A four-ship of A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" fly over the 188th Fighter Wing May 22, 2010, in preparation for landing. Ten pilots and ten A-10s with the Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th returned from an Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) deployment to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan Saturday. (U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sgt. Stephen Hornsey / 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs) Hi-res
Note: All four aircraft - still unknown by serial numbers - are A-10Cs from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing.
by Capt. Heath Allen
Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs Officer
5/23/2010 - FORT SMITH, Ark. -- A long, arduous journey came to a halt Saturday here at the home of the 188th Fighter Wing. Ten pilots and ten A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" from the Arkansas Air National Guard unit returned from an Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) deployment to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.
The AEF mission was the 188th's first combat deployment as a unit with A-10s since it received its first Warthog April 14, 2007. The 188th shared the four-month AEF rotation with the 175th Wing, an A-10 Air National Guard unit based in Baltimore, Md. While in theater the 188th was attached to the 451st Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Airfield.
The 175th flew A-10s from its unit as well as aircraft from the 188th during their portion of the rotation in January and February. The 188th flew A-10s from home station and the 175th during its deployment as well.
The 188th's A-10s have been in theatre for more than four months. The 188th pilots who returned Saturday were deployed for approximately 10 weeks.
"We pulled together to make this a successful deployment," said Lt. Col. Ray Hunter, a 188th pilot who served as the 184th Expeditionary Squadron commander while deployed to Kandahar. "It was a pretty intense operation, long hours and long missions but we made the community, the Air National Guard, the Air Force and our country proud. It was nice to see the support from everyone when we returned."
Family and friends of the deployed pilots assembled on the 188th's flightline to welcome home their heroes.
"It makes you feel patriotic and good inside that the people, the community appreciates what we do," said Lt. Col. Tim Eddins, a pilot with the 188th who returned from Kandahar Saturday.
Some, like 188th aviator, 1st Lt. Wade Hendrickson, have missed some monumental moments in their families' lives. And on Saturday, Hendrickson was reunited with his wife, Malea and five-month-old daughter, Rylin.
"I've missed half her life already," Hendrickson said. "Flying back home, as every mile ticked down we all started to get more excited. When we crossed the Mississippi River, we knew were in Arkansas and you could hear everyone chattering on the radio, 'we're almost home, we're almost home.' Then we taxied in and saw our families. It put a big smile on my face for sure."
More than 200 members of the 188th returned to home station from Kandahar last Monday. The remaining 188th Airmen, approximately 50, will return later this week.
While deployed, members of the 188th maintained and repaired A-10s, flew countless sorties, conducted numerous inspections and marched to the cadence of a 24-hour operations tempo.
"This is what the A-10 was made for," Eddins said. "It's not the prettiest airplane but it's the best airplane for the job that it's asked to do. It is truly suited for the environment we were in while in Kandahar. I couldn't be happier with how the aircraft performed and how hard everyone worked to make every mission a success."
The A-10 mission in southern Afghanistan is to fly close-air support in response to ground troops who may be in contact with the enemy, or to escort convoys in particularly hostile areas. When not supporting ground troops, A-10s patrol designated sectors and provide aerial reconnaissance on locations of interest to ground commanders.
"If we saved one ground troop's life, we did our job over there," Hendrickson said. "...We did 24/7 operations over there. I think most pilots averaged 20 or 30 sorties. I flew about five times a week and most sorties averaged from four to six hours. Some lasted eight hours but that's combat. You got tired but all the guys pushed through it and made it happen."
More than 50 members of the 188th left Jan. 8, 2010, and spent the entire four-month AEF rotation in Kandahar. An additional 225 Guardsmen joined them in early March for the 188th's official two-month portion of the rotation.
Before this mission, the 188th's last AEF rotation transpired in 2005 when the unit deployed 267 Airmen and 10 F-16s to Balad Air Base, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
For more information on the 188th Fighter Wing please visit www.188fw.ang.af.mil. You can also find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Smith-Ark/188th-Fighter-Wing-Arkansas-Air-National-Guard/113971391965165?ref=mf
First Lt. Wade Hendrickson, an A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthog" pilot with the Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Fighter Wing awaits the aircraft shutdown signal from his crew chief May 22, 2010, at the 188th. The 188th just returned ten A-10s and ten pilots from an Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) deployment to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sgt. Stephen Hornsey / 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs) Hi-res
Note: Wade in the cockpit of A-10C 78-0613 from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing. Note the huge teddy bear and a folded American flag behind the wind shield.
Lt. Col. Tim Eddins, an A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthog" pilot with the Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Fighter Wing, hands the Weapons Systems Video cartridge to a 188th crew chief May 22, 2010, at the 188th. Eddins along with nine other pilots from the 188th returned from an Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) deployment to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan Saturday, May 22, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Heath Allen / Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs) Hi-res
Lt. Col. Ray Hunter, an A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthog" pilot with the Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Fighter Wing, reunites with his wife May 22, 2010, following an Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) deployment to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. Hunter served as the 184th Expeditionary Squadron commander while deployed to Kandahar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Heath Allen / Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs) Hi-res
Note:Lt. Col. Ray Hunter returned with A-10C 78-0659 from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing.
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