It's official now: 127th Wing will replace Moody's 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Kandahar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom

According to 127th Wing Public Affairs, approximately 300 Airmen of the Michigan Air National Guard will report to active duty in September for deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The group of 127th Wing Airmen from Selfridge Air National Guard Base will include pilots, crew members, maintenance technicians and support personnel who are slated to serve four to six month tours of duty in Afghanistan. The Selfridge Airmen will be part of a unit flying the A-10 Thunderbolt II, an air-to-ground attack aircraft, perhaps better known as the "Warthog."

The 127th Wing's fleet of A-10s and the Airmen who operate them were only recently designated operationally capable in June. The unit had originally been scheduled for deployment in spring 2012, but that timetable was moved up over the summer.

This tasking marks the first deployment of the 107th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the "Red Devils," with the A-10 Thunderbolt II weapon system.

So far, it's absolutely clear that the 127th Wing will replace the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, may be as 107th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

In the past, Air National Guard combat deployments were declared as "Rainbow Teams", because different units shared their deployment time. Is there anyone A-10C professional who like to share some other upcoming A-10 deployment info with me?

So I think, the 127th Wing's deployment could be the first step of a longer deployment, including some other ANG A-10C units.

Anyone who can/will explain some more related details?

See:
Selfridge Airmen Prepare for Afghanistan Deployment

By the way: I already alarmed my Warthog News contributors from Portugal to take any related stopover pictures at Lajes Field, Azores. Both for incoming and outgoing A-10Cs, I would be very grateful for any new Lajes stopover shot.