LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- In front of the 944th Fighter Wing headquarters at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, stands a newly refurbished, nearly quarter-scale F-16 static display – a testament to the dedication and craftsmanship of the current members of the wing and the legacy of those who have served before.
The display, more than just an iconic symbol of airpower, represents the wing’s heritage, the teamwork of its personnel, and a bridge between the past and the future. The tail flash pays homage to the historic Hellions of the 302nd Fighter Squadron, a former 944th FW unit with roots to World War II and the Tuskegee Airmen.
The F-16 had stood guard outside the headquarters for years, enduring Arizona’s harsh climate. When it became clear it needed restoration, the 944th Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight personnel, led by Airmen like Tech. Sgt. Gabriel Blomfield, eagerly took on the challenge.
“Getting started was definitely difficult,” Blomfield, who spent nearly two months on the project, said. “It was a little bit of a daunting task.”
Although the damage was more extensive than originally expected, the team approached the refurbishing project with pride and precision, spending any free time between regular aircraft maintenance duties to breathe new life into the display.
Blomfield said he worked on the display every time he had a chance.
“I was helping with corrosion doing full paints on full-size F-16s, so it was just whatever time I had left over at the end of the day,” he said.
As the restoration progressed, it quickly became a collaborative effort, involving multiple members of the 944th FW, including the metals tech team, which helped reinforce the display’s structure.
Senior Master Sgt. Danielle Tanner, 944th MXS fabrication flight chief, oversaw the project and emphasized the pride her team took in making sure the F-16 was restored not just to look good, but to honor the heritage of the Hellions.
“We pushed to make sure it was Hellion,” she said. “Everybody that was before us, when they step foot out here, they get to see that heritage and it’s a reminder of why we have a purpose here.”