944th Fighter Wing
Luke AFB, Arizona
Unit Mission
Forging Combat Airmen to Fly, Fight and Win
Unit Vision
Elite Reserve Citizen Airmen - Engaged, Ready, Resilient
List of Assigned Organizations
The 944th includes five groups, 14 squadrons, two Detachments, and four geographically separated units. The groups are the 944th Operations Group (F-16/F-35), the 924th Fighter Group (A-10), GSU at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., the 414th Fighter Group (F-15), GSU at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., the 944th Maintenance Group, and the 944th Mission Support Group. The squadrons include the 944th Medical Squadron, the 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, the 944th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the 944th Maintenance Squadron, the 944th Force Support Squadron, the 944th Civil Engineer Squadron, the 944th Security Forces Squadron, the 944th Logistics Readiness Squadron, the 69th Fighter Squadron, the 924th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the 924th Maintenance Squadron, the 47th Fighter Squadron, the 414th Maintenance Squadron, and the 307th Fighter Squadron. The Detachments include the 944th Operations Group Detachments 1 (F-16), GSU at Holloman AFB N.M. and 944th Operations Group Detachment 2 (F-35 Foreign Military Sales).
Past Unit Highlights
“Gunsmoke ‘89” (1989); “Gunsmoke ‘91” (1991); “Patriot Luau,” Hickam Air Force Base, HI (1992); “Provide Comfort II,” Incirlik Air Base, Turkey (1993); “Deny Flight,” Aviano, Italy (1994); “Patriot Angler,” Elmendorf, AK (1995); “Gunsmoke ‘95” (1995); “Decisive Edge,” Aviano, Italy (1996); “Coronet Harbor,” Karup, Denmark, (1996) “Cope Thunder,” Elmendorf, AK (1996); “Patriot Outrigger,” Hickam AFB, HI (1997); “Operation Northern Watch,” Incirlik AB, Turkey (1998); “Patriot Angler II,” Elmendorf, AK(1998); “Operation Northern Watch,” Incirlik AB, Turkey (1999); “Patriot Snapper,” NAS Key West FL (1999); “Operation Northern Watch,” Incirlik AB, Turkey (2000); “Patriot Snapper II,” NAS Key West, FL (2001); “Operation Southern Watch,” Al Jaber AB, Kuwait (2001); “Patriot Outrigger III,” Hickam AFB, HI (2002),” Patriot Angler III, Elmendorf AFB, AK (2003); 302FS deployed to Iraq (2003); “Patriot Desert Dragon” (2003); “Patriot Angler IV” (2003); CES deployed to Yurok tribe in CA (2003); “Patriot Snapper IV” (2004); “Nellis F22 Red Air” (2004); “Patriot Mudbug” (2005); “Atlantic Strike” (2005); “Patriot Tuna” (2006); “Brilliant Arrow” (2006); “SFS deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq” (2009); “69 Fighter Squadron activation” (2010); “OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM,” multiple locations, Iraq/Kuwait (2010-2011); “OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM,” multiple locations, Afghanistan (2011-2012); “Sovereign Skies II” (2011); “Operation Odyssey Dawn” (2011); “Global Medic West” (2011); “Operation Unified Protector” (2011); “Silver Flag” Tydall, FL (2011); “Patriot Defender” (2011); “Humanitarian Relief Effort” Dominican Republic (2012); “OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM,” multiple locations, Afghanistan (2012-2013); “OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM,” multiple locations, Afghanistan (2014); “Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.” Ft. Bragg, NC (2015-2018); “Operation Inherent Resolve” (2017-2018); “Joint Task Force Bravo,” Honduras (2017-2018)
Chronological History
The 944th Fighter Group was activated at Luke AFB, July 1,1987. The 944th was the first Reserve F- 16 fighter unit to participate in Provide Comfort II and carry the AIM 120A AMRAAM. The group was given the opportunity to participate in "Coronet Harbor," a NATO-sponsored exercise involving units from stateside bases, plus a number of countries within the NATO alliance such as Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom. The exercise enabled the 944th to train in virtually every possible mission the F-16 can perform. It was also the first U. S. Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard unit to duel with the MiG 29.
