PC Kenneth Balogh
United States Air Force
Sergeant (E-4)
Active Duty – August 1978 (age 18) – 4 years
- 58th Combat Support Group: Luke AFB, Glendale, AZ
My role was in support of the training and reassignment of many new F-15 pilots around the world as we phased out the F4 phantoms after Vietnam.
As part of the 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing under the Tactical Air Command at Luke AFB, Arizona, the unit trained pilots in the F-100 Super Sabre and A-7D Corsair II. In addition to American pilots, German pilots were trained in the F-104G Starfighter, and other Allied pilots received training in the F-5 Freedom Fighter.
In 1971, the wing became the primary training unit for the F-4 Phantom II. It received its first F-15 Eagle in November 1974, with President Gerald Ford leading the welcoming committee. On April 1, 1977, we graduated the last F-4 class and officially became the primary training location for the new F-15 Eagle.
After my service ended on August 10, 1979, the unit received its first F-16 Fighting Falcon on December 6, 1982. This is the aircraft still flown today by the USAF Thunderbirds.