Thursday, January 31, 2013

81st FS inactivation announced

by Staff Reports
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs


SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Fernando Sorto, 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief from Plano, Texas, marshals an 81st Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt II in place on the flightline Jan. 24, 2013. The 81st FS launched multiple aircraft to relocate to Moody Air Force Base to fulfill training requirements and augment the fleet for potential deployments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo) Hi-res

Note: Pictured from right are A-10Cs 81-0980, 81-0960, 82-0646 and 81-0983. All of them left Spang as a four-ship with callsigns HURON31-34, escorted by a KC-135 Stratotanker (serial number 57-1428, callsign CAFE81). After a short stopover at Lajes Field, Azores, they crossed the Atlantic for Continental United States (CONUS).

1/31/2013 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Spangdahlem Air Base's 81st Fighter Squadron is scheduled to inactivate this year as a result of the overall U.S. defense budget cuts.

The 81 FS inactivation became official upon the termination of the Continuing Resolution provision that prohibited the "retirement, divestiture, realignment and transfer" of aircraft. The Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act does not prohibit these actions. Approximately 500 personnel will be affected by the inactivation.

The 81 FS flies the A-10 Thunderbolt II, or "Warthog," a twin-engine jet aircraft capable of close air support for ground forces.

"While we are disappointed that we will no longer be in Europe supporting the 52nd Fighter Wing's mission, we realize this is just another chapter in the life of a fighter squadron," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Clint Eichelberger, 81st Fighter Squadron commander. "As A-10 pilots, we will continue to lend decisive combat power around the world by supporting combatant command authorities with deployable close air support and combat search and rescue expertise."

Specific plans to relocate the squadron's A-10s are not yet finalized; however, the squadron is currently moving some aircraft to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., to support training requirements and subsidize the capabilities of the A-10 squadrons. The remaining aircraft and personnel will withdraw from Spangdahlem AB within the year.


SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – An 81st Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt II exits a hardened aircraft shelter on the flightline Jan. 24, 2013. The A-10 will not be returning to Spangdahlem AB due to the inactivation of the 81st FS. But even with the inactivation, the 52nd Fighter Wing will maintain its vital fighter mission in Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 81-0980.


U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jeff Hogan, 81st Fighter Squadron director of operations from Olympia, Wash., performs a pre-flight inspection on an A-10 Thunderbolt II on the flightline Jan. 24, 2013. The aircraft is headed to Moody Air Force Base as a result of the 81st Fighter Squadron inactivation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 81-0980.


SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jeff Hogan, 81st Fighter Squadron director of operations from Olympia, Wash., sits in the cockpit of an A-10 Thunderbolt II on the flightline Jan. 24, 2013. Currently 11 aircraft are slotted to move from Spangdahlem AB to Moody Air Force Base to support current and future operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo) Hi-res

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – An 81st Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt II displays a 52nd Fighter Wing patch before it departs to Moody Air Force Base on the flightline Jan. 24, 2013. Although the 81st FS is scheduled to inactivate this year, U.S. Air Forces in Europe has identified Spangdahlem AB as an enduring installation with its existing fighter and mobility missions. The base will also continue to build its partnership with the host nation with no plans to close. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo) Hi-res

Note: SEEK ATTACK DESTROY

Source (including 5 photos)

Please note: This post will be further updated with some background info.

Commentary: From the desk of the Wing commander - the way forward

Released by 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Commentary by Col. Mark W. Anderson
188th Fighter Wing commander

1/30/2013 - FORT SMITH, Ark. -- Members of the 188th Fighter Wing, I wanted to provide you with an update on some of the recent events and some words on the way forward.

CSAF/DANG visit
The visit from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Air National Guard Director Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III went extremely well thanks to the tireless efforts of countless members. Gen. Welsh arrived on the evening of Jan. 17 and departed about 2:30 p.m. that next day.

On the first day Gen. Welsh was treated to a first-class reception by the community at the Movie Lounge. The next day the community lined the streets in support of the 188th as he entered the base.

We then gave him our value and capabilities brief with rock-star guest speakers from the Army and Air Force Special Forces talking about their experiences here.

In addition, former 188th pilot Maj. Jay Spohn (first Air National Guard pilot to fly the F-35) spoke about how the F-35 would fare here. Then we took Gen. Welsh on a base tour. After the tour it was on to Operations to observe a live mission data link of Navy SEALS and A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" training at Fort Chaffee.

Following Ops, we traveled by helo to Razorback Range where he saw first-hand our A-10s supporting a close-air Support mission with Air Force Special Forces, and Army UH-60 Black Hawks and CH-47 Chinooks.

Afterwards, we flew back to base where he, U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla.; U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark.; U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark.; U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers; and U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle, heard amazing accounts from the recent deployment to Bagram, Afghanistan.

I believe Gen. Welsh and Lt. Gen. Wyatt were very impressed with our Airmen as well as our capabilities, facilities and training partners. In fact, I've recently heard several instances where they were both bragging on Fort Smith.

However, in the end the Air Force still intends to remove the A-10 from service. That combined with the ANG's Capstone Principal No. 1 (at least one flying wing/state) means that we will be converting to new missions.

The new mission
The good thing is we have a mission -- a great mission -- one that will keep the majority of jobs in the Fort Smith community. This mission will be remotely piloted aircraft and intelligence. In both areas, we will have regular engagement in some of the most important and contested regions of the world.

Our talented Airmen will be collecting, analyzing, targeting on a real-time basis from home-station. These missions will have both tactical elements and national strategic implications.

The 188th should be extremely proud that we have been entrusted with such a critical component of our nation's defense. Bottom line: When the conversion is finished, the 188th will have a more direct and more frequent impact on our nation's global engagements than ever before.

The conversion
The conversion starts now. We've had the 188th conversion team in place for several weeks now and they are doing outstanding work. The overall conversion project officer is Lt. Col. Toby "Yobi" Brallier; his assistant is Lt. Col. John Easley. Under their direction, we have the conversion committee and several subcommittees. The subcommittees include: Personnel/training, facilities, operations, intel and maintenance.

Each subcommittee will have a counterpart assigned from ANG to assist and provide guidance. For the full-time members: The union and the Arkansas National Guard Human Resources Office will be heavily involved in every step along the way. Although we are making significant progress, we do need three items from ANG in order to move from the planning stage to the execution stage. Until we get the timeline, the manning document, and have the SATAF, we will be somewhat limited on specific plans.

I promise you, the conversion team is 100 percent committed to pushing information to our members. They already have designed several information sharing plans which you will hear about soon.

In fact, they even have a series of briefings planned for Sunday, Feb. 3. There will be qualified people from most of the major new career fields sharing information. These experts are coming to talk about their jobs, including qualifications, training, work schedule, critical skills, etc. These briefings will be given several times throughout the day and are open to all unit members. We will film the briefings for those that are unable to attend.

Expectations
I'd like to take a minute to try to manage transition expectations. Please understand, this conversion will be the 188th's largest and most challenging mission change to date. First, since the FY-13 National Defense Authorization Act changed so much and was so controversial, the Air Force and ANG planners got a late start.

As a result, some personnel/training actions may happen faster than what we would like. Second, the mission change is the most radical in the 60-year history of the 188th. This will require long off-station training courses for most of those who convert. Training lengths will vary but it won't be uncommon for some members to be off-station for 4-9 months.

Third, significant construction will be required. Until the construction is complete some will likely have to go TDY to maintain proficiency awaiting permanent facilities. And finally, the nature of any conversion lends itself to some downtime. Some will train early and will have to wait on facilities and others to catch up before we can do the mission here.

