Three A-10Cs from CONUS arrived at Spangdahlem AB to join the 81st Fighter Squadron

By Joachim Jacob

Updated October 26, 2009

This afternoon, three A-10Cs from Continental United States (CONUS) arrived at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, to join the 81st Fighter Squadron of the 52nd Fighter Wing. All three aircraft (80-0275, 81-0981, and 82-0647) were formerly assigned to the 103rd Fighter Squadron, 111th Fighter Wing (Pennsylvania ANG).

They arrived for stopover at Lajes Field, Azores, afternoon October 9, 2009, and were scheduled departing today at 1000z. Their callsigns were RETRO 57-59.



A-10 80-0275. (Photo by Paulo Santos) Hi-res



A-10 82-0647. (Photo by Paulo Santos) Hi-res

Picture of 80-0275 taken by Shark_tt (aka Paulo) at Lajes and published on the Dutch Scramble Messageboard. Only SP tail code, but no other 81st FS/52nd FW unit markings.

In the same outfit, 82-0647 was caught by Warthog News contributor Ned Harris at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, September 24, 2009. See: Former PA Hog with new SP tail code caught at D-M

Both aircraft are already equipped with the AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning System.

The three new arrivals must be replacements for A-10s 80-0281 and 81-0951 which departed Spangdahlem AB for CONUS August 10, 2009. See: Two 81st Fighter Squadron A-10s caught at Lajes Field enroute to CONUS

This post will be further updated.