ANG "Rainbow Team" A-10Cs caught at Lajes on their way back home from Afghanistan

On May 21, 2010, Warthog News contributor André Inácio from Portugal had the opportunity to catch ten of the twelve A-10Cs taxiing for take off en route Continental United States (CONUS), and also to catch two jets of the entire twelve-ship aircraft package which were delayed. André e-mailed me the following exclusive pictures, posted by me in chronological order (some fine-tuning with André's EXIF data is needed).

First launch (six aircraft, shots probably taken between 09:05 and 09:08 local time):



A-10C 78-0682 from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size



A-10C 78-0659 from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size



A-10C 78-0613 from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size



A-10C 79-0165 from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size



A-10C 80-0166 from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size



A-10C 79-0082 from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size

Second launch (four aircraft, shots probably taken between 09:34 and 09:35 local time):



A-10C 78-0646 from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size



A-10C 78-0702 from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size



A-10C 78-0720 from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size



A-10C 79-0129 from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size

Delayed from launches (two aircraft):



A-10C 78-0640 from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing, still parking at sunset after delaying. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size



A-10C 78-0719 from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing, still parking at sunset after delaying. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size

Special thanks for these great pictures, André!!! And thanks again for supporting Warthog News. By the way: Additional aviation photographers are always welcome.

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