Warthogs in flight

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

Some days ago, 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs released an outstanding set of 23 stunning air-to-air shots, featuring three A-10Cs on Razorback Range located at Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center, Ark., June 4, 2012. Let me present at least some of these pictures, all taken by MSgt. Ben Bloker.

On their Facebook page, I asked 188th FW PA: What type of "chasing" aircraft did Ben use to take all of these awesome shots? 188th FW PA answered: It was an F-16D from the 138th Fighter Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard, based in Tulsa.

BTW: According to a reply to another visitor, these images were captured with a Nikon D3.

Please note: Pictured in the very first two shots are A-10Cs 216 (?) and 638. Pictured in all of the remaining 21 shots is A-10C 79-0129, piloted by Lt. Col. Brian Burger.

Lt. Col. Chris Beckman, lead aircraft, and Maj. Jeremiah Gentry, both A-10C Thunderbolt II pilots from the Arkansas Air National Guard's Fort Smith-based 188th Fighter Wing maneuver in formation June 4, 2012, over the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. The 188th hosted a Special Operations Exercise with Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) from the 75th Ranger Regiment, UH-60 Black Hawks from the Arkansas Army National Guard's 77th Theater Aviation Brigade and an AC-130U Spooky Gunship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ben Bloker) Hi-res

Lt. Col. Chris Beckman, lead aircraft, and Maj. Jeremiah Gentry, both A-10C Thunderbolt II pilots from the Arkansas Air National Guard's Fort Smith-based 188th Fighter Wing maneuver in formation June 4, 2012, over the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ben Bloker) Hi-res

Lt. Col. Brian Burger, an A-10C Thunderbolt II pilot and the 188th Fighter Wing Operations Group commander, fires 30mm rounds from at a target during a training exercise on Razorback Range located at Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center, Ark., June 4, 2012. The 188th, nearing its second deployment to Afghanistan with the A-10, regularly conducts training with Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) from different branches of service to sharpen its close air support skills and to conduct efficient training with JTACs. During this exercise, JTACs from the 75th Ranger Regiment provided forward control. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ben Bloker) Hi-res

Please note: Some more pictures will be uploaded soon.

Later this evening (June 30, 2012), eight of these shots were reposted on 188th FW's public web site under the news headline 188th Warthogs take to the range