Selfridge Air Wing Launches First A-10

The Airmen of the 107th Fighter Squadron stand with one of their newly-assigned aircraft, A-10C 81-0975, May 2, 2009. Selfridge ANGB, Michigan, is now the home base for a squadron of A-10s, after the Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Wing completed the transition to the A-10 from flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon for almost 20 years. The Wing also flies the KC-135 Stratotanker. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. David Kujawa) Hi-res

by TSgt Dan Heaton
127th Wing Public Affairs

5/3/2009 - Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. -- The Warthog has reported for duty.

The 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base launched its ceremonial first flight in the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft on May 2. The aircraft, more popularly known as the Warthog, was assigned to the base to replace the departing F-16 Fighting Falcon, a multi-purpose fighter that had been based at Selfridge for almost 20 years. The A-10 is used primarily for close air support and has drawn praise from Soldiers and Marines and other U.S. and allied ground forces during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The guys on the ground in the battle zone, this is the aircraft they want supporting them," said Lt. Col. Doug Champagne, commanding officer of the 107th Fighter Squadron at Selfridge. "We bring an incredible asset to the fight with the A-10."

"Some of the most exciting missions you can be involved with in the air take place in an A-10. It's all about supporting those troops on the ground, being a difference maker," he said.

As part of a short ceremony marking the transition from the F-16 to the A-10, 127th Wing members got their first look at an A-10 bearing the markings of the "Red Devils" of the 107th Fighter Squadron, which is a component of the 127th Wing. The A-10 is the latest in line of aircraft flown by the 107th in a history that stretches back before the dawn of the jet age - and even before the creation of the Air Force as a separate military service. Champagne said pilots and maintenance personnel have been working long hours at Selfridge and at other air bases around the country preparing for the transition.

"There's a lot to learn and I really have to tip my hat to the maintenance crews for getting these aircraft received and ready for us. Our personnel have been sent to schools and training sessions in Lousiana, Maryland, Arizona and other places to be ready for this day. It has meant a lot of sacrifice and hard work. I couldn't be more proud of the teamwork and positive attitude they've brought to the job," Champagne said.

Built specifically with the close air support mission in mind, the A-10 is slower than the F-16, which provides more loitering time around a battle zone, if needed. In addition, said Maj. Sean Campbell, the weaponry of the A-10 is different. Campbell was an F-16 pilot with the 107th and is now flying the A-10.

"With the A-10, the gun is the primary weapon. It brings incredible firepower to the fight," Campbell said.

The 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun is perhaps the A-10's most noticeable feature. Protruding from the nose of the aircraft, the gun can fire up to 70 rounds per minute.

"The precision of the gun is amazing," Campbell said.

While the A-10 is new to Selfridge and the surrounding Detroit region, it is far from a newcomer to the state. The Michigan Air National Guard's 110th Fighter Wing, which is based in Battle Creek, had been flying the A-10s since 1991. The A-10s were shifted to Selfridge as part of a 2005 Defense Department base and facilities re-alignment plan. Many of the same aircraft that were flown by the 110th - as well as many of the pilots and some ground crew personnel - are now assigned to Selfridge. The 110th flew the A-10s in deployments to Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We're relying heavily on the expertise and the experience that the pilots from Battle Creek have brought to this side of the state," said Champagne.

Among those who have joined the 127th from the 110th is Maj. Shawn Holtz. The pilot said the transition has been a challenge in terms of changing work locations and related issues, but that the former 110th pilots were quickly welcomed into the Selfridge family.

"In terms of personal working relationships and the professionalism around the aircraft, you couldn't ask for much more," Holtz said.

While the A-10 carries the "A" for attack designation, it is still considered a fighter by the Air Force. The 127th Wing and its predecessor units in the Michigan Air National Guard have been flying "F" designated aircraft - "F" for fighter -- since 1950 when local Guardsmen began flying the F-84 Republic Thunderjet. Since then, the wing has flown the F-86, RF-84, F-89, F-100, RF-101, F-106, F-4 and F-16 aircraft.



