Great Answer to a Smart A** Question

[SchoolGirlHeart]

From the Arizona Republic..... A complaint post, and the reply:

Complaint:

"A wake-up call from Luke's jets Jun. 23, 2005"

"Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show?

Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 a.m., a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune!

Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns' early-bird special? Any response would be appreciated."

The reply is classic, and a testament to the professionalism and heroism of the folks in the armed services. The response:

Quote:

Regarding "A wake-up call from Luke's jets" (Letters, Thursday): On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt Jeremy Fresques.

Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend.

Based on the letter writer's recount of the flyby, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the president of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured.

A four-ship flyby is a display of respect the Air Force pays to those who give their lives in defense of freedom.

We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, "Whom do we thank for the morning air show?"

The 56th Fighter Wing will call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.

Lt. Col. Scott Pleus CO 63rd Fighter Squadron Luke Air Force Base

[SchoolGirlHeart]

Bravo, Lt Col Pleus!

Shame on you, smart a** letter writer.

Sail on, Captain Fresques.

[UAHparrothead]

The complaintant later wrote another letter to apologize according to Snopes.com

To his credit, the complainant, Mr. MacRae, tendered a written apology which was published in The Republic on 9 July:
Regarding "Flyby honoring fallen comrade" (Letters, June 28):

I read with increasing embarrassment and humility the response to my unfortunate letter to The Republic concerning an Air Force flyby ("A wake-up call from Luke's jets," Letters, June 23).

I had no idea of the significance of the flyby, and would never have insulted such a fine and respectful display had I known.

I have received many calls from the fine airmen who are serving or have served at Luke, and I have attempted to explain my side and apologized for any discomfort my letter has caused.

This was simply an uninformed citizen complaining about noise.

I have been made aware in both written and verbal communications of the four-ship flyby, and my heart goes out to each and every lost serviceman and woman in this war in which we are engaged.

I have been called un-American by an unknown caller and I feel that I must address that. I served in the U.S. Navy and am a Vietnam veteran. I love my country and respect the jobs that the service organizations are doing.

Please accept my heartfelt apologies.

Tom MacRae, Peoria6

[SchoolGirlHeart]

Good for him! I hope he learned a lesson, and maybe his SECOND letter actually did some good.

Thanks for the amplification, Brad!

But still, as a Vietnam Era Navy Vet, you'd think he'd know better than to be complaining about jet noise when he lives near an Air Force Base.....

Jet Noise: The Sound of Freedom!!!

[Sidew13]

Jet Noise: The Sound of Freedom!!!

Also the sound that can scare the crap out of a person. We camped out at Myrtle Beach state park back in 90. Right across the highway was MB Air Force Base. We arrived Sat, had a peaceful Sujn, and a scary wake up call EARLY on Mon. When the other "experianced" campers explained to us what was going on, we started breathing again. And when the fighters took off over the Atlantic and came back in that afternoon, it was a beautiful sight.

[land_shark3]

But still, as a Vietnam Era Navy Vet, you'd think he'd know better than to be complaining about jet noise when he lives near an Air Force Base.....

With all due respect to the vets, current and past, as a Navy vet Mr. MacRae probably also knew that military jets are not supposed to fly that low over civilian land.

I will agree that the public forum of the newspaper probably was not the best place to air his grievances. However, he has probably endured enough retaliation through the reply and numerous phone calls I am sure he has received.

[SchoolGirlHeart]

But still, as a Vietnam Era Navy Vet, you'd think he'd know better than to be complaining about jet noise when he lives near an Air Force Base.....

With all due respect to the vets, current and past, as a Navy vet Mr. MacRae probably also knew that military jets are not supposed to fly that low over civilian land.

I will agree that the public forum of the newspaper probably was not the best place to air his grievances. However, he has probably endured enough retaliation through the reply and numerous phone calls I am sure he has received.

That's true, but as a vet, during a conflict, I would have thought that a flight of four might have led him to think about a flyover, rather that something out of line. A single plane buzzing a neighborhood might be a show-off; a flight of four should have made an experienced vet think for a few more seconds.....

