1950s FOOTAGE OF LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, PHOENIX, ARIZONA F-84 THUNDERJET PHOTO LAB 54994

[@stephenfitzgerald9740]

I was stationed there 1970 -1973 as a power lineman. Our shop was in one of the WW2 buildings. When I got there they were still flying F-100’s but soon changer to F-4 Phantoms and F-104’s. Met my wife while stationed there. A lot of great memories from my time there

[@007smithson]

My dad was stationed there twice. First time from 68-74, at the “block house”. Second time 79-85.

[@2dub2steady]

Ever give an AB a ride to Gila Bend around 1970?

[@donmcatee45]

Dad got stationed there in 80, soon after the 4’s were all ANG and we saw the last 104 shipping out, it had German iron crosses on it for the German Air Force.

[@donmcatee45]

@@007smithsonbeen there done that! What memories! We wee there 80’ to 82’

[@samh3029]

My father was stationed there in the mid 50’s. He was a flight surgeon and was the first medical professional to go to the site of the 1956 mid-air collision between two commercial airliners over the Grand Canyon.

[@paaat001]

My dad was assigned there and my brother was born there in 1956. Those were years before I started school and full of adventure. We lived off base in Glendale it was still in the sticks. I got bitten by a rattlesnake there (it was a dry bite). We were there for the straight wing F-84s and the birth of the Thunderbirds. Another memory was the Navy blimps flying from NAS Litchfield Park. Always exciting to see one. I think Goodyear made them there.

[@Bill23799]

Litchfield Park? I wonder if there was any relation to " Litchfield Toy Store " in Glendale. We lived in Glendale from late 69 to 71.

[@wulfbeeck8397]

I had my F-104 training at Luke AFB in 1967 - 1968. Senn my film about that training on my KZbin channel : Kanal von Wulf Beeck. There is a version in English with the title "The Widowmaker". Greetings from Buddy Beeck, former F-104 pilot, German Navy at NAW 2,Eggebek, North Germany.

[@danielneuenschwander7381]

We currently live about 4 miles north of Luke AFB, here in AZ. My mom lived in Litchfield Park back in the 50's, and here noon-time lunch entertainment while working down at Goodyear Aircraft was watching the Thunderbirds practice. Now @ Luke, they fly the F-35s and F-16s, both programs I had worked on in my 40 years in aerospace manufacturing.

[@DavidGalich77]

The acoustic guitar and beats were soothing. Watching this Memorial day 2024.

[@life_with_bernie]

Okay, if I didn't know better I'd swear the guy at 8:45 was my dad, but dad was a surgical tech when he got out, right around the time my sister was born. I know he was at Luke during this period, after washing out of flight school and before being shipped to Japan. He never mentioned working in the photo lab at Luke, but he did have an interest in photography.

[@Batters56]

I think the most interesting thing for me is the cartoons on the main signs for the base. That’s quite some change in society.

[@johnjwedrall4290]

I'm loving the cars in that period of time. Thanks for the video.

[@josemoreno3334]

What a great video. Cold War History. I'm retired USAF and today i live about 20 miles west of Luke AFB. F-35s and F-16s fly by my home daly. The Sound Of Freedom.👍🪖

[@atatterson6992]

Damn... what's 20 miles west of Luke? You must really be out in the desert. West of the White Tanks? I didn't realize anything was out there :-) Thanks!

[@StPetePurgeSurvivor]

I like the music. Goes well with the images and area.

[@beatone2000]

I was stationed there in 1976-79. I was a welder on the F15s and F4 phantoms. I will never forget the great time i had there. I now live 2 miles from the base retired.

[@CEOkiller]

3:54- looks like he’s about to get some “stick time”.

[@KenCrandall-ot7uv]

I was stationed there from 73 - 76 , 58th Field Maintenance , S/M worked on F-4's & F-15's !

[@skeptical2649]

I was in USAF 1965-69. Bases still had many of those old WW II buildings.

[@ramman5784]

All old building at Luke were replaced in the 80's except two. The Headquarters building that was shown in the beginning and the Chapel. Both are on the registry of historic buildings. The Air Force was allowed to replace the walls and interior but not the roof. So that's what they did.