A-10C 81-0975 parked on the ramp at Selfridge ANGB, May 2, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. David Kujawa) Hi-res



In front of A-10C 81-0975, Lt. Col. Doug Champagne, 107th Fighter Squadron commander, discusses the firepower that the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft can bring to the close air support mission. The 107th FS launched its ceremonial first flight in the A-10 on May 2, 2009, completing the conversion from flying F-16 Fighting Falcons. The 30mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun is one of the A-10's most noticeable features. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. David Kujawa) Hi-res

Source

End of an era - The last A–10 leaves the 110th Fighter Wing

110th Fighter Wing members line up in the snow to watch the last A–10C jet, serial number 80-0258, take its final flight from the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base on Thursday, February 19, 2009. The jet will arrive to its new home, Selfridge Air National Guard Base joining the rest of the fleet which started leaving back in November. (Photo by Master Sgt. Dale Atkins - extracted from PDF file) Full size



By Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Stein

On the morning of Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, the 110th Fighter Wing's last A–10C took off for Selfridge Air National Guard Base to serve with the 127th Wing. The departure of the aircraft, tail number 258, marked the end of an era at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base and the beginning of a new one for Selfridge. This particular A–10 had a lot of history with the 110th Fighter Wing as it lost part of an engine to an enemy missile during the 110th's 2003 deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unlike the November fini–flights, and the upcoming farewell ceremony in July, the event was not attended by family and friends, local politicians or the media. It was just attended by those around the base who wanted to watch 18 years of history taxi out to the runway and make a final take off.

Col. Ronald Wilson, the 110th Operations Commander, was present with his new C–21 patch on the uniform, and while he is prepared for the new missions ahead it is hard to shake off around 3000 flying hours in the A–10 including close to four years of
active duty, and three major confl icts abroad with Kosovo, Iraq and most recently Afghanistan.

"Guys who fly the A–10 have a unique mission," said Colonel Wilson, "we provide close air support and no other aircraft can do as great a job." His fini-flight took place last November and he said that climbing out of the cockpit for the very last time was tough. "That flight was a quiet one with many of the pilots reflecting on their experience with the A–10" said Colonel Wilson.

The building that holds the 110th Operations Group is filled with A–10 memorabilia that includes models, pictures, the warthog mascot and more. As the C–21 gains more time on this base the A–10 related items will likely live on in a hallway somewhere in the building. There was talk of giving some of it to Selfridge, but it was determined they have their own memories to make.

The dining facility happens to hold a piece of 258. When the 110th Fighter Wing took the A–10 over to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, Maj. Gary Wolfe was piloting the aircraft when an enemy surface–to–air missile struck the engine. He managed to get the aircraft back to Talil Air Base and a small part of that moment is on display and will remain there now with the actual aircraft across the state.

When Battle Creek first received the A–10 Warthog in 1990, times were different. "The aircraft was camouflaged, nothing was digital, pilots were still looking at paper maps, and eventually things got upgraded from the A–10A to the A–10C," said Colonel Wilson.

"Battle Creek was the only unit to go to one theater of operation and move to another. We did this most recently when we were in Iraq for 10 days and found out we had a new mission in Afghanistan. We have done these three times and are the only unit to ever have done so," said Colonel Wilson.

As the last A–10 took off one might think it quietly closed the final chapter of a story and mission like no other, but the farewell ceremony coming up in July will give the A–10 the necessary dedication it deserves.



A–10C Pilot Major Shawn Holtz takes his final 'step' to the the last A–10C jet, serial number 80-0258, at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base. Major Holtz flew the aircraft to its new home, Selfridge Air National Guard Base on February 19th, 2009. (Photo by Master Sgt. Dale Atkins - extracted from PDF file)

Note: This news article appeared in 110th Fighter Wing's base newspaper Jetstream Journal, April 2009 public online PDF issue. Source



From my archives: Damaged A-10 80-0258 at Tallil AB, Iraq, in early 2003. (U.S. Air Force photo) Hi-res

Note: If I remember right, at least a second USAF shot of damaged A-10 80-0258 was released by USAF. Give me time to search my harddrive and the web to recover this close-up picture.

Pa. delegates seek aircraft transfer delay

Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania (Satellite photo via Google Earth)

By Lou Sessinger
Bucks County Courier Times

March 11, 2009 01:10 AM

Members of Congress want the Air Force to reconsider the future of the 111th Fighter Wing.