Some will train late while awaiting school slots. In either scenario, our leaders must stay engaged and ensure our Airmen are cared for, are focused, and are as productive as possible.

None of the obstacles ahead of us are insurmountable. We will be extremely organized and will communicate well. Best of all, we have outstanding Airmen, NCOs and officers that excel in these challenges. We will do fine; just be patient, as it won't all happen overnight.

The budget
I'm sure you've seen the recently released NGB budget guidance. Until Congress and the President release a fiscal plan, all expenses will be highly scrutinized to ensure only mission essential expenditures are made.

Please look at the NGB guidance for details (S:\FW\FW\Command & Control\FM); however, if you're unsure if expenditure is authorized, please contact Lt. Col. Grace Ryals or 1st Lt. Rick Carman from the Comptroller Flight at 479-573-5369 if you are uncertain.

There are some cases where I am authorized to make exceptions to the guidance for mission critical activities. Fortunately, most of the restrictions are not going to be a huge impact on the 188th.

The inspection
Good news! Due to the conversion, the Unit Compliance Inspection (UCI) portion of the inspection is cancelled. It will be rescheduled for after we officially declare operational readiness in the new missions.

The other parts of the compliance visit are still being worked by the Air Force Inspector General team. I'm very optimistic that the Logistics Compliance Assessment Program (LCAP) inspection and the Combat Shield inspection will also be cancelled.

However, I believe the Health Services Inspection (HSI) will go as scheduled. For all of you that have been working on your programs and particularly MICT, thank you. The organization is better for your actions. Checklist owners (except Ops and Maintenance) keep working on your MICT; those will be needed in the upcoming months for our Management Internal Control Plan.

I am so proud of this organization. The 188th has powered through a ton of adversity and uncertainty the past couple of years and we are stronger for it. The good news is we now we have a way forward. Airmen, keep the fantastic attitude. Officers and NCOs, keep leading and communicating. We have an amazing team and we are going to excel in everything the future holds.

I'm honored to be your commander. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

Source

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

188th Commander: 'The conversion starts now'

The City Wire
Submitted by The City Wire Staff on Tue, 01/29/2013 - 8:14pm

The finality of the decision to replace the A-10 fighters of the Fort Smith-based 188th Fighter Wing with a vague remotely piloted aerial vehicle recon mission is best encapsulated from a statement within a memo from 188th commander Col. Mark Anderson.

"The conversion starts now. We've had the 188th conversion team in place for several weeks now and they are doing outstanding work," Anderson noted in an internal memo released Tuesday to the Fort Smith Board of Directors.

Broad cuts in U.S. defense spending – possibly up to $500 billion over 10 years – include the removal of the 20 A-10 Thunderbolt fighter planes from the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith. The unit has almost 1,000 full- and part-time employees. The loss of the fighter mission is scheduled to be replaced with a remotely piloted area vehicle — most likely the Predator drone. The remotely piloted aerial vehicles and intelligence specialists needed to analyze drone-driven data may not be based in Fort Smith.

Although the decision to remove change the 188th mission from a fighter wing to a recon mission seemed certain months ago, hope remained for some in the community. However, a Jan. 18 visit to Fort Smith by Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Mark Welsh III left little room for doubt as to the future of the A-10 mission. He said the focus remains on transitioning the unit to a drone mission, which he said would result in a "small decrease" in the number of Air Force personnel needed in Fort Smith. However, a drone mission keeps a unit active in Fort Smith.

"The intent is not for the unit to go away," Welsh stressed during a Jan. 18 press conference, adding that the decrease in personnel may be handled through attrition.

Anderson's detailed memo – almost 1,300 words – included several words of encouragement to the 188th troopers who have for months worked under a cloud of uncertainty.

The good thing is we have a mission-a great mission-one that will keep the majority of jobs in the Fort Smith community. This mission will be RPA and intelligence. In both areas, we will have daily engagement in some of the most important and contested regions of the world," Anderson noted in the memo.

Continuing, Anderson explained: "The 188th should be extremely proud that we have been entrusted with such a critical component of our nation's defense. Bottom line: When the conversion is finished, the 188th will have a more direct and more frequent impact on our nation's global engagements than ever before."

But Anderson also explained that the conversion will not be easy, noting that the mission change will be "the most radical in the 60 year history of the 188th."

He said the changes will cause some lengthy training courses for some unit members, including four to nine month "off-station" trips for some. Construction at the base may also require some members to seek a temporary duty station to "maintain proficiency" until the conversion is complete.

Anderson said patience will be required through the process.

"None of the obstacles ahead of us are insurmountable. We will be extremely organized and will communicate well. Best of all, we have outstanding Airmen/NCOs and officers that excel in these challenges. We will do fine; just be patient, as it won't all happen overnight," Anderson wrote.

Following is Anderson's complete memo.

Members of the 188th Fighter Wing, here is an update on some of the recent events and some words on the way forward.

Gen Welsh and Lt Gen Wyatt visit: The CSAF visit went extremely well thanks to the tireless efforts of countless members. He arrived on the evening of Thursday, 17 Jan and departed about 1430 that next day. On the first day he was treated to a first-class reception by the community at the Movie Lounge.

The next day the community lined the streets in support of the 188th as he entered the base. We then gave him our value and capabilities brief with rock-star guest speakers from Army/Air Force Special Forces talking about their experiences here. In addition, Maj Jay Spohn (first ANG pilot to fly the F-35) spoke about how the F-35 would fare here. Then we took him on a base tour. After the tour it was on to Ops to observe a live mission data link of Navy SEALS and A-10s training at Fort Chaffee.

Following Ops, we traveled by helo to Razorback Range where he saw first-hand our A-10s supporting a Close Air Support mission with Air Force Special Forces, and Army UH-60s/CH-47s. Afterwards, we flew back to base where he, Senators Inhofe/Pryor/Boozman, and Congressmen Womack/Cotton, heard amazing accounts from the recent Bagram deployment. I believe Gen Welsh and Lt Gen Wyatt were very impressed with our Airmen as well as our capabilities, facilities and training partners. In fact, I've recently heard several instances where they were both bragging on Fort Smith. However, in the end the Air Force still intends to remove the A-10 from service. That combined with the ANG's Capstone Principal #1 (at least one flying wing/state) means that we will be converting to new missions.

The new missions: The good thing is we have a mission-a great mission-one that will keep the majority of jobs in the Fort Smith community. This mission will be RPA and intelligence. In both areas, we will have daily engagement in some of the most important and contested regions of the world.

Our talented Airmen will be collecting/analyzing/targeting on a real-time basis from home-station. These missions will have both tactical elements and national strategic implications. The 188th should be extremely proud that we have been entrusted with such a critical component of our nation's defense. Bottom line: When the conversion is finished, the 188th will have a more direct and more frequent impact on our nation's global engagements than ever before.

The conversion: The conversion starts now. We've had the 188th conversion team in place for several weeks now and they are doing outstanding work.

The overall conversion PROJO is Lt Col Toby "Yobi" Brallier; his assistant is Lt Col John Easley. Under their direction, we have the conversion committee and several sub-committees. The sub-committees include: personnel/training, facilities, operations, intel, and maintenance. Each sub-committee will have a counterpart assigned from ANG to assist and provide guidance. For the full-time members: the union and HRO will be heavily involved in every step along the way.

Although we are making significant progress, we do need three items from ANG in order to move from the planning stage to the execution stage. Until we get the timeline, the manning document, and have the SATAF, we will be somewhat limited on specific plans. I promise you, the conversion team is 100% committed to pushing information to our members. They already have designed several information sharing plans which you will hear about soon. In fact, they even have a series of briefings planned for Sunday, 3 Feb. There will be qualified people from most of the major new career fields sharing information. These experts are coming to talk about their job including qualifications, training, work schedule, critical skills,...etc. These briefings will be given several times throughout the day and are open to all unit members. We will film the briefings for those that are unable to attend.