On October 1, 1994 the group became a wing.
July 1, 2001, the combat mission changed to an F-16 training mission student pilots. On June 7, 2002, the 944th Fighter Wing graduated its first student pilot class of six new F-16 Active Duty pilots. During November 2001, the Wing participated in Operation Southern Watch, which included flying sorties in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom over the Area of Responsibility. Additionally, the 944th Fighter Wing had approximately 100 Reservists mobilized on Active Duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The 944th Fighter Wing has undergone considerable changes to flying operations. On March 3, 2000, the 301st Fighter Squadron was activated as a Reserve associate unit to Luke's 56th Fighter Wing, an Air Education and Training Command unit. Reserve instructor pilots from the re-activated 301st Fighter Squadron fly 56th Fighter Wing F -16s to train Active-Duty student pilots for their multi-role mission.
Along with this change came the added mission of training fighter pilots at the 302nd Fighter Squadron. Both the 301st and the 302nd Fighter Squadrons conducted F-16 fighter pilot training. In addition, the 944th Fighter Wing maintained readiness and deployed members both individually and as a unit in support of the Air Expeditionary Forces. In early 2006, it was announced that the wing would lose its 17 F-16s and approximately 500 personnel from the 944th Maintenance Group, 944th Operations Group, and 302nd Fighter Squadron, effective March 31, 2007 as part of Base Realignment and Closure.
At that time, the 302nd Fighter Squadron flag moved to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, to become the only F-22 associate squadron in Air Force Reserve Command. The 301st Fighter Squadron was deactivated at Luke and its people became the 69th Fighter Squadron. The 301st Fighter Squadron was then reactivated at Holloman AFB, NM on April 09 2010.
The 944th FW underwent another major change in October 2012 when they gained two new missions training F-15 and A-10 pilots. The wing added the 924th Fighter Group based at Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz. which flies the A-10 mission and the 414th Fighter Group based at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. which flies the F-15 mission. These two groups brought over 500 personnel to the wing and four new squadrons; 924th Maintenance Squadron, 47th Fighter Squadron, 414th Maintenance Squadron, and 307th Fighter Squadron. In late 2014, the 944 FW added a new maintenance unit which became the 944th Maintenance Group in February 2018 changed with helping maintain both F-16 and F-35 aircraft at Luke AFB. The group also stood up two squadrons, the 944th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 944th Maintenance Squadron. Finally, in 2016 the 944th Operations Group accepted the mission to train F-35 pilots at Luke AFB including the Foreign Military Sales F-35 mission.
Unit Awards
1987-1989, 1990-1991, 1992-1993 and 1993-1994, 2000-2001. Air Force Outstanding Unit Citations
1989 - Gunsmoke '89: Top Gun; Top Overall Maintenance (7 of 9 First Place Trophies)
1990 - Best in the Air Force Reserve, "Maintenance Effectiveness Award"
1991 - Gunsmoke '91: Overall Second Place; Best F-16 Maintenance; Top F-16 Team, Top Crew Chief; High Altitude Dive Bombing, First Place; & Best Aircraft
1993 - Air Force Association "Best Reserve Flying Unit"
1992, 1993, & 1997 - Air Combat, "Flight Safety Award"
1995 - Daedalian Award, "Best Aircraft Maintenance"
1996 - "William Tell", Top Gun Honors F-16
1996 - Public Affairs, "Best Community Relations Programs in USAFRC
1997 - Daedalian Award, "Best Aircraft Maintenance"
1997 - ROA 10th Air Force, "Non-flying Unit of the Year"
1997 - Maintenance Squadron Air Force Reserve Command, "Maintenance Effectiveness Award"
1997 - Air Force Reserve Command Military Personnel Flight of the Year
1998 - Air Combat Command Flight Safety Award
1999 - Air Force Reserve Command Maintenance Effectiveness Award (302 FSM)
1999 - Air Combat Command Flight Safety Award
2000 - Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award for ground safety
