23rd Fighter Group A-10Cs caught at Lajes during stopover back to CONUS

According to Warthog News contributor André Inacio from Portugal, two A-10Cs arrived at Lajes Field, Azores, on June 29th about 4:30pm and departed on July 7th about 1:15pm inbound Continental United States (CONUS). These aircraft were A-10C 79-0189 (Callsign Mazda78), and A-10C 82-0660 (Callsign Mazda79). At Lajes, André had the opportunity to take the following departure shots on July 7th, 2011:



A-10C 79-0189 from the 75th Fighter Squadron. (Photo by André Inacio)



A-10C 82-0660 with 75th Fighter Squadron fin flash but marked 76 FS. (Photo by André Inacio)

Background info:

A-10C 79-0189 from the 74th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Georgia, arrived at Lajes Field, Azores, for stopover on March 9, 2011, as part of the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, enroute to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. At that time the aircraft worn the 74th Fighter Squadron's blue fin flash with the white lightning.

Surprisingly, on May 10, 2011, this "Hog" arrived at the SABCA Charleroi plant, located right on the runway of Brussels South Charleroi Airport in Belgium. As mentioned on the well-recommended Dutch Scramble Messageboard, the aircraft landed at 13:45 local time and was comming from Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, Crete.

A-10C 82-0660 (marked 76 FS) also arrived at Lajes Field, Azores, for stopover on March 9, 2011. But at that time the aircraft worn the 74th Fighter Squadron's blue fin flash with the white lightning. A-10C 82-0660 is marked 76 FS to honor AFRC's 76th Fighter Squadron, 476th Fighter Group, 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri (but locally assigned to Moody AFB).

See also:
Afghanistan-deployed 23rd Fighter Group A-10C now at SABCA Charleroi
74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron A-10Cs caught at Lajes en-route Afghanistan (Part Two)
74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron A-10Cs caught at Lajes en-route Afghanistan

Please note: Anyone who can/will explain the reasons for all of these changes and movements? I would be very grateful for any insider info.