate unit at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.