Pennsylvania's members of Congress have asked the Pentagon to delay the planned transfer of the Air National Guard's aircraft from the Willow Grove Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Horsham.

In a letter Monday to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the state's congressional delegation, including Sens. Arlen Specter and Bob Casey, urged him to delay the distribution of the wing's 17 A-10s beginning as early as April and continuing into next year.

The lawmakers are asking for the delay to give the Air Force time to reconsider the future of the unit.

The Base Realignment and Closure Commission voted in 2005 to close the air station, but Pennsylvania plans to convert Willow Grove into a joint base for homeland security and emergency preparedness.

The letter tells Gates, "We strongly believe that taking the A-10s from the 111th Fighter Wing is premature and ill-advised."

The BRAC Commission didn't require any particular timetable for the redistribution, the letter points out. The commission also directed that the Air Force should "maintain the end strength" of the 111th, "but the loss of the unit's flying mission will result in loss of up to 80 full-time jobs and 140 military positions. Finally, the pending action completely overlooks the BRAC Commission's finding that strongly encouraged the Air Force to keep A-10s at the 111th Fighter Wing."

Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, who spearheaded the initiative to request the delay, said on Tuesday that she was hopeful the request to Gates would produce the desired results.

"I don't know how Secretary Gates will receive it, but I hope he will take it seriously that the state's entire delegation signed it."

She hopes the Air Force will take the time to reassess its position on stripping the 111th of its aircraft and understand that keeping the wing with its planes at Willow Grove would be important to the base's future role as a center for homeland security and emergency preparedness.

The letter calls the removal of the A-10 a "serious mistake" and that the decision to do so was based on an assumption that the air base wouldn't be in operation after the Navy leaves in 2011.

But legislation adopted since then provided that it become a joint interagency installation under state jurisdiction that will include an operational airfield.

"It makes no sense to strip this unit of its aircraft and reduce its capabilities at a time when our nation and commonwealth need them most. We are asking that you issue an order delaying the start of the movement of A-10s from the 111th Fighter Wing. This action will give the Air Force the opportunity to reassess the capabilities of the Horsham Joint Interagency Installation and to consider alternative future flying missions for this unit."

Mike McGee, Horsham manager and administrator of the Horsham Land Reuse Authority, said that his organization still has a concern that, if the airfield remains open, that it be used for its stated purpose of providing for homeland security and emergency preparedness, "and certainly the Air National Guard fits that definition."

"But there are two sides of me," McGee said. "We did fight to save the base, but if the federal government is going to keep a runway open for 17 aircraft, I'll be interested to see how the Department of Defense spends my tax money."

Source

Copy links:
Courier Times (March 11, 2009 01:10 AM)
The Intelligencer (March 11, 2009 01:40 AM)


Already on March 10th, 2009, the "Examiner" published the following Associated Press (AP) news:

Lawmakers urge delay of Pa. base's A-10 aircraft

Mar 10, 2009 4:35 PM

WASHINGTON - Pennsylvania members of Congress are asking the Pentagon to delay the planned transfer of National Guard aircraft from the Willow Grove military base in suburban Philadelphia.

All of the state's House members joined senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey in signing a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday. They urged him to delay the distribution of a total of 17 A-10 aircraft from the 111th Fighter Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.

The lawmakers are asking for the delay to give the Air Force time to reconsider the future of the unit.

The Base Realignment and Closure Commission voted in 2005 to close the air station, but the state wants to convert Willow Grove into a joint base for homeland security and emergency preparedness.

Source


KYW Newsradio 1060 reported:

Push Continues to Save Willow Grove Naval Air Station

by KYW's Pat Loeb
Posted: Tuesday, 10 March 2009 10:13PM



Pennsylvania's entire congressional delegation is asking the Pentagon to keep National Guard planes at Willow Grove Naval Air Station. It's part of a strategy to keep the base operating:

All of the state's house members and both senators signed a letter to Defense secretary Robert Gates, asking him not to transfer the A-10 aircraft out of Willow Grove.

The lawmakers want to delay the distribution of the 17 planes at the base, in hopes that the Pentagon will reconsider closing the base.

