'Hogs' receive gas before 'Falcons'

Released by 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs


3/8/2013 - An A-10 Warthog from the 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, flies off the wing-tip of a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, during a refueling mission Mar. 7, 2013, over Germany. Refueling sorties of this type keep pilots and boom operators proficient in refueling techniques used to support combat operations in other areas of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Christopher Mesnard) Hi-res

3/8/2013 - An A-10 Warthog from the 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base Germany, approaches the boom on a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, during a refueling mission March 7, 2013, over Germany. The 100th ARW provides refueling support for training missions, like this one, and combat missions in the European and African areas of operation. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Christopher Mesnard) Hi-res

Source (including 5 photos - but all three others are F-16 related)

Note: Pictured in both photos is A-10C 82-0656 which was among the three 81st Fighter Squadron "Hogs" which recently returned home to Spang from Monte Real Air Base, Portugal, after exercise REAL THAW 2013. The two others were A-10Cs 81-0966 and 82-0654.
In contrast, A-10Cs 81-0962, 81-0981 (marked 81 FS as the 81st Fighter Squadron commander's aircraft) and 82-0650 left Monte Real for stopover at Lajes Field, Azores, enroute Continental United States (CONUS) due to the squadron's upcoming deactivation.

Just for the A-10 history books: Maybe these nice official USAF shots will become some of the very last air-to-air pictures of 81st Fighter Squadron "Hogs" flying over Germany.