Expectations: I'd like to take a minute to try to manage transition expectations. Please understand, this conversion will be the 188th's largest and most challenging mission change to date. First, since the FY-13 National Defense Authorization Act changed so much and was so controversial, the Air Force and ANG planners got a late start. As a result, some personnel/training actions may happen faster than what we would like.

Second, the mission change is the most radical in the 60 year history of the 188th. This will require long off-station training courses for most of those that convert. Training lengths will vary but it won't be uncommon for some members to be off-station for 4-9 months. Third, significant construction will be required. Until the construction is complete some will likely have to go TDY to maintain proficiency awaiting permanent facilities.

Finally, the nature of any conversion lends itself to some downtime. Some will train early and will have to wait on facilities and others to catch up before we can do the mission here. Some will train late while awaiting school slots. In either scenario, our leaders must stay engaged and ensure our Airmen are cared for, are focused, and are as productive as possible.

None of the obstacles ahead of us are insurmountable. We will be extremely organized and will communicate well. Best of all, we have outstanding Airmen/NCOs and officers that excel in these challenges. We will do fine; just be patient, as it won't all happen overnight.

The budget: I'm sure you've seen the recently released NGB budget guidance. Until Congress/the President release a fiscal plan, all expenses will be highly scrutinized to ensure only mission essential expenditures are made.

Please look at the NGB guidance for details (S:\FW\FW\Command & Control\FM) however, if you're unsure if expenditure is authorized, please contact Lt Col Ryals or Lt Carmen from FM (573-5369). There are some cases where I am authorized to make exceptions to the guidance for mission critical activities. Fortunately, most of the restrictions are not going to be a huge impact on the 188th.

The inspection: Good news! Due to the conversion, the UCI portion of the inspection is cancelled. It will be rescheduled for after we officially declare operationally ready in the new missions. The other parts of the compliance visit are still being worked by the IG. I'm very optimistic that the LCAP inspection and the Combat Shield inspection will also be cancelled.

However, I believe the HSI will go as scheduled. For all of you that have been working on your programs and particularly MICT, thank you. The organization is better for your actions. Checklist owners (except Ops and MX) keep working on your MICT, those will be needed in the upcoming months for our Management Internal Control Plan.

I am so proud of this organization. The 188th has powered through a ton of adversity and uncertainty the past couple of years and we are stronger for it. The good news is we now we have a way forward. Airmen, keep the fantastic attitude. Officers and NCOs, keep leading and communicating. We have an amazing team and we are going to excel in everything the future holds.

I'm honored to be your commander. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

Col Mark Anderson

Source

Wing wins AFRC Verne Orr Award

by Tech. Sgt. Danielle Johnston
442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

1/24/2013 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- The 442nd Fighter Wing has been named the winner of the Air Force Reserve Command 2013 Verne Orr award.

The award recognizes an Air Force unit's effective use of human resources. The 442nd FW received the award for its mission-oriented unit accomplishments and achievements that used personnel to their full potential in order to accomplish the mission.

The wing's mission of Training and Deploying Combat-Ready Airmen was accomplished through a seamless orchestration with more than 2,000 Citizen Airmen and active-duty servicemembers at four geographically separated locations operating 48 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. In 2012, the wing fully embraced the total force concept by providing support on multiple air expeditionary support deployments, successfully completing an consolidated unit inspection, working through a wing restructure and upgrading all A-10s assigned to the fleet.

The wing utilized maximum resources with annual training at five different duty locations throughout the world. The upgrade and on-the-job training led to a highly qualified wing of Air Force reservists and active-duty Airmen working side by side during seamless total force integration.

"This award was a fantastic accomplishment that everyone in the wing worked very hard to earn," said Brig. Gen. Eric S. Overturf, 442nd Fighter Wing commander. "The dedication of our Citizen Airmen is very apparent, and it's great to have that kind of recognition throughout the command."

The unit will now be nominated to win the Verne Orr award at the Air-Force level.

Source

Four more 81st Fighter Squadron A-10Cs finally left Spang

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

At Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Warthog News contributor Oliver Jonischkeit from Germany had the rare oportunity to take the following shot on January 24, 2013:

A-10C 82-0646 from the 81st Fighter Squadron finally departs Spangdahlem AB, Germany, enroute CONUS due to the squadron's upcoming deactivation. External fuel tank on centerline station 6.

AF Reserve announces revised force structure actions

Released on Air Force Reserve Command's official website

Air Force Reserve Command officials are moving forward with force structure changes authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2013. Major actions include creation of intelligence, cyber and network warfare units; retirement of some C-5A Galaxies, KC-135 Stratotankers and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs; and the inactivation of the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and a reconnaissance squadron. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Philip Rhodes)

1/25/2013 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Air Force Reserve Command is moving forward with force structure changes authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2013.

In response to concerns raised by state governors and Congress regarding the FY13 President's Budget submission - and subsequent Congressional marks placing proposed force structure actions on hold the - Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard leadership collaborated to develop one Total Force Proposal.

As enacted into law, the NDAA included the entire "amended" Air Force Total Force Proposal, as well as the retention of additional intra-theater airlift aircraft, retention of the Global Hawk Block 30s, and a delay of the retirement of 26 C-5A aircraft until 45 days after delivery of a new Mobility Requirements and Capabilities Study. It also directed a National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force and limited retirement of B-1 aircraft.

"In a difficult economy, the Air Force has to make tough choices," said Maj. Gen. Craig Gourley, vice commander of Air Force Reserve Command. "These force structure changes will take place over the next three years and are necessary to help meet Budget Control Act of 2011 resource levels."

New Air Force Reserve units authorized by the act include:

· 14th Intelligence Squadron, a classic associate unit at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
· 28th Intelligence Squadron, a classic associate unit at Hurlburt Field, Fla.
· 37th Intelligence Squadron, a classic associate unit at Fort Meade, Md.
· 41st Intelligence Squadron, a classic associate unit at Offut AFB, Neb.
· 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, Wright-Patterson AFB
· 960th Cyber Operations Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
· 960th Network Warfare Squadron, a classic associate unit at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland

Other force structure actions authorized by the act include:

· Barksdale AFB, La.--Inactivate the 917th Fighter Group and retire 24 A-10C aircraft and transfer three A-10C aircraft to Whiteman AFB, Mo.
· Beale AFB, Calif.--Inactivate the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron
· Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.--Gain 24 A-10C aircraft from the Air Force in 2014
· Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland--Retire 16 C-5A aircraft over the next three years and gain 8 C-5M aircraft from Westover ARB, Mass., in 2016 (C-5 retirements are delayed until 45 days after delivery of a new Mobility Requirements and Capabilities Study.)
· Westover ARB, Mass.--Transfer eight C-5M aircraft to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in 2016
· Tinker AFB, Okla.--Retire four KC-135 aircraft
· Whiteman AFB--Gain three A-10C aircraft from Barksdale AFB
· Robins AFB--Inactivate the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve
· March ARB, Calif.--Retire one KC-135 aircraft in 2013

The Air Force has convened an intra-theater airlift working group and is using a deliberate approach to develop courses of action to determine the placement of additional intra-theater airlift assets. Additional changes to Air Force Reserve C-130 units will be made based upon decisions made by the working group.

Source (including 1 graphic)

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

ACC commander Gen. Michael Hostage visits the 917th Fighter Group

Released by 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

1/24/2013 - U.S. Air Force Gen. Michael Hostage, Air Combat Command commander, takes questions from members of the 917th Fighter Group (FG) during a briefing on Jan. 23, 2013, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Hostage visited the FG to talk about the impending budgets cuts to the military. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 79-0147 from the 47th Fighter Squadron.


