More A-10s at Osan!

Posted 5 hours ago on D-M's Facebook website (Source):

Recently the 354 FS, known as the Bulldogs, deployed to Osan Air Base in Korea. Check out the link attached to hear what Lt. Col. Johnson, 354FS commander, had to say about this deployment.

PACAF Pixels
March 10, 2011
By 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs at Osan Air Base at 11:20 PM



Full size

(Lt. Col. Clarence Johnson is from Greenville, Miss. He is the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander, Osan Air base, Republic of Korea.)

Lt. Col. Johnson provided these comments March 9 shortly after his arrival to Osan. Twelve A-10C aircraft from the 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, have arrived at Osan as part of a scheduled deployment. The unit, called the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here, will replace the 100th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Kunsan that is returning to the 187th Fighter Wing, Alabama.


What goals do you have for your squadron while at Osan?
We hope to achieve the same thing that everyone here as part of the Korea team hopes to achieve, which is to provide for the defense of the Republic of Korea. We do that by flying close air support missions, combat search and rescue missions, and airborne forward air control missions. So that is our number one objective, to have the aircraft available and ready to do the mission. We also have a goal of being a part of the 51st Fighter Wing team. We’ll do that through participating in exercises, community-type events, and any other opportunity that comes along.

Is this your first time in Korea?
I was here in 2001-2002, almost a decade ago. I had a great time here then…the people are very friendly and the food is great. I got out and about then, and I intend to do the same this time around.

How was the flight over?
The flight over was long! We flew about 11 and ½ hours from Tucson to Hickam, about seven hours from Hickam to Wake Island, and about ten hours to get here. So it was a lengthy trip.

Is your unit motivated to be here taking on this mission?
Absolutely! We rolled after initially planning to go to Kandahar. After the initial shock of that whole transition, everyone is excited to be here and participate in and contribute to the 51st Fighter Wing.

Source