World War II veterans visit Luke

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Susan Stout
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Veterans from the 486th and 487th Bombardment Groups visited the 944th Fighter Wing and Luke Air Force Base during a tour Oct. 23. 

More than 80 veterans and their families traveled from around the country as part of the groups' annual reunion, which was conducted in Phoenix this year. 

"From the moment these aviator warriors from another era stepped off the bus, I could feel their excitement and eagerness to learn more about today's Air Force and Air Force Reserve," said Lt. Col. David Thoreson, 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs chief. 

In addition to visiting the Tuskegee Airman Airpark, the group heard presentations on today's technology and the capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Two instructor pilots from the 301st Fighter Squadron, Majors Brian Kilian and Sean Holahan, spoke about today's Air Force and compared changes warfighting capabilities with the World War II heroes. 

"They are doing a good job," said Roy Wickerham, a member of the 487th Bomb Group. "We had good planes, but they've improved everything." 

The 486th and 487th Bomb Groups flew B-17s and B-24s during the war. The 486th flew 192 combat missions with 8.5 enemy destroyed, one probable, and six damaged. The 487th flew 185 missions with 22 destroyed, six probable and 18 damaged. 

"Some missions were more dangerous than others," said Arthur Stofko, a co-pilot with the 487th Bomb Group. "If you were fortunate, you would be on one of the planes that came back, and if not, you didn't."

Of the more than 16 million men and women who served in World War II, only about 2 million are still alive today, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.