1/24/2013 - U.S. Air Force Col. John Breazeale, 917th Fighter Group (FG) commander, introduces Gen. Michael Hostage during a briefing on Jan. 23, 2013, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Hostage is the Commander of Air Combat Command and visited the FG during his tour of ACC fighter units. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele) Hi-res

Source (including 6 photos)

See also:
ACC commander visits 917th FG (copied from 307th Bomb Wing's public website and re-released by 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs on January 29, 2013).

Like father, like son

Released by 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs


1/15/2013 - U.S. Air Force Col. John Breazeale, 917th Fighter Group commander, recites the Oath of Enlistment to Tech. Sgt. Shannon Tutt beside an A-10 Thunderbolt II, Jan. 14, 2013, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Tutt is the Dedicated Crew Chief of the aircraft, tail number 79-0147, which is the same aircraft his dad, Tech. Sgt. Jimmy Tutt, accepted straight from the factory and spent 22 years as its crew chief before retiring from the Air Force Reserve. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 79-0147 from the 47th Fighter Squadron. MAMMY YOKUM (or MAMMY OKUM) comic fuselage art. Ladder door art: Gatling Justice - Impacting Hearts and Minds. Crew inscriptions: PLT. LT. COL. JAMES TRAVIS, DCC. TSGT SHANNON TUTT, ACC. SRA MICHAEL DUTSON.

1/15/2013 - U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shannon Tutt repeats the Oath of Enlistment, Jan. 14, 2013, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Tutt is a crew chief assigned to the 917th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and asked to be reenlisted next to his aircraft, which was crew chiefed by his dad, Tech. Sgt. Jimmy Tutt, for 22 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele) Hi-res

Source (including 2 photos)

Fighter Group commander reenlists his crew chief

Released by 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs


1/14/2013 - U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rikki Welch repeats the Oath of Enlistment to Col. John Breazeale, 917th Fighter Group (FG) commander, Jan. 14, 2013, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Welch is the crew chief of an A-10 Thunderbolt II assigned to the FG commander and requested to be reenlisted next to her aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 79-0153 from the 47th Fighter Squadron.

1/14/2013 - U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rikki Welch, a crewchief assigned to the 917th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, repeats the Oath of Enlistment, Jan. 14, 2014, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Welch is the Dedicated Crew Chief of an A-10 Thunderbolt II and wanted to be reenlisted next to her aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele) Hi-res

Source (including 2 photos)

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Combat Aircraft Monthly features A-10 Cold War ops

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

In their current issue (February 2013 - Volume 14 Number 2) Combat Aircraft Monthly - The World's Top Military Aviation Magazine - features A-10 Cold War ops.



Publisher's info: GLORY DAYS — 'HOGS' ON THE CENTRAL FRONT Warren E. Thompson looks back at the A-10 'Warthogs' of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing. Home-based at RAF Bentwaters and Woodbridge, the wing's jets regularly rotated through Forward Operating Locations closer to the potential front lines.

See: February 2013 BTW: On my Warthog News Facebook page Combat Aircraft Monthly Editor Jamie Hunter posted: In the current issue of Combat Aircraft we have a feature on the heady days of Bentwaters and Woodbridge A-10 ops. In the next issue: we have the start of a 2-part focus on the A-10. We will also mark the end of the A-10 in Europe when the 81st FS sadly closes this year.

Please note: More article shots will be posted soon.

The 355th Maintenance Operations Squadron

by Senior Airman Saphfire Cook
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs


The 355th Maintenance Operations Squadron is home of the "Spartans". The squadron provides 24 hour aircraft maintenance command and control capability, and directs the maintenance scheduling and analysis programs. It provides for group-level maintenance quality assurance, weapons load standardization and engine management in support of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Saphfire Cook) Hi-res

1/24/2013 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The 355th Maintenance Operations Squadron provides for group-level maintenance quality assurance, weapons load standardization and engine management in support of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.


Five hundred-pound training weapons sit in a hanger on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 23, 2012. These bombs are used to train load crews on their duties and responsibilities while loading weapons onto aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Saphfire Cook) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is a training cluster bomb unit CBU-87.

Source

Please note: More pictures will be posted soon.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Air Force begins testing new pod capability

by Samuel King Jr.
Team Eglin Public Affairs

Maj. Olivia Elliott, of the 40th Flight Test Squadron, climbs into her A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to a test mission Jan. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Her mission was to wrap up flight testing of the new Net-T software upgrade on the LITENING II advanced targeting pod. The new upgrade allows the pod to provide ground forces beyond-line-of-sight command and control capabilities as long as the aircraft is within range. This is the first-ever test of this new capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.) Hi-res

1/18/2013 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Air Force completed testing this month on a flying wireless router to ground troops with almost instantaneous communications. The biggest difference between the router in most homes and the new flying router... the Air Force's version is attached to a 30mm Gatling gun.

The flying router is a new software upgrade called Net-T or network tactical for the LITENING and Sniper advanced targeting pods for all legacy fighters and the B-1. This high priority developmental test began in October by the 40th Flight Test Squadron.

"This is a new capability the Air Force does not currently deploy with and it has not been tested until now," said Capt. Joseph Rojas, of the 40th FLTS and the Net-T Project Test Engineer.

The squadron tested the software's capability to allow groups of ground forces to communicate with each other via Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver-5, a small arm-mounted touchscreen device about the size of an iPad-mini. Until now, The ROVER-5 could only send and receive data from the aircraft.

The Net-T pod capability allows units with ROVER-5s to communicate directly with each other using the aircraft to route those signals. There is only one prerequisite.

"The groups on the ground need 'line of sight' to the aircraft in the air, not each other," said Rojas. "This opens up communication possibilities to support ground operations across all services."

This targeting pod enhancement can provide the commander real-time information videos, images, maps, coordinates or any file type from the forward deployed elements without relying on satellite, radio or other forms of traditional communication.

Advanced targeting pods are already busy pieces of equipment. The new ATP-SE pods provide aircrews detailed target images in television and infrared modes, laser illumination and tracking, automatic target searching and tracking, and automated target reconnaissance. One of the key test points for this effort was to ensure all of those capabilities were not affected in any way by the new Net-T upgrade.

"The pilot still needs to be able to operate the pod effectively, even though ground troops could be sending data to each other using this enhancement," said Maj. Olivia Elliott, the 40th FLTS A-10 flight commander who flew all of the required test missions for the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

According to Elliott, the pilot has minimal interaction with the Net-T portion of the targeting pod. Once the frequencies and data rates are configured, the pilot initiates the transmit-in-Net-T mode and the network is active.

"It's a single button push," said Elliott. "After that the pilot must maintain within the range of the Rover's transmitter and stay within view of the users. There's little to no interference with airborne operations of the targeting pod."

Another test priority was to discover the distance limitations of the flying hub and how far away a Rover could be and still send and receive information.

Test engineers from the 40th FLTS and the 46th Test Squadron's data link flight set up five Rover stations around the Eglin test range and sent files of various types and sizes back and forth via the flying Net-T on a variety of aircraft and pod types to include B-1B aircraft from Dyess AFB, and both F-16 and F-15E aircraft from the 40th FLTS.

The file sizes and types along with data movement rates were also examined to provide an idea of the capacity limitation on the new tactical network.

The 40th FLTS is still compiling their data from the 23 missions, but plans to send the study up to the Precision Attack Systems Program Office at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, by mid-February, according to Rojas.

