Official USAF group shots of 81st Fighter Squadron and 81st Aircraft Maintenance Unit Airmen who participated in exercise REAL THAW 2013

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

As already reported on my associated Warthog News Facebook page, Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS) released some excellent group shots of 81st FS and 81st AMU airmen taken during exercise REAL THAW 2013 at Monte Real Air Base, Portugal, which has been not published so far on 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs sources.


U.S. Airmen with the 81st Fighter Squadron and the 81st Aircraft Maintenance Unit pose for a photo during exercise Real Thaw 13 in Monte Real, Portugal, Feb. 15, 2013. It was the last exercise in which the units participated before being inactivated in 2013. Real Thaw is an annual exercise hosted by Portugal to develop interoperability for contingency operations between Portugal, European partner nations and the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon) Full size


U.S. Airmen with the 81st Fighter Squadron pose for a photo during Exercise Real Thaw 13 in Monte Real, Portugal, Feb. 15, 2013. It was the last exercise in which the unit participated before its inactivation in 2013. Real Thaw is an annual exercise hosted by Portugal to develop interoperability for contingency operations between Portugal, European partner nations and the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon). Full size

Note: It seems like pictured here are all of the A-10C pilots who participated in this recent exercise.


U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Clint Eichelberger, front, the 81st Fighter Squadron (FS) commander, speaks to Airmen with the 81st FS and the 81st Aircraft Maintenance Unit during exercise Real Thaw 13 in Monte Real, Portugal, Feb. 15, 2013. Real Thaw is an annual exercise hosted by Portugal to develop interoperability for contingency operations between Portugal, European partner nations and the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon) Full size

Please note: In all three pictures the airmen pose in front of A-10C 81-0981, marked 81 FS as the 81st Fighter Squadron commander's aircraft. After the exercise, this "Hog" (together with two others) left Monte Real for Lajes Field, Azores, enroute Continental United States (CONUS) due to the squadron's upcoming deactivation. If you are interested in the original hi-res versions in print quality you have to register for DVIDS and then just search this site for REAL THAW 2013.