21st Fighter Squadron The 21st Fighter Squadron ( 21 FS ) is part of the 56th Operations Group at Luke Air Force Base , Arizona . It operates the F - 16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting advanced fighter training for the pilots of the Republic of China ( Taiwan ) . Mission . The 21st Fighter Squadron , ' The Gamblers ' , operate the Block 20 F - 16A / B for the Republic of China Air Force ( ROCAF ) , under a three year pilot training programme called ' Peace Fenghuang ' . This is the only squadron at Luke to operate the original F - 16 variant , which are unusual in being 93 fiscal year serial new build Block 20 aircraft . The squadron is to : Prior to reforming at Luke in 1997 , the 21st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron operated F - 4E Phantom II s at George AFB , California until 1993 . History . World War II . The unit was activated in October 1944 as a Very Long Range P - 47N Thunderbolt fighter - escort squadron for B - 29 Superfortress units engaged in the strategic bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands . It trained under the Third Air Force in the southeast United States and deployed to the Pacific Theater , being assigned to Okinawa in May 1945 . The squadron began operations from Ie Shima in June . It engaged in dive - bombing and strafing attacks on factories , radar stations , airfields , small ships and other targets in Japan . It made several attacks on shipping and airfields in China during July . The unit flew its only escort mission on 8 August 1945 when it escorted B - 29s during a raid against Yawata , Kyoto , Japan . After the end of combat in the Pacific , it remained on Okinawa as a part of the air defense and occupation force for the Ryukyu Islands after the war . The unit was inactivated on Okinawa on 15 October 1946 . Cold War . Reactivated in August 1954 under Tactical Air Command and equipped with F - 86 Sabres at George AFB , the unit was re - equipped with the F - 100 Super Sabre in 1956 and trained in operational proficiency as a Tactical Fighter Squadron , its aircraft carried a blue marking motif . The squadron was inactivated on 15 March 1959 for budgetary reasons , its aircraft were reassigned to the incoming 31st TFW being moved from Turner AFB , Georgia . The unit was reactivated in 1972 as a " wild weasel " Tactical Fighter Training radar detection and suppression outfit at George AFB , replacing the provisional 4535th Combat Crew Training Squadron . It trained in Wild Weasel operations with F - 4C Phantom II s carrying the tail code " GA " , upgrading to the F - 4E in 1975 for aircrews who were newly assigned to the aircraft or who were returning to the aircraft from staff positions . The squadron changed aircraft to the F - 16A / B ' Fighting Falcon ' in 1981 ; it was tasked with training pilots for PACAF ( the Pacific Air Forces ) and continued to do so until 1991 . It was inactivated in June 1991 as part of the close - down of George AFB . It was reactivated at Shaw AFB , South Carolina in November 1991 , where it received A - 10A Thunderbolt II s from the inactivating 354th Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach AFB , South Carolina , the aircraft being re - designated as the OA - 10A Thunderbolt forward air control . It was inactivated in December 1993 along with the 363d Fighter Wing when the 20th Fighter Wing moved back to the United States from RAF Upper Heyford , England , assuming the assets of the 363d FW . Modern era . The squadron was reactivated in August 1996 to train ROCAF F - 16A / B crews at Luke AFB , Arizona . Empty hangars were refurbished and aircrews were pulled - in from other units on base . By January 1997 several F - 16A / B block 20s had been delivered and the first training flights began for the Republic of China Air Force crews . The program became known as Peace Fenghuang which is Chinese for ' Phoenix . ' Twenty of these aircraft were initially made available , but the numbers have fluctuated over the years , mostly less aircraft for training . Although flying what could be considered an older version of the F - 16 , it is more advanced than most other Falcons being flown from Luke AFB . As the first block 20 was only rolled off the production line at Fort Worth , Texas in July 1996 , these aircraft had not been tested like other blocks before going to an active training unit . Two aircraft were sent to Edwards AFB , California , for testing while training continued at Luke AFB . Because of this , in the early years the unit liaised with Lockheed frequently . Training in the 21st Fighter Squadron is a combination of classroom time and flying . For students , the flying involves amassing fifty flights , starting with basic maneuvers to more advanced combat in both aerial engagements and bombing tactics . A program to train instructor pilots is also in place . The first class of pilots graduated in July 1997 and the first instructor pilots graduated in June 1998 .