After that, the software upgrade will return to Eglin to begin the operational testing process with the 53rd Wing. Without major delays or setbacks, the Air Force's 'flying router' could be sending and receiving data in operational aircraft by 2014.

"This new flying hub model may not be employed in the same way we tested, but it is setting the stage to provide beyond line-of-site command and control capability to the warfighters in the air, sea and on the ground," said Rojas.

Efforts initiated by the developmental test community at the 40th FLTS to meet the war fighter's need are part of the job and life of the mission here. The base's variety of units are known as a synergy called "Team Eglin," covering the complete weapon-system life-cycle from concept through development, acquisition, experimental testing, procurement, operational testing and final employment in combat.

Maj. Olivia Elliott, of the 40th Flight Test Squadron, examines the LITENING II advanced targeting pod mounted on her A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to a test mission Jan. 10 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Her mission was to wrap up flight testing of the new Net-T software upgrade on the pod. The new upgrade allows the pod to provide ground forces beyond-line-of-sight command and control capabilities as long as the aircraft is within range. This is the first-ever test of this new capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.) Hi-res

Source (including 4 photos)

Please note: More pictures will be posted immediately.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Second flight of 81st Fighter Squadron A-10Cs finally left Spangdahlem

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

BREAKING NEWS: Yesterday, four more A-10Cs from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany, finally left their home base located in the German Eiffel because the 81st FS "Panthers" will be deactivated later this year. According to the Dutch Scramble Messageboard, logged at Lajes Field, Azores, for stopover enroute CONUS were the following "Hogs":

A-10C 81-0980 (callsign HURON31)
A-10C 81-0960 (callsign HURON32)
A-10C 82-0646 (callsign HURON33)
A-10C 81-0983 (callsign HURON34)
Escorting Tanker: KC-135 57-1428 (callsign CAFE81)

See topic: Lajes (Azores) (LPLA/TER) - 2013 MIL

Please note: I will try to get related pictures as soon as possible.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Cold Weather Ops

(Released by 127th Wing in the photo section of their public website)


Master Sgt. Adam Dittenber, a crew chief with the 127th Maintenance Squadron, cleans the cockpit glass on an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. Jan. 22, 2013. By local direction, during extreme weather conditions, maintenance Airmen at Selfridge are allowed to wear non-uniform exterior cold-weather work gear. As A-10 flight operations began in the late morning hours on Jan. 22, the temperature at Selfridge was 2 degrees F, with a wind chill of 16 degrees below zero. Dittenber said he had to work quickly to clean the windshield, as the cleaning solution he was using was freezing to the windshield. In the foreground is a portable heating device which blows hot air and can be used to warm parts of the aircraft – or an Airman’s hands in between operations. (Air National Guard photo by TSgt. Dan Heaton) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 80-0262 from the 107th Fighter Squadron.

BTW: Two more related pictures will be posted tomorrow.

Exercise Beverly Midnight 13-01 at Osan

(Released by 51st Fighter Wing in the photo section of their public website)


Senior Airman Jared Callaham, 51st Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technology journeyman, helps direct an A-10 Thunderbolt II during exercise Beverly Midnight 13-01 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 16, 2013. During OREs, Airmen highlight their ability to position, employ, and sustain forces and showcase operational readiness. BM 13-01 is the first ORE of 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexis Siekert) Hi-res

Note: Unfortunately, on the bow of this "Hog" the last three digits of it's serial number are hidden by Senior Airman Jared Callaham's "Star Wars laser sword". Crew inscription, only related to a pilot: LT IAN OSTERREICHER.


Staff Sgt. Michael Palmisano (right), Senior Airmen Jeffery Olmeda (far left) and Adam Hinojosa (center), 51st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament weapons systems specialists, load munitions onto an aircraft during operational readiness exercise Beverly Midnight 13-01, Jan. 17, 2012. The exercise tests Osan Airmen's abilities to perform in heightened states of readiness. Hi-res

Albright named February Tip of the Spear

(Released on 442nd Fighter Wing's public website)

442nd Operations Group

Staff Sgt. Jennifer Albright, 303rd Fighter Squadron aviation resource manager, was awarded Tip of the Spear for February. The Tip of the Spear award is given by the command staff to a person who has had outstanding performance. The 303rd Fighter Squadron is part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an A-10 Thunderbolt II Air Force Reserve unit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Danielle Johnston) Hi-res

1/23/2013 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Staff Sgt. Jennifer Albright has quickly established herself as the top aviation resource manager (SARM) for the 303rd Fighter Squadron, part of the 442nd Operations Group here. She volunteered for her first deployment and seamlessly integrated with active-duty counterparts, supported approximately 1,200 combat sorties encompassing more than 3,000 flying hours and endured regular rocket attacks. She became an Air Reserve technician after the shop had been manned at 33 percent and faced the combined unit inspection with just three months to prepare.

She participated in a comprehensive program assessment utilizing a checklist with more than 300 questions. Undaunted by the workload, she helped prioritize the list of corrective actions and assign the tasks to the best suited teammate. She personally completed more than 50 percent of the total rewrite of the SARM continuity binder - a significant and arduous undertaking. This book encompasses virtually every program and task performed by the shop in step-by-step detail. Because of that, Albright received favorable comments by the inspector. Her meticulous attention to detail and organizational skills were key factors in the squadron's near-perfect inspection outcome, and Albright received the Military Bearing award from the inspectors for her outstanding performance.

Albright took over flying hour management and successfully closed out the fiscal year 2012 program with more than 7,400 hours and 3,400 sorties without error. She manages the additional flying training period program. She provided training to all pilots and published a comprehensive "how-to" guide. This significant program change transitioned smoothly and without any pay interruptions. Albright has superbly managed the additional work and stress of preparing for an inspection while orienting herself to a new job, supporting daily flying operations and completion of all other day-to-day responsibilities in a shop that continues to be undermanned. She has already proven to be an integral component in the squadron's drive for perfection and readiness. That's why she is this month's "Tip of the Spear".

Editor's note: Information for this was provided by commanders and staff of the 442nd Fighter Wing.

Source (including 1 photo)

Maintenance Operation Center

by Senior Airman Wesley Wright
442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

1/17/2013 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Keeping track of the maintenance of more than 20 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft is no small task. Fortunately, the 442nd Maintenance Squadron has the maintenance operations center to stay on top of all things A-10.

The MOC provides a central location for up-to-the-minute coordination and accountability of A-10 resources for the 442nd Fighter Wing.

"We are the central hub for all the maintenance that goes on," said Master Sgt. Charles T. Cousins, 442nd MOC noncommissioned officer in charge. "We run the day-to-day operations - aircraft statuses, reporting, taking care of the flying and making sure pilots have spare aircraft."

Cousins said keeping all the departments and higher headquarters informed of aircraft status is vitally important.

"This is the place people are going to come for any aircraft maintenance information," he said. "If the commander wants to know the condition of his fleet, we can tell him. Even the Pentagon can, in real time, look in our system because of the data we put in."

To do this job, Cousins said, the MOC team partners with the MXS production supervisor and expediter on the flightline to ensure the planes have what they need. Even if a pilot is sitting in the aircraft and something breaks in the jet, MOC can call straight to the shop that can resolve the issue and get someone out to fix it.

"We monitor engine runs, two different frequencies on the radio and the crash phone," he said. "If there is any emergency we can get everyone notified so they know what is going on."

One such emergency occurred in July 2011 when an A-10 landed gear-up on the runway here.

"We had one individual in the MOC that night by himself," Cousins said. "Tech. Sgt. (Michael) Cook had to stay over, and with things like that you have everyone calling. When that happens, you have to step back and take one thing at a time."

Cook, a 442nd production controller, has worked in the MOC for three years.

