The commander of Air Force Reserve Command’s 944th Fighter Wing, Col. Derek Rydholm, talked with the Arizona Republic about the impact of BRAC 2005 on the 944th FW at Luke AFB, Ariz. The shift of the unit’s F-16s fighters has, after a fashion, already begun, since those being sent off for upgrades will not be returning. Rydholm says the wing officially begins sending the Vipers to other units on Oct. 1. One of the wing’s squadrons, the 302nd Fighter Squadron, moves to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, where the Reservists will fly active duty F-22A Raptors. The 301st FS remains at Luke, where it will pick up an F-16 training mission, instructing new active duty pilots how to fly the F-16s that belong to Luke’s 56th FW.
LIVE: Caine Leads Global Toast to the Doolittle Raiders
April 17, 2026
Continuing a 80-year-long Air Force tradition started by Gen. Jimmy Doolittle and his fellow Raiders in 1946, the Air & Space Forces Association, Air Force and Space Force units, and AFA members around the world are raising a glass to the anniversary of the legendary Doolittle Raid.