In an act of homage, officials at Luke AFB, Ariz., have renamed the officers’ lounge at the base’s Club Five-Six after World War II fighter ace Col. Hubert Zemke and its enlisted lounge after CMSgt. Donald Harlow, second Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. “Although they could not be with us to experience the pageantry . . ., I am glad we are able to honor them this way,” said CMSgt. Rory Wicks, command chief of Luke’s 56th Fighter Wing, at the dedication ceremony earlier this month. A P-47 pilot, and Luke’s own 56th Fighter Group commander from 1942 to 1943, Zemke flew 154 combat missions during World War II, scoring 17.75 confirmed kills. Harlow, “an airman’s airman,” served as CMSAF from 1969 to 1971. Zemke died in 1994, Harlow in 1997. (Luke report by Amn. David Owsianka) (See also Valor: Col. Hubert ‘Hub’ Zemke from Air Force Magazine’s archives)
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.