"You spell his name R-E-L-I-A-B-L-E," Cousins said. "He is good at what he does."

Cook said MOC is vital to the wing's mission of Training and Deploying Combat-Ready Airmen.

"If the correct people are not informed, we don't fly," he said. "Completion of the mission depends on that timely exchange of info."

The operations tempo in MOC can go from a jog to a flat-out sprint, Cook said.

"There are times when you have a little downtime," he said. "And there are times where you look at the clock, and then look back, and suddenly its hours later."

Cousins agreed the pace can pick up very suddenly.

"It can be feast or famine," he said. "When things happen in here, they happen very rapidly."

Being able to multitask is essential, Cousins said. Calls can come in on top of each other, and being able to get all the information down and entered into the system can be a challenge, especially if manning is short.

While it can get busy, the MOC gets the job done, providing coordination and accountability to the maintenance operations of the 442nd MXS. Well-trained maintainers there keep jets running so the pilots can perform the mission.

Source (no photos included)

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Welsh: Visit Doesn't Change Plans For New 188th Mission

By Jeff Arnold
Southwest Times Record
5:52 pm - January 18, 2013 — Updated: 10:31 pm - January 18, 2013

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III speaks at a news conference about the fate of the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith on Friday, Jan. 18, 2012. (Photo by Rachel Rodemann, Times Record)

The hope that accompanied his arrival at the 188th Fighter Wing evaporated before the Air Force chief of staff's plane left the tarmac at Fort Smith Regional Airport on Friday afternoon.

Arkansas' congressional delegation persuaded Gen. Mark Welsh III to visit the 188th, in hopes the unit could survive proposed budget cuts that call for eliminating its A-10 mission and replacing it with a "remote piloted aircraft," or drone, mission.

Shortly before Christmas, both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate passed a $640.5 billion defense authorization bill that would remove the A-10 mission from the 188th. The entire Arkansas delegation voted in favor.

At a Friday news conference shortly before he left Fort Smith, Welsh said his visit hadn't changed those plans.

"Right now the National Defense Authorization Act, the intent is for it to transition, with a look at the long-range look of the entire (Air National) Guard in this next nine-month workup," Welsh said.

When asked why the 188th will lose its A-10 mission, although it outperforms other Guard units that will retain A-10 missions, Welsh said he wouldn't get into that.

"I've heard lots of discussion about this wing is better than that wing or this state is more committed to it than that state, but that's not what I've seen. That's not what the director of the Air National Guard tells me … so I won't get into that discussion," Welsh said.

The general did confirm that strategic plan principles on the Air National Guard to keep at least one manned flying mission at a Guard unit in every state did impact the decision to remove A-10s from the 188th.

Both Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, said that detail was the one factor the 188th couldn't overcome in the fight to keep the A-10 mission.

"In every measurable objective criteria, used in determining the cost-efficiency, the capabilities and accomplishments of a unit … the 188th wins on every count. The one issue we could not overcome is Arkansas has two (Guard) flying missions, and we are up against a cornerstone principle … that is, they want to keep one flying mission per state. So that makes one of our flying missions expendable," Womack said.

Pryor said it wasn't a fair fight from the beginning because of the Guard's goal of one manned flying mission per state.

Womack, Pryor, Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle, held a joint news conference at the TAC Air terminal at the airport following the general's departure.

Despite not changing Welsh's mind, the visit was still important, Boozman said, because it showed him the capabilities and resources available at the 188th and in the surrounding community.

"It was important for them to see what they've got for future training and future missions," Boozman said.

Welsh said budget cuts also are working against the 188th.

To stay within budget, the Air Force will have to get smaller. That means looking at what to reduce first, multi-mission capable aircraft or single-mission capable aircraft like the A-10, Welsh said.

Welsh said the drone mission is a "great mission" and a "growing mission" that will be a big part of the future. He noted the Air Force is now training more drone pilots than fixed-wing pilots, and drones are being flown all over the world every day.

Expressing optimism about the drone mission, Pryor said transitioning to the drone wouldn't preclude the 188th from taking on a mission in addition to drones or a new mission in the future.

Lt. Gen. Bud Wyatt III, director of the Air National Guard, said a time line for transition will depend on when Congress approves appropriations, as well as other factors such as where retired aircraft will be moved, because the A-10 isn't the only aircraft being phased out of the Air Force inventory.

Womack said he expects action on Congress' part by the end of February, although that could be delayed a couple of months. Nonetheless, Womack said, the 188th transition should begin this year and continue into 2014.

Tracy Winchell, spokesperson for the 188th Fighter Wing/Fort Chaffee Community Council, said 188th members and the community are in a holding pattern.

"What now? That's where we're at," Winchell said. "At this early stage it looks like we'll work toward the drones with an eye toward the F-35."

The F-35 is a multipurpose fighter that is relatively new to the Air Force. Only 18 are dedicated to the Guard, and that number could shrink because of budget cuts, Womack said.

Both Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders and Welsh were highly complimentary of Arkansas' congressional delegation and its efforts, saying it was the congressmen who were responsible for Welsh visiting the 188th.

Sanders said delegation members had done "yeoman's work" for the 188th.

Welsh said the delegation engaged him as soon as he became chief of staff in August and remained engaged.

The delegation was also complimentary of the 188th and the surrounding community.

Womack said members of the delegation and the community poured their hearts and souls into preserving a manned flying mission, and the "men and women of the 188th have done all that was asked of them."

Welsh said he understands the "trauma and concern" of 188th members in light of a mission change, which is being felt across the Guard and active Air Force, where missions are also changing and units are being closed.

The general confirmed there will be a small reduction in force at the 188th when it transitions. The 188th employs about 1,000 personnel, including airmen.

Welsh said whether that reduction can be handled through attrition, as part-time members move onto other jobs or full-time members want to look for other opportunities and possibly remain at A-10 Guard units, remains unknown.

"The intent would be, in every way possible, to keep as many people who wear the 188th Fighter Wing patch assigned to the 188th Reconnaissance Wing," Welsh said.

Source

Please note: This news article seems to be the very best related news media coverage, also shared by 188th Fighter Wing on their official Facebook page.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

LAU-131 rocked pod with "extended tubes"?

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

At Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, Warthog News contributor Ned Harris from the United States had the rare opportunity to take this very interesting close-up shot of A-10C 78-0633 from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (ANG), on January 18, 2013:


Close-up view of A-10C 78-0633. AN/AAQ-28 LITENING AT targeting pod on station 10. But WHAT'S THAT on station 9??? It seems to be a LAU-131 rocket pod, but WHAT ARE THESE "EXTENDED" TUBES??? (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size

Note: Can/will any expert (pilot, crew chief, weapons loader) explain this??? I would be very grateful for any support.

190th Fighter Squadron A-10Cs caught at D-M January 18, 2013

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

At Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, Warthog News contributor Ned Harris from the United States had the opportunity to take some more shots of A-10Cs from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (Idaho ANG), Boise, Idaho.

Via e-mail Ned told me: I had a frustrating afternoon at DM. Six of the Idaho A-10s flew but 4 of them landed at the opposite end of the runway.

And so, Net was only able to catch two of them - but also with a big surprise...


