Historic German squadron realigns

  • Published
  • By Justin Oakes
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  When the 63rd Fighter Squadron deactivates May 22, the Cactus Starfighter Squadron will have to find a new home at Luke Air Force Base. 

The squadron will realign with the 310 Fighter Squadron, "Top Hats" and remain on base as a piece of Luke's history. 

"It's interesting how the squadron actually came about, and it's the people who make the group so unique," said Lt. Col. Jeff Lovelace, former 63rd FS commander. 

In 1955 after World War II and upon entrance into NATO, Germany faced the problem of rebuilding their air force or "Luftwaffe." It was Luke that would assist the Germans in training their pilots. 

The training of the German pilots began at Luke on August 15, 1957 with the first class consisting of 7 pilots. Of the German pilots in class 57-T, three stood out among the group. It was now up to Thunderbolts to re-orientate and train three very high-profile aces who had not seen the insides of an aircraft for 11 years. Among the famous German trainees was Maj. Erich Hartmann with 352 aerial victories, Lt. Col. Guenther Rall with 275 and Capt. Fritz Obleser with 120. The pilots began their training by flying the T-33 and F-84 aircraft. 

Albeit the Germans started training at Luke in 1957, it wasn't until the sixties when the Cactus Starfighter Squadron became an organization. 

The Luftwaffe switched to the F-104 Starfighter aircraft in 1964, and three years later, it was Arizona Governor Jack Williams who officially named the squadron. 

On March 29, 1967, the governor issued an executive order stating, "...it would be an honorary organization with no official status, comprised of young men of the Federal Republic of Germany who, following pilot training in Arizona, were made honorary citizens of the state. Upon entry in this informal service, it is hoped members of the squadron will enjoy fellowship reminiscent of the state of which they are honorary citizens." 

On March 16, 1983, the F-104 training program at Luke AFB ended. The Germans flew more than 900 Starfighters totaling an excess of 269, 750 hours and produced 1,868 F-104 pilots. 

"For years the United States Air Force and Luke Air Force Base have enjoyed close ties to generations of German Air Force Airmen trained through the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 'the Cactus Starfighter Squadron,'" said General Stephen R. Lorenz, Air Education and Training commander. "As the sun sets on the 63rd Fighter Squadron, the Cactus Starfighter Squadron's torch - its heritage, traditions, and honor - proudly passes to the Airmen of the 310th Fighter Squadron. From this point forward, the 310th is decreed to be the Cactus Starfighter's Wingman, forever perpetuating the bonds of brothers in air warfare."