Interesting Jet Noise Complaint

[jride200]

This was forwarded to me in an email by an acquaintence, a former AF CSAR pilot. Perhaps members of the forum from Phoenix can chime in with more details of the event. At any rate, I thought maybe the forum would find the clipping interesting.

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Complaint and Response

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that
complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was
there long before they were. A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a
big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke
AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed
his/her day at the mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB
officer, it must have stung quite a bit.

The complaint: "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 Mervyn's early bird special? Any response would be appreciated."

The response: 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 flyby of F-16s
from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke ir 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 AFB

 

[scoober78]

Well said.

Thanks for the post.

 

[HH-60H]

More info at Snopes

 

[nittany03]

At least the guy was man enough to own up and apologize.

 

[WishICouldFly]

I suppose some people forget where they came from, sometimes.

 

[TheBubba]

Good on the Lt Col for the reply...

I see it this way... if you build or buy near an airfield (civilian, militay or otherwise), your right to complain about the jet music should be revoked. They are retarded.

Thats like me building my house next to a dump and complaining about the smell...

 

[shotcalla10]

Lt. Col. Scott Pleus should have been a writer. such powerful words.

 

[phrogdriver]

It reminded me of this response to a letter to the editor.

I couldn't find the direct link, so here is the text lifted from another website.

San Diego Union Tribune

February 8, 1999

Re: "Is harassment of resident the role of the military?"

(Letters, Feb 4):

Responding to Maura Harvey's letter wondering if the Marine helicopter training flights that passed above her Del Mar home were simply to harass residents, I can say that, yes, our mission is to harass residents, specifically Mrs. Harvey.

We do not train 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide freedom and security to all residents of the United States. We exist only to annoy the very people we are sworn to protect, against all enemies, foreign and domestic. We spend months and years overseas, away from our families and loved ones, in some cases making less than minimum wage, choosing to live a life in which many qualify for food stamps, just to have the chance, one day, to annoy people like Mrs. Harvey.

There is no more sought-after position in the military than the Maura Harvey Annoyance Task Force. As a matter of fact, the Marines who spent Christmas dug into fighting positions in northern Kuwait and their brothers in the sky, braving anti-aircraft missiles and artillery, were just training to come back to the States and fly missions over Mrs. Harvey's house.

It has nothing to do with the security of the nation. It has no impact on our ability to carry out missions in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and it has no bearing on Mrs. Harvey's ability to enjoy "nature and peaceful, quiet living." The "strange, almost science fiction war scene" she described was put on solely to make noise and to destroy her "scenic view corridors" in Del Mar Terrace.

It certainly was not valuable and necessary training to help sustain the lives of those who ensure this nation's freedom, should they ever be sent into harm's way to do just that.

Next time, Mrs. Harvey may want to look upon those loud machines and think about the men and women, who fly, ride in, and maintain them.

Ponder the sacrifices they make in providing this nation with the warm blanket of freedom we all enjoy.

Maybe she might even imagine how much more disturbing it would be if she were not sure what country the helicopters were from, or whether they were going to attack her beautiful neighborhood.

But she shouldn't worry too much about that, because we will not let it happen.

Capt. JOHN F. PETERSON, USMC

 

[dodge]

It reminded me of this response to a letter to the editor.

Perhaps the San Diego Tribune could forward that letter to the San Francisco Chronicle.

http://www.fogcityjournal.com/news_in_brief/bcn_blue_angels_070620.shtml

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Miramar and the residents around it have been at odds regarding to jet noise for ages now. It's rediculous when these people move by an air station and not expect to hear a peep!

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Perhaps the San Diego Tribune could forward that letter to the San Francisco Chronicle.

http://www.fogcityjournal.com/news_in_brief/bcn_blue_angels_070620.shtml

The city supervisor is an idiot and no way would the city of San Francisco do this. The Blue Angels and San Fran's Fleet Week generate millions in revenue back to the city. It wouldn't make sense to stop that.

 

[Flash]

The city supervisor is an idiot and no way would the city of San Francisco do this. The Blue Angels and San Fran's Fleet Week generate millions in revenue back to the city. It wouldn't make sense to stop that.

That guy grew up in my hometown, that may explain things.........

 

[insanebikerboy]

That guy grew up in my hometown, that may explain things.........

So....your hometown is full of idots....? :icon_tong

 

[Beans]

Update on our mutual Navy friend Chris Daly:

It appears that he needs to brush up on his leadership traits, and I don't think we have to worry about the blues getting the boot from SF.

 

[MasterBates]

So....your hometown is full of idots....? :icon_tong

Some escaped. Suspected to be in the DC area.