A-10Cs 80-0250 and 78-0633 in landing pattern. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size


A-10C 80-0250, still without new tail flash and wing emblem. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size


A-10C 78-0633, still without new tail flash and wing emblem. Note: You might be surprised by this "GIZMO" on station 9. Me too. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size


Close-up view of A-10C 78-0633. AN/AAQ-28 LITENING AT targeting pod on station 10. But WHAT'S THAT on station 9??? It seems to be a LAU-131 rocket launcher as showed on A-10C 80-0250 in the pictures above, but WHAT ARE THESE "EXTENDED" TUBES??? (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size


A-10C 78-0633. Note: In comparison with the other related picture above, in this shot the black painted ID tailcode is nearly invisible. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size

See also:
190th Fighter Squadron A-10Cs caught at D-M January 15, 2013

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Air Force Chief provides insight on 188th future during visit to wing

by Maj. Heath Allen
188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander, left; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III; Lt. Col. Mike Flatten, 22nd Special Tactics Squadron; and Brig. Gen. Dwight Balch, Arkansas Air National Guard commander, observe close-air support training at the 188th's Detachment 1 Razorback Range located at Fort Chaffee, Ark., Jan. 18, 2013. Welsh tour the unit's facilities and learned about the wing's mission. (National Guard photo by Senior Airman Hannah Landeros / 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs)

1/18/2013 - FORT SMITH, Ark. -- The 188th Fighter Wing moved one step closer to its future Friday during a visit by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III.

Welsh along with Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt, director of the Air National Guard, toured the 188th's facilities Friday and met with wing and state military leadership as well as members of the Arkansas and Oklahoma Congressional delegation. Welsh also met with community leaders and city officials during a social gathering held in Fort Smith Thursday night.

"I expected to see an outstanding fighter wing that does a great service to our nation and, I believe, the state of Arkansas, and that's exactly what I've seen," Welsh said during a press conference following his tour. "They have a great installation here. There's a great range complex that they train on. They are immersed in the mission of our Air Force, and I got to see that this morning."

For nearly a year, the 188th has endured uncertainty concerning its A-10 Thunderbolt II mission, which is slated to be replaced with a remotely piloted aircraft mission. And for nearly a year, the Arkansas congressional delegation has fought to keep the 188th's manned aircraft flying mission in Fort Smith. But nothing on Friday altered the course of the 188th, which is heading toward a mission conversion.

"We had a great visit and some very candid conversations about the future of A-10s and the future of the 188th," said Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander. "We understand the Air Force is facing tough decisions. But even in our disappointment that we will likely no longer have A-10s we also understand how important it is to have a mission. And the bottom line is that we will have a mission at the 188th and it's an emerging mission that keeps us in the fight and engaged in helping defend our nation."

U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla.; U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark.; U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark.; U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers; and U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle, were all present during a meeting with Welsh, Wyatt and 188th and Arkansas National Guard state leadership.

"I will be working with the members of this delegation, the leaders of the City of Fort Smith and the Arkansas National Guard in doing what we can to salvage out of this decision, the very best possible circumstance for Airmen located out of Fort Smith," Womack said. "A remotely piloted aircraft mission, surrounded by any other ancillary-type missions to go with it, to build the very best circumstances in going forward."

Under the plan, the 188th will likely add a targeting squadron, intel group and will plus up in other areas.

"The intent would be - in every way possible - to keep as many people as possible who currently wear the 188th Fighter Wing badge assigned to the 188th Reconnaissance Wing, if that's what it ends up being," Welsh said.

Manpower studies suggest the 188th's loss of military positions will be small but no information is available on the full-time manning.

"The intent is not for the unit to go away," Welsh said. "And one of the things that I think everybody involved in the whole discussion will tell you is that the strength of the 188th Fighter Wing is not the hardware on the ramp, it's the people who make it work -- the people who fix it and fly it, and deal with the imperfections of the mission and somehow accomplish it anyway. They've always been the excellence of this organization.

"Someone who worked on a specific system on the old plane thinks they don't have any job in the new one, but they do. They transition to a new mission and keep doing great stuff."

While Welsh came away impressed with the 188th's facilities, he said the Air National Guard's capstone principle of one flying wing per state would likely be the decisive, but not only, factor that prompts the 188th's transition to remotely piloted aircraft.

"The director of the Air Guard and the state adjutants general are going to have to have a discussion about how they think the best posture of the force nationwide is, and I respect their views on it," Welsh said.

Of the five A-10 wings in the Air National Guard, the 188th is the only unit slated to change missions. The A-10 wings based in Idaho, Michigan, Indiana and Maryland were spared because they were the state's lone Air National Guard flying mission.

"Well, right now in the National Defense Authorization Act, the intent is for the 188th to transition," Welsh said. "Now we will look at the long-range look for the entire Guard in this next nine-month forecast."

Welsh said once the NDAA is finalized, the Air Force will have a more accurate gauge of exactly when the 188th's conversion to RPAs will begin.

"Once we have the final congressional decisions and once we have the paperwork complete, then we will move forward with an appropriations bill that allows us to do that," Welsh said. "Then we'll move forward with the timeline."

That RPA path that the 188th appears to be headed toward didn't stop the unit from conveying to Welsh the value of its vast airspace and training range, which ranks No. 1 among all Air National Guard fighter units and No. 1 among all A-10 Thunderbolt II wings Air Force-wide in terms of proximity to base and cost efficiency.

Welsh also took an aerial tour of Fort Chaffee on an Arkansas National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk from the 77th Theatre Aviation Brigade based at Camp Joseph T. Robinson. Welsh was transported to the 188th's Detachment 1 Razorback Range where he observed close-air support training with the 188th's A-10s and attack controllers with the Air Force's 22nd Special Tactics Squadron.

The 188th also communicated to Welsh the importance of the unique special forces training conducted regularly at Razorback Range just minutes away at nearby Fort Chaffee. The 188th trains hundreds of attack controllers for the U.S. Army Rangers, Navy SEALS and Air Force special operations each year. A representative from each was present at Friday's meeting.

The 188th also pitched its ability to potentially take on new fighter missions in the future such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Maj. Jay Spohn, former 188th pilot, talked about the importance of the 188th's ranges and airspace, how his training with Special Forces at the 188th was unique and how the unit is a good fit for 5th generation multi-role fighters. Spohn was the first Air National Guard pilot selected to fly the F-35.

"The training that I got at the 188th is something you can't duplicate anywhere else," Spohn said. "It's ranges, airspace and the ability to train with JTACs [Joint Terminal Attack Controllers] regularly is invaluable training to the warfighters on the ground and to the pilots providing close-air support. You simply can't beat it."

Despite the 188th's catalog of unique assets, its transition to RPAs appears to be on autopilot. Welsh said regardless of the Air National Guard unit selected for conversion, it will be a tough call.

"All of us are going to have opinions as we move forward on this," Welsh said. "I think everybody's trying to do the right thing. It's not a matter of evil people, it's a matter of tough problems."

Source (including 4 photos)

Please note: This event will be commented by Warthog News either later this evening or tomorrow. It seems like the "Flying Razorbacks" will finally lose the 184th Fighter Squadron and their A-10Cs. Bad news for all of the pilots, crew chiefs, other maintainers, weapons loaders, but also for the community of "Warthog" enthusiasts worldwide.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Snow won't stop A-10's

Released by 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs


1/18/2013 - Members of the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron clear snow around an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 13, 2013. Maintenance Airmen removed snow from the aircraft and flightline to minimize the possibility of damage prior to taxi and takeoff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Willis) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 79-0196 from the 354th Fighter Squadron.


1/18/2013 - Members of the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron clear snow around an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 13, 2013. Maintenance Airmen removed snow from the aircraft and flightline to minimize the possibility of damage prior to taxi and takeoff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Willis) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 79-0196 from the 354th Fighter Squadron.


1/18/2013 - Staff Sgt. Miranda Downs, 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, wipes snow off of an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 13, 2013. Downs is part of a team from 455th EAMXS that removed snow from the aircraft in preparation for its close air support mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Willis) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 80-0203 from the 354th Fighter Squadron.