[@jerrystaley1563]

These clips of Luke AFB look quite similar to that of Nellis AFB when I was a kid back in the early 1950s. The USAF then worked on a shoestring budget with in-house PR, bare minimum amenities and base model cars unlike today. The only vendor operations seems to be the Greyhound busses for relocations. Of course, the US wasn't 35 TRILLION dollars in debt either. You gotta love the tech sergeant with the nudes in his Photography magazine. Just keeping up with the latest photo techniques and equipment! JJS

[@atatterson6992]

Some of those flying portions were not filmed at Luke. There are no natural treelines like that nor the long, flat vistas w/o mountains. Luke was /is surrounded by desert and ag land with mountains in view in all directions...

[@mariofilippi3539]

Enjoyed this very much, a good slice of life in an AFB those days, thanks.

[@benzman7658]

My Late Brother Robert was there in 1960-1963 as a weapon mechanic. F-100. Day after getting out went to work for Lockheed spending 33 years with them passing away in 1997.

[@leevjr686]

The formation flyover is a group of F-89s which may also be from the Michigan ANG as some were stationed at Selfridge. Another flyover was in the F-80s.

[@stevegonzales3612]

Walking into some of the buildings now (2024) is like going back in time to the 70's. Luke differently needs some major upgrades.

[@MrDastardly]

Beautiful photo lab equipment. Love it. 👏👏

[@tombrickhouse-growthmatrix6201]

Very bright safelights ;~)

[@R32R38]

Interesting tie-in between Stuart Symington and the airmen playing baseball: many years later, as Senator from Missouri, Symington was instrumental in bringing about the Kansas City Royals.

[@jaminova_1969]

How crazy was that? Saber Jets and P-51 Mustangs! Studebaker's & Jeeps! And Nudes without heads! Kinda creepy! Great film though and I like the improvised title cards!

[@atatterson6992]

Nudes without faces... there is a difference :-)

[@cauffeebrewer8514]

1957 was only 27 years before I moved to Phoenix. It’s been 26 years since I left Arizona. Makes me feel old when I do the math.

[@jakeroberts7435]

I was born on an AFB in west Texas during this time period, l don't really remember very much about it, l was very small and unlike Chuck Norris l didn't build the hospital l was born in. But as a full fledged brat l feel qualified to comment, cheers to all.

[@kenblock6186]

Don’t mind the music. Better than a narrator.

[@davidblueeyes1761]

I was there 1977-1979. F-4 making way for F15's

[@donmcatee45]

We were there in 80’ I remember the 15’s, if I remember right the 555 triple nickel and the 550 screaming eagles were there.

[@zakbrown7859]

The head quarters sign is way too cool

[@hammer3921]

My Dad was a dentist at Luke from 56-58. I was born at an off base hospital.

[@donmcatee45]

omg, my dad was the same! 80-82! Used to get hassled in school (I went to Pendergast) kids always bugged when I’d tell them he was in the A.F. As a DDS they said A.F. Didn’t have Doc’s…. SMH lol😅

[@glhx2112]

Hmm.... those Mustangs almost look like "H" models. Arizona ANG flew them back in those days.

[@geraldrembert2461]

I was here from May 1968 to June 1971

[@ypaulbrown]

those guys in the photo lab sure were beating the crap out of those prints......and swimming in chemicals.....looked like their first day in the lab to this old photographer....

[@jimgrant4348]

In high-school I took photojournalism. We always wore heavy rubber gloves when developing film or photos. I just wonder how many military personnel become ill due to exposure to those chemicals. I can't imagine placing my bare hands in the chemicals and having them on my hands for hours at a time. What we knew then and what we know now.

[@DavidRowbotham-gu7kz]

OMG, it's called chemical sensitization and it is not recognized by the VA. I'm a expert. PH2

[@sillyone52062]

At the crossroads of aviation history, T-84's operating alongside F-51 Mustangs.

[@joebufford2972]

I like the ones with narration

[@JustReed]

In those days, Luke AFB was in the boonies.