[land_shark3]

But still, as a Vietnam Era Navy Vet, you'd think he'd know better than to be complaining about jet noise when he lives near an Air Force Base.....

With all due respect to the vets, current and past, as a Navy vet Mr. MacRae probably also knew that military jets are not supposed to fly that low over civilian land.

I will agree that the public forum of the newspaper probably was not the best place to air his grievances. However, he has probably endured enough retaliation through the reply and numerous phone calls I am sure he has received.

That's true, but as a vet, during a conflict, I would have thought that a flight of four might have led him to think about a flyover, rather that something out of line. A single plane buzzing a neighborhood might be a show-off; a flight of four should have made an experienced vet think for a few more seconds.....

Maybe so, but he simply stated he was in the Navy. He did not state that he was an airman. He may not be familiar with their rituals. I'm not saying he was in the right, but rather that it was a simple mistake that any of us could have made.

On a few occasions, I have been at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, GA and witnessed formations of F-22s taking off and landing. It is a very awe inspiring experience especially when you normally see C-130s flying around.

Once again, not saying he was wrong or right, just that he has probably received enough backlash from the local miltary community.

[Elrod]

I recently moved to a new apartment across the street from an Air Force base.

I frequently hear the sound of freedom. It sounds damn good!

Navy and Marine Corps aircraft are frequent visitors.

[SchoolGirlHeart]

Maybe so, but he simply stated he was in the Navy. He did not state that he was an airman. He may not be familiar with their rituals. I'm not saying he was in the right, but rather that it was a simple mistake that any of us could have made.

On a few occasions, I have been at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, GA and witnessed formations of F-22s taking off and landing. It is a very awe inspiring experience especially when you normally see C-130s flying around.

Once again, not saying he was wrong or right, just that he has probably received enough backlash from the local miltary community.

Yes, from his second letter, it's pretty clear he regrets what he said in the first letter. I'd have to think he wishes he could take it back.

[land_shark3]

Yes, from his second letter, it's pretty clear he regrets what he said in the first letter. I'd have to think he wishes he could take it back.

I know that for me, once I was able to get my foot dislodged from my mouth, I'd probably be looking to move and change my name.

[East Texas Parrothead]

Good for him! I hope he learned a lesson, and maybe his SECOND letter actually did some good.

Thanks for the amplification, Brad!

But still, as a Vietnam Era Navy Vet, you'd think he'd know better than to be complaining about jet noise when he lives near an Air Force Base.....

Jet Noise: The Sound of Freedom!!!

*Sob*

Music to my Air Force Brat ears.

[Sam]

WTG Col!! PHINS UP TO YOU !!!!!

As for the guy that wrote the letter...No doubt he wishes he had not written it NOW.......but at the time he did write and send it, I am quite sure he did mean it.

He opened mouth inserted foot to his hip, and now he is gonna pay for it for a very long time, no doubt. Perhaps he has had enough...

As for Jets flying low over civilian land and property .... that is not quite true... they have corridors where low level flights are allowed but they have to maintain a certain minimum altitude of say 500-1000 feet.

They used to do it all the time around here when doing a bombing run....before that base closed due to BRAC....The helos used to buzz around all the time and still do on occasion.....

You haven't heard LOUD jet noise until you hear a KC-135 throttled up to 90% percent or better and then they inject the water..... Rattled our barracks, our teeth, and then some....or the SR-71.....The fighters are quite quiet compared to them....

The test pads can get quite loud but if you live near an air base.... what do you expect ???

[Sam]

Good for him! I hope he learned a lesson, and maybe his SECOND letter actually did some good.

Thanks for the amplification, Brad!

But still, as a Vietnam Era Navy Vet, you'd think he'd know better than to be complaining about jet noise when he lives near an Air Force Base.....

Jet Noise: The Sound of Freedom!!!

*Sob*

Music to my Air Force Brat ears.

Music to my ex USAF ears and lots of memories!!!