2001 - 10th Air Force Safety Office of the Year
2001 - Air Force Flight Safety Award
2001 - Air Force Explosive Safety Award
2001 - Air Force Missile Safety Award
2002 - 10th Air Force Ground Safety Award
2002 - Air Force Missile Safety Award
2002 - Air Force Flight Safety Award
2002 - 2002 Senior Recruiter of the Year
2002 - 2002 Top in-Service Recruiter of the Year
2002 - Outstanding Team Achievement (Recruiting)
2002 - Air Force Missile Safety Mishap Prevention Meritorious Achievement Award
2002 - Air Force Flight Safety Mishap Prevention Award
2003 - Air Force Missile Safety Plaque
2003 - Air Force Reserve Command Safety Office of the Year
2003 - Air Force Reserve Command Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement for Ground Safety
2003 - Air Force Reserve Command Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement for Weapons Safety
2004 - 10th Air Force Flight Safety Plaque
2004 - 10th Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement for Flight Safety
2004 - 10th Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement for Ground Safety
2004 - 10th Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement for Weapons Safety
2004 - Safety Office of the Year
2004 - Air Force Reserve Command Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement for Weapons Safety
2004 - Air Force Flight Safety Plaque
2004 - Air Force Explosive Safety Plaque
2006 - Air Force Reserve Command Daedalian Award, Logistics Readiness Squadron of the Year
2006 - Air Force Reserve Command Lt Gen Grant Award
2007 - Air Force Outstanding Unit Award – 301st Fighter Squadron
2007 - Air Force Reserve Command Gerritt D. Foster Jr., Outstanding MPF Achievement Award
2007 - Air Force Reserve Command Communications Flight of the Year
2007 - Air Force Reserve Command Non-Flying Unit of the Year, Logistics Readiness Squadron
2008 - Air Force Outstanding Unit Award – 301st Fighter Squadron
2008 - ROA Outstanding Reserve Non-Flying Unit Mission Support Group of the Year, 944 Mission Support Group
2008 - Air Force Reserve Command Services Best of the Best Award
2008 - DoD Reserve Family Readiness Award of the Year
2009 - ROA Outstanding Reserve Non-Flying Unit Mission Support Group of the Year, 944 Logistics Readiness Squadron
2010 - Air Force 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year – TSgt Stephen Hunter
2012 - Air Force 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year – Master Sgt. Sandra Plentzas
2013 - Outstanding Airman of the Year at 10 AF level
2013 - Senior Master Sergeant Gerald J Stryzak Award – 944th Civil Engineering Squadron, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight
2014 - Hawgsmoke overall winner 47th Fighter Squadron
2016 - AFRC Section Chief/Technician
2016 - AFRC Outstanding Chaplain Corps Program
2016 - AFRC Chaplain Corps Readiness Award
2016 - AFRC Medical Outstanding NCO/Airman
2016 - AFRC LRS of the Year – Non-flying unit
2016 - Unites States Air Force Outstanding Security Forces Squadron "Air Reserve Component"
2016 - Air Force Reserve Command Outstanding Security Forces Tennant Unit of the Year Award
2016 - AFRC Section Chief/Technician
2016 - AFRC Outstanding Chaplain Corps Program
2016 - AFRC Chaplain Corps Readiness Award
2016 - AFRC Medical Outstanding NCO/Airman
2016 - AFRC LRS of the Year – Non-Flying Unit
2016 - Unites States Air Force Outstanding Security Forces Squadron "Air Reserve Component"
2016 - Hawgsmoke overall winner 47th Fighter Squadron
2017 - AFRC Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award Munitions/Missile Maintenance Technician Supervisor
2017 - AFRC Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award Munitions/Missile Maintenance Technician
2017 - Outstanding SNCO Assigned to a Reserve Medical Unit
2017 - AFRC Chaplain Corps Ministry of Presence Award
2017 - AFRC Chaplain Corps Readiness Award
2017 - AFRC Outstanding Chaplain Corps Program Award
2017 - AFRC Chaplain Corps Individual Award for Excellence
2017 - AFRC Chaplain Corps Individual Award for Excellence
2017 - Air Force Reserve Officer Association Chaplain of the Year
(Current as of 12 March 2018)