Located just north of Litchfield Park, Luke Air Force Base is home to the 56th Fighter Wing, the largest fighter wing in the world and the only active-duty Air Force F-16, F-22, and F-35 training wing. The 944th Fighter Wing, a U.S. Air Force Reserve unit, is also based at Luke with a mission to train and provide combat-ready Citizen Airmen in support of national objectives.

The air base is named after WWI flying ace and Phoenix native 2nd Lt. Frank Luke Jr., the first aviator to receive the Medal of Honor. Lt. Luke scored 18 aerial victories, 14 against German observation balloons, before being killed at the age of 21 on Sept. 29, 1918.