[@atatterson6992]

It was still the boonies when I grew up there in the 60s and 70s :-) Great times!

[@Bill23799]

They misspelled " HEADQUARTERS " on that building. The correct spelling is " Puzzle Palace ".

[@donmcatee45]

Dad called it by right name in the 80’s 😂

[@braised44]

All of that equipment that you see here..... is now at the bottom of a landfill!

[@billbright1755]

Frank Luke Jr. Medal of Honor.

[@mattottie6410]

Was there from 1975 to 1979, did not look like the Luke AFB I saw, you sure this was LukeAFB, AZ.

[@creativeloafer9792]

My father was there 1975-1979 (his retirement)! I remember him mentioning EMS (Equip. Maint. Squadron). Favorites - Commissary and BX trips! Not so favorites - hospital (shots) and that awful smelly day care (I still can’t stand the smell of Pine-Sol).

[@richardmitchell3037]

You know you're getting old when you remember your Air Force dad wearing khakis...

[@mattottie6410]

We in 1974 were the last to be issued 1505 Khakis, I liked them better than the blue uniform.

[@postal_the_clown]

You know you're old when you're one who wore them. Luke was my last duty station '74-76.

[@arthurbickle5757]

I was there 76 to 80 F4 phantoms

[@donmcatee45]

I remember the 4’s leaving!

[@sammysouth8372]

As an AF retiree I would’ve loved to have watched this video. Just couldn’t stomach the weird music

[@fiendish67]

Are you unable to control the volume on your device? There is no narration on the video. If there were silence on the video it would have been the same as having the volume turned off. You would not have missed anything. Your comment is irrelevant, absurd and as unnecessary as the music on the video.

[@sammysouth8372]

@@fiendish67 it got a dumbass like you all hot and bothered’ didn’t it😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@hamzaouamrouche57]

Good Luck Soldiers

[@dvgebhart]

Would rather just see the video than listen to that music!

[@dennythomas8887]

that's why KZbin has a mute button. I use it all the time

[@atatterson6992]

MUTE

[@Americal-v6r]

@13:11 that looks like G. Menan Williams,,,(on the right), Governor of Michigan,,,trade mark "bow tie". Only gov. I remember that wore one that i recall. Could be wrong. Im from Mich. 73 now.

[@jonnieinbangkok]

Dig the cars; is the audio some Pink Floyd track I'm unaware of 🤔

[@davewallace8219]

Early 60s surf music

[@briancooper2112]

P-51. Korea?

[@tristanholland6445]

F-51 after 1947 I’m thinking this was filmed in 1954 because all of the Airmen have Air Force uniforms even though founded in 1947 it wasn’t until 1953 that the uniforms were finalized and issued. Prior to that it was a mix of USAF and Army uniforms and men that had be transferred from Army could still wear Army rank and insignia up to the full uniform adoption. Source I’m a former Air Force veteran and massive aviation history guy.

[@briancooper2112]

@@tristanholland6445 F51 in mid 50's?

[@briancooper2112]

@@tristanholland6445 naming the P51 F51 was stupid.

[@ClausB252]

That first car grille 😬

[@stephenmarshall4414]

It is a 1950 Buick.

[@ChadtheHammer]

3:53 Oh my... lol

[@firemedic6509]

F-86 MiG killers.

[@Americal-v6r]

Flat Top haircuts ,,,ahhh the good ol days

[@briancooper2112]

F-84.

[@kimberlina68]

Dear God, he was looking at porn ogtaphy. Wtf,?

[@creativeloafer9792]

I saw that! Those girls were naked!!!!!

[@winnerscreed6767]

That wasn't porn that was art. Used to be normal for a guy to want to look at nude women...rather than each other.

[@suzanneterrey4499]

It happens from time to time.

[@AlexejSvirid]

The problem is Devil runs the world. He is lier and murderer. This is the reason why Hitler got the power, but Christ was executed as "blasphemer" and "rioter" by denunciation of clergy. This is the reason why the whole world is Sodom. That's why we've got the Gospel about the God's kingdom. Jehovah would put everything in order. The dead will be resurected and we'll meet our beloved ones again! :-)