Arkansas Hawgs reflect on deployment

by Senior Airman Nancy Hooks
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

5/13/2010 - Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan -- When members of the 175th Fighter Wing, Baltimore, Md., and the 188th Fighter Wing, Fort Smith, Ark., Air National Guard units brought the A-10 Thunderbolt II to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, January 13, 2010, they brought top quality, professional close-air support for ground troops. They used their presence and firepower to bring down the enemy, when needed. These guard units are comprised of support personnel, maintainers, aircrew flight equipment personnel, intelligence personnel, and medical personnel.

Please note: Not all of the ten pictures associated to this photo essay are realy new. At first, let me post at least some of the latest shots (further uploads will be follow):



Members from the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare the A-10 Thunderbolt II for take-off Feb. 10. The A-10 has superior maneuverability at low speeds and altitude, due to large wing area, high wing aspect ratio, and large ailerons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nancy Hooks) Hi-res

Note: The aircraft is A-10C 78-0682 from the 104th Fighter Squadron. Visible combat loadout: SUU-25 Flare Dispenser on station 2, LAU-131 Rocket Pod on station 3, GBU-12 on station 4, Mk 82 on station 7, GBU-38 JDAM on station 8.



Members from the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron reload the A-10 Thunderbolt II 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling gun here Feb. 11, 2010. This is the A-10s primary built-in weapon which can hold up to 1,350 rounds of 30 mm ammunition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nancy Hooks) Hi-res

Note: The aircraft is A-10C 79-0082 from the 104th Fighter Squadron



An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot prepares to take-off on the active runway here March 22. The A-10 is more commonly known by its nickname "Warthog" or simply "Hog". The A-10 was designed for close air support (CAS) for ground forces by attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets with a limited air interdiction capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nancy Hooks) Hi-res

Note: The aircraft is 80-0166 from the 184th Fighter Squadron.

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By first viewing all of these shots, I thought the following picture was already involved. But in fact, this shot (extracted from PDF) is unique:

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An A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthog" prepares to take off at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, March 22, 2010. The 188th Fighter Wing, based in Fort Smith, Arkansas, deployed more than 250 Airmen to Kandahar to share a four-month Aerospace Expeditionary rotation with the 175th Fighter Wing, an A-10 Air National Guard
unit based in Baltimore, Maryland. Approximately 50 members of the 188th deployed to Kandahar January 4, 2010. More than 200 Airmen from the 188th departed Fort Smith March 8, 2010, to join unit members already in Kandahar. The 188th is slated to return home from its AEF rotation in May 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman
Nancy Hooks / 451st Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs) Full size

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Note: The aircraft is A-10C 80-0166 from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing (Arkansas Air National Guard), Fort Smith Regional Airport. Visible combat loadout: SUU-25 flare dispenser on station 2, LAU-131 rocket pod on station 3, GBU-12 Paveway II on station 5.

I extracted the following stand-allone picture from "The Flying Razorback" (official 188th Fighter Wing newspaper), May 2010 public online PDF issue, just found by trying Google yesterday:



An A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthog" prepares to take off at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, March 22, 2010. The 188th Fighter Wing, based in Fort Smith, Arkansas, deployed more than 250 Airmen to Kandahar to share a four-month Aerospace Expeditionary rotation with the 175th Fighter Wing, an A-10 Air National Guard
unit based in Baltimore, Maryland. Approximately 50 members of the 188th deployed to Kandahar January 4, 2010. More than 200 Airmen from the 188th departed Fort Smith March 8, 2010, to join unit members already in Kandahar. The 188th is slated to return home from its AEF rotation in May 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman
Nancy Hooks / 451st Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs) Full size

Source

Note: The aircraft is A-10C 80-0166 from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing (Arkansas Air National Guard), Fort Smith Regional Airport. Visible combat loadout: SUU-25 flare dispenser on station 2, LAU-131 rocket pod on station 3, GBU-12 Paveway II on station 5.



Airmen from the 104th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Air National Guard, Baltimore, Md., and 188th Wing, Fort Smith, Ark., will work and maintain the A-10 Thunderbolt II for the next 120 days. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nancy Hooks) Hi-res



Tech. Sgt. Shawn Thorne and Tech. Sgt. Lew Smith, 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, onducts a phase inspection of an A-10 Thunderbolt II here February 24, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nancy Hooks) Hi-res