56th Fighter Wing
The 56th Fighter Wing is a fighter wing in the United States Air Force. It is the world's largest Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II wing and one of two Air Force F-35 training locations. Additionally, it is one of two active-duty F-16 training bases. The 56th graduates dozens of F-35 and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots and 300 air control professionals annually.
| 56th Fighter Wing | |
|---|---|
F-16 Fighting Falcon with the wing's first F-35 Lightning II | |
| Active | 1947–1952; 1961–1964; 1967–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Fighter Training |
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Luke Air Force Base |
| Nickname(s) | Thunderbolts |
| Motto(s) | Cave Tonitrum Latin Beware of the Thunderbolt |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Brigadier General Jason Rueschhoff |
| Notable commanders | Robin Rand Philip Breedlove Carrol Chandler Joseph Ralston Perry J. Dahl |
| Insignia | |
| 56th Fighter Wing emblem (approved 19 April 1967) | |
| Tail code at Luke AFB | LF |
Additionally, the 56th Fighter Wing oversees the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field and the Barry M. Goldwater Range, a military training range spanning more than 1.7 million acres of Sonoran Desert.
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