Annual turkey shoot winner declared

  • Published
  • By Drborah Marie Gibson
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 62nd Fighter Squadron dominated the skies Feb. 2 and won Luke's semiannual turkey shoot competition. The Barry M. Goldwater Range and its airspace were used to create a war-like scenario, which gave pilots realistic training and an opportunity to showcase precision flight.

"The competition provided each squadron an opportunity to demonstrate their combat skills and ability ot integrate with supporting agencies," said Maj. Jon Wheeler, 56th Fighter Wing weapons officer.

Luke's eight fighter squadrons each comprised a team.

The squadrons were graded on range bombing accuracy and a tactical scenario that included air-to-air and surface-to-air threat reactions and putting bombs on target. Points were deducted for errors mad throughout the flight.

The 62nd FS successfully demonstrated "a well-rounded balance of range bomb accuracy and proper reactions to threats," Major Wheeler said.

At the competition's end, the roar of the winner's F-16s marked the challenge for the next turkey shoot and announced the 62nd FS winners of the Frank Luke Jr Award.

"The turkey shoot at Luke will continue to evolve this year," Major Wheeler said. "The next competition wil focus even more evaluation on tactical employment skills and will test offensive counter air-surface attack and defensive counter air as eell as range bombing accuracy."