Special thanks to Michael Yon from United States (pictured at left) for his kind permission to re-post his following exclusive frontline pictures on my blog! Michael is an author, columnist, photographer and war correspondent, currently in Afghanistan. In the morning hours of December 22, 2009, at Kandahar Airfield, he had the opportunity to take exclusive flightline shots of A-10Cs from the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, combat-deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from the 355th Fighter Wing (ACC), Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. Credits also to the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing's Public Affairs staff for making Michael's base visit possible. Micheal already posted these pictures on Twitpic. As Warthog News Editor, I only edited Mike's photo captions.
Two A-10Cs from the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron coming back to Kandahar Airfield from a combat mission. (© 2009 Michael Yon) Hi-res
An A-10C takes off, probably covering British troops in the Helmand Province. (© 2009 Michael Yon) Hi-res
Lt. Col. Michael D. Millen, commander of the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, beside an A-10C. (© 2009 Michael Yon) Hi-res
A Warthog pilot in the cockpit of A-10C 79-0202 just before launching on mission. Visible in the background is a hovering Chinook helicopter. (© 2009 Michael Yon) Hi-res
A Warthog pilot in the cockpit of A-10C 82-0663 salutes just before launching on mission. (© 2009 Michael Yon) Hi-res
A-10C 82-0663 just before launching on mission. Bumps on the nose result from aerial refuelings during each mission. Visible combat loadout: station 3: empty LAU-117 single-rail launcher for an AGM-65 Maverick missile, station 4: GBU-38 (JDAM), station 5: GBU-12 laser-guided bomb, station 6 (center station): empty, station 7: probably Mk. 82 "dumb" bomb, station 8: GBU-38 (JDAM), station 9: LAU-131 Rocket Pod. (© 2009 Michael Yon) Hi-res
Note: During their current OEF combat deployment, the A-10Cs from the 354th EFS are carrying Sniper XR Targeting Pod generally on station 2. And they are wearing no mission markings on the left side below the canopy.
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