Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Three 81st Fighter Squadron A-10Cs caught at Lajes on their final way back to CONUS

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

As already reported, after exercise REAL THAW 2013 at Monte Real Air Base, Portugal, three of the six participated A-10Cs from the 81st Fighter Squadron "Panthers", 52nd Fighter Wing (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany, left Monte Real for stopover at Lajes Field, Azores, en route to Continental United States (CONUS) due to the squadron's upcoming deactivation. At Lajes, Warthog News contributor João Toste from Portugal had the opportunity to take some related shots. So far, João posted two of them on airliners.net. His first picture, added March 11, 2013, already posted and highlighted on my associated Warthog News Facebook page, shows A-10C 82-0650:


A-10C 82-0650 from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany, during stopover at Lajes Field, Azores, March 2, 2013, en route to Continental United States (CONUS) after participating in exercise REAL THAW 2013 at Monte Real Air Base, Portugal. (Photo by João Toste)

Just after a personal request, João posted the following additional shot on airliners.net (added March 12, 2013):


The other two A-10Cs from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany, during stopover at Lajes Field, Azores, March 3, 2013, en route to Continental United States (CONUS) after participating in exercise REAL THAW 2013 at Monte Real Air Base, Portugal. A-10C 81-0981, marked 81 FS as the 81st Fighter Squadron commander's aircraft vacating the runway 33 via Charlie. Pictured in the background at left is A-10C 81-0962. (Photo by João Toste)

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