1/18/2013 - An A-10 Thunderbolt II taxis from its parking spot in preparation for takeoff at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 17, 2013. The A-10 is part of a squadron deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., to fly missions in support of American and coalition forces in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Willis) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is an unidentified A-10C from the 354th Fighter Squadron. Visible in the revetments at right are A-10Cs 78-0670 and 79-0196 (from front), also from the 354th FS.


1/18/2013 - Two U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II prepare to depart Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 17, 2013. The A-10 is a specialized ground-attack aircraft which provides close air support to ground forces operating in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Willis) Hi-res

Note: Pictured in the foreground is A-10C 79-0178 from the 354th Fighter Squadron.


1/18/2013 - A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., takes off at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 17, 2013. The A-10 is a specialized ground-attack aircraft which provides close air support to ground forces operating in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Willis) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 80-0187 from the 354th Fighter Squadron.


1/18/2013 - An A-10 Thunderbolt II taxis from its parking spot in preparation for takeoff at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 17, 2013. The A-10 is part of a squadron deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., to fly missions in support of American and coalition forces in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Willis) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 80-0169 from the 354th Fighter Squadron.


1/18/2013 - Members of the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron clear snow around an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 13, 2013. Maintenance Airmen removed snow from the aircraft and flightline to minimize the possibility of damage prior to taxi and takeoff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Willis) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 78-0670 from the 354th Fighter Squadron.

1/18/2013 - Staff Sgt. Miranda Downs, 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, wipes snow off of an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 13, 2013. Downs is part of a team from 455th EAMXS that removed snow from the aircraft in preparation for its close air support mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Willis) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 80-0203 from the 354th Fighter Squadron.

Source (including 9 photos)

Note: The 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Wing (ACC), Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, is currently combat-deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The 354th EFS consists of 18 A-10Cs.

More detailed photo interpretation (including loadout info) will be posted later.

Avionics Testing

Released by 127th Wing Public Affairs in the photo section of the wing's public website


Avionics specialists from the 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft for a radar threat detection test on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013 at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. The test ensures that the aircraft threat warning system operates properly to ensure pilot safety during flight. (Air National Guard photo by TSgt. Robert Hanet) Hi-res

Please note: More related pictures and photo interpretation will be posted later today.

Debrief Keeps 442nd Jets Flying High

by Senior Airman Wesley Wright
442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

1/14/2013 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- While they may spend long hours in the blue skies above Whiteman Air Force Base, even highly trained A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots have to come down sometime.

When the pilots land and begin their paperwork, they tell members of the 442nd Maintenance Squadron debriefing team how the aircraft performed.

Tech. Sgt. Donald R. Demarco, 442nd Maintenance Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of debrief, is one of the first points of contact for A-10 pilots when they return from flying.

"If there are any write-ups or discrepancies, we enter them into the computer," he said. "If their sortie was 'code 1,' no discrepancies, we just ensure the takeoff and land times are accurate and any information pertaining to the sortie is upchanneled to whomever needs to be notified."

Debriefers also serve a vital function in the wing, Demarco said, because of their role as communicators.

"We are kind of the liaison between operations, flying and maintenance," Demarco said. "We are the go-between guys."

Debrief partners with the expediter, Demarco said, who coordinates with him on code 3 write-ups, which grounds jets. Debrief also coordinates with the maintenance operation center, which functions as a nerve center for all A-10 activities and maintenance.

"Once we've grounded a jet, I'll call MOC and let them know," he said. "Then MOC will complete the cycle by notifying the expediter and finding out the estimated time of completion to get it fixed."

With scheduled maintenance on different parts in the A-10, Demarco must pay close attention to detail on the numbers and codes he enters.

Demarco said a simple typo can have a cascading effect on scheduled maintenance and aircraft availability -- potentiality impacting the mission.

While Demarco handles the day-to-day operations at debrief, Tech. Sgt. William Kemper, a traditional reservist with the 442nd Maintenance Squadron debrief office, is there on unit training assembly weekends to lend his expertise.

Kemper, who is a scheduler for B-52 Stratofortress maintenance at Tinker Air Force Base in his civilian job, has worked maintenance debrief for more than a decade.

"It's all about attention to detail," Kemper said. "If the numbers are off, it could jeopardize the pilot and the mission."

Lt. Col. Anthony Roe, 303rd Fighter Squadron chief of standards and evaluation and A-10 pilot, agreed that accuracy and attention to detail keep the mission running smoothly.

"It's a trickle-down effect," Roe said. "If a pilot doesn't get his sorties input correctly, that trickles down to him not being qualified for jobs, and that can affect deployment qualifications and continuity issues."

In addition to reporting issues to maintenance after landing, Roe said A-10 pilots call in issues via radio to operations 10 minutes before landing. This allows maintainers to meet the pilots at debrief to troubleshoot A-10 write-ups.

Troubleshooting issues immediately helps the mission here run safely and effieciently, Roe said.

"Safety, in this case, is a byproduct of good maintenance," Roe said. "The jets fly safely because they are in good shape, and because of that, the schedule is flown as planned."

Roe said he is continually impressed by the maintenance and operations at the 442nd FW.

"I've been at numerous installations," he said. "This is by far, on a consistent basis, the best jets on a day-to-day basis that I've seen in my 20-year career. Overall, it's the best operations and maintenance relationship as well."

As the A-10 pilots head back to their aircraft and take off into the wild blue, they can fly secure in the knowledge the maintenance debrief team is reporting issues and ensuring they can fly, fight and win.

Source (No pictures yet)

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

190th Fighter Squadron A-10Cs caught at D-M January 15, 2013

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

At Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, Warthog News contributor Ned Harris from the United States had the opportunity to catch five A-10Cs from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (Idaho ANG), Boise, Idaho.

Via e-mail Ned told me: They started flying yesterday and appear to be here as part of Operation Snowbird but there has been no press release. I hope to post the images tonight on flickr. Best guess is that there are 8 of them here now.


A-10C 78-0703 from the 190th Fighter Squadron. AN/AAQ-28 LITENING AT targeting pod on station 10. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size


A-10C 80-0276 from the 190th Fighter Squadron with red tail flash. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size


A-10C 80-0276 from the 190th Fighter Squadron with red tail flash. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size

Note: Generally, Ned use to publish arrival shots taken from a front angle. And so I especially like this very nice aft view.


A-10C 80-0250, still without new tail flash and wing emblem. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size


A-10C 81-0955, still without new tail flash and wing emblem. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size


A-10C 78-0624, still without new tail flash and wing emblem. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size

47th Fighter Squadron A-10C caught at D-M January 15, 2013

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

At Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, Warthog News contributor Ned Harris from the United States had the opportunity to catch an A-10C from the 47th Fighter Squadron, 917th Fighter Group (AFRC), Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.


A-10C 79-0142 from the 47th Fighter Squadron. AN/AAQ-28 LITENING AT targeting pod on station 9, AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod on station 1. The pylon for the Pave Penny pod below the cockpit on the right side of the fuselage has been removed. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size

355th Fighter Wing A-10Cs caught at D-M January 15, 2013

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

At Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, Warthog News contributor Ned Harris from the United States had the opportunity to catch four A-10Cs from the D-M based 355th Fighter Wing (ACC).


A-10C 81-0946 from the 358th Fighter Squadron. AN/AAQ-28 LITENING AT targeting pod on station 10, CATM-65 Maverick training versions on stations 3 and 9. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size


A-10C 80-0205 from the 358th Fighter Squadron. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size


A-10C 80-0274 from the 358th Fighter Squadron. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size


A-10C 82-0659, marked 358TH FS CC as the 358th Fighter Squadron commander's bird. (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size