[land_shark3]

....or the SR-71.....The fighters are quite quiet compared to them...

Now that is one plane I wish I could have seen in action!!! I've seen it at a couple air museums, but to witness something like that take flight would have been breathtaking. To think that a plane designed in the 60's still has many of its components classified; those engineers certainly knew what they were doing.

[Sam]

....or the SR-71.....The fighters are quite quiet compared to them...

Now that is one plane I wish I could have seen in action!!! I've seen it at a couple air museums, but to witness something like that take flight would have been breathtaking. To think that a plane designed in the 60's still has many of its components classified; those engineers certainly knew what they were doing.

It is and was one HELL of an aircraft and to date, it is the worlds fastest known aircraft. It is also the fastest an airplane went from design to production.... when they fired up they had a staight shot to the runway and when you saw the nose come up...she went straight up like a missile as long as you watched it and did not take your eyes off of it you could watch it for what seemed like forever..... just 2 tiny little blue lights twinkling as it moved along. I hated to see her get mothballed....

[nomad]

Also, I will never feel sorry for some who gets woken up by a loud noise after 9am on a THURSDAY MORNING.

[RinglingRingling]

Also, I will never feel sorry for some who gets woken up by a loud noise after 9am on a THURSDAY MORNING.

because no one works overnight shifts...

[pair8head]

Thank you for posting this. I just posted the complaint, response and 2nd letter on a Tech board that I am a member of, this board is populated entirely by former and current Military Technitions.

[AlbatrossFlyer]

a few points to put things in context....

Luke AFB is the primary training base for the F-16. All USAF F-16 pilots including reserve and national guard units, do their initial training here along with all the NATO and other foreign nations who fly the F-16. Luke is, for the lack of a better term not an "active duty" base with operationally ready squadrons based at it, its a training base.

Luke's training mission covers everything from initial checkout in the plane to re-current training, live ordinance (guns and bombs), the base is located less than an hour by air from the Barry M. Goldwater Gunnery Range in southern arizona. There are frequent visits by entire guard units for refresher/mobilization training where the whole unit comes lock stock and barrel including all the unit support personnel. Almost yearly there is a national war game exercise in conjunction with the other service branches since the navy boys and girls in san deigo aren't that far away, along with the classified electronic threat simulators and "enemy" squadrons located at nellis AFB outside vegas. (think top gun)

There has been ongoing "noise" issues for at least the past 15 years particularly on the north side of the base due to ever increasing and higher density residential and commercial development. not too many years ago the entire base was surrounded for miles by cotton and citrus. now the north departure is useless for aircraft carrying live ordinance due to safety issues with housing and a elementary school that was built directly under the approach/departure route 1.5 miles from the end of the runway.

The USAF has done an excellent job of community relations with the residents of the large retirement communities which are the bulk of the residential development in the area, explaining training formations, training exercises, and the standard approach and departure procedures including notifing the public of the training schedule in particular night, large formation, or large scale training exercises. (the current schedule is always hanging on my parents refrig)

included in the information the base gives out is UNAPPROVED formations and manuevers. as long as there's fighter pilots there will alsways be some hotshot that busts the minimums.

in the man's defense, what the man saw would normally be considered an unapproved manuever since it violated the minimum altitude for the area where it happened. considering the the base has a dedicated noise compliant phone number he was jerk for writing a letter to the paper (kind of a shoot first ask questions later approach in my book) had he called they would of told him why it happened.

second there was absolutely NO media coverage of the funeral which was a major surprise to me since any soldier that can be ever so indirectly linked to arizona or phoenix makes the paper and local tv news when they're killed in the war.

can i see why it happened, yes....

did the USAF not help things by not getting the word out from a PR standpoint, yes.... all they needed to do was alert the locals of a formation flyby for a soldier killed in iraq. it would have respected the privacy of the family and kept the complaints to a minimum.

considering i've never seen an overt violation of Luke's airspace rules, was the guy a jerk for his reaction to the flyby, yup....

was he a man and stepped up to the plate when he learned the facts behind the flyby, yup....