The City of White Settlement participated in the United States Air Force 301st Fighter Wing Aircraft Arrival Ceremony this weekend, as the end of an era was formally remembered with the F-16 Fighting Falcon (commonly referred to as the Viper) being replaced with the F-35 Lightning II, built at Air Force Plant #4 in North Texas. To commemorate this momentous historical occasion, the White Settlement Police Department commissioned 50thAnniversary Badges that officers can wear through the end of the year.
The year 2024 marks a major heritage military fighter milestone with the 50th anniversary of the F-16’s first flight. Key players of this incredible jet include community members who worked on the production line of General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) and those who flew and continue to fly this formidable military jet. Over the past five decades, many of the defense contractors who worked on the F-16 and the Airmen, including maintainers and pilots, reside in White Settlement and throughout North Texas. Now, the F-35A Lightning II is made at the same plant where the F-16 rolled off the production line.
On Friday, November 1, 2024, Police Chief Christopher Cook joined City of White Settlement Mayor Faron Young, City Manager Jeffrey James, and Fire Chief Rick Sanderson at a special event hosted with Mr. Greg Ulmer, President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and Colonel Benjamin Harrison, U.S. Air Force Commander of the 301st Fighter Wing. On Saturday, November 2, 2024, a heritage ceremony was hosted at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth to celebrate the arrival of the F-35 aircraft. The 301st Fighter Wing was selected to become the Air Force Reserve Command’s first stand-alone F-35 wing responsible for owning, maintaining, and operating the F-35A mission.
"Our city, as the gateway to national defense, is a strong supporter of military aviation including Lockheed Martin and the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth," said Mayor Young. "We look forward to continuing our partnerships and working on joint projects that benefit our mutual communities."
“The City of White Settlement supports our Armed Forces and defense contractors who ensure freedom is defended and maintained across the globe,” said Police Chief Cook. “We are grateful to have been part of this significant milestone, which marks a new chapter in the 301st Fighter Wing’s history. On behalf of our public safety teams, we salute the men and women, both past and present, who made this possible.”
Photos by U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Celeste Zuniga, WSPD Corporal Laura Gonzalez and Gail Snyder III.
Video link to Heritage Tribute: https://youtu.be/3CqG5SaTifQ