Congressman Patrick Murphy says the base is actually a model for military efficiency:

"At a time when our military needs to act in a joint capacity, that means marines, army, navy, air force, all working together, the naval air base there is exactly a testament of what we need and it will actually save money in the long run."

Murphy supports making Willow Grove a joint base for homeland security and military preparedness.

Source

107th Fighter Squadron 'Red Devils' now one step closer to converting from F-16C/Ds to the A-10C

By Joachim Jacob



As directed by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure commission, the 107th Fighter Squadron 'Red Devils', 127th Wing (Michigan Air National Guard), still prepare its conversion from F-16C/D Block 30 (small mouth) Fighting Falcons to the A-10C Thunderbolt II.

In a news article about the latest 127th Operations Group command change ceremony, which was held at Selfridge ANGB on November 2, 2008, 127th Wing Public Affairs stated:

The leadership changes come as the unit prepares for a conversion to A-10 aircraft in the next few months, which was mandated by Base Realignment and Closure law of 2005. A-10 aircraft will begin to arrive at Selfridge in the coming weeks, with personnel training away at Air Force technical schools and other A-10 locations throughout the United States. The 127th Wing plans to have the ramps at Selfridge filled with A-10s by early next summer, flying its training locally at that time. Source

According to other sources and some personal contacts, Selfridge is sending its Vipers to the 163rd Fighter Squadron 'Blacksnakes', 122nd Fighter Wing (Indiana Air National Guard) at Fort Wayne IAP, which will retire its F-16C/D block 25. The 107th Fighter Squadron will get A-10Cs from the 172nd Fighter Squadron, 110th Fighter Wing (Michigan ANG), at Battle Creek ANGB, along with many of their pilots.



A-10Cs from the 172nd Fighter Squadron are lined-up at Battle Creek ANGB on October 5, 2008. From left to right: 80-0262, 80-0269, 81-0996 and 80-0258 (Ladder door art inscription: PEACE THROUGH SUPERIOR FIREPOWER). (U.S. Air Force photo) Hi-res


On December 16, 2008, the 'Red Devils' flew their last F-16 sortie:

Last Michigan Air Guard F-16 Flight

by 127th Wing Public Affairs

12/17/2008 - Dec. 17, 2008 -- SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. - Michigan Air National Guard's 107th Fighter Squadron flew its last F-16 sortie yesterday afternoon as the unit prepares to transition to the A-10 aircraft and mission.

The fighter jets will leave the base at the end of December, flown by Indiana Air National Guardsmen to their new home at Ft. Wayne Air National Guard Base. Now, 24 A-10 aircraft will be assigned to the base.

Major Brian Davis, a pilot with the 107th Fighter Squadron, explains their new mission.

"The F-16 is a multipurpose aircraft. It can do many things. The A-10 is designed primarily for Close-Air Support. It was created to work and support the Soldiers and Marines on the ground. If that is the mission that needs to be done - and it is - then that's the mission we want to do."

The 127th Wing and its predecessor units in the Michigan Air National Guard have been flying "F" designated aircraft since 1950 when local Guardsmen began flying the F-84 Republic Thunderjet. Since then, the wing has flown the F-86, RF-84, F-89, F-100, RF-101, F-106, F-4 and F-16 aircraft.

The Michigan Air National Guard F-16s have flown in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Northern Watch, Operation Noble Eagle, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, being the first U.S. F-16 unit stationed inside Iraq in 2004 - instrumental to the Marine ground forces in the Fallujah battles that year.

Capt. David Wright, an intelligence officer with the unit, describes, "In 2004, our unit was assigned to Kirkuk, Iraq. It was unprecedented to bring F-16s into that austere environment. But we went in there and on the very first day, we had planes in the air. All the training, all the money spent to make sure that we were ready, all the work preparing - it all paid off. It was one of the most important things I have ever done in my life."

The 107th FS also deployed a second time in support of OIF in 2007, performing a significant role in the battle of An Najaf in January of that year.

This transition is the last of the changes brought to the 127th Wing from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure commission. Earlier in the year the wing converted its airlift mission of C-130s to the KC-135 Stratotanker refueling mission. The wing also stepped away from the Air Soverieignty Alert mission in October, preparing for the drawdown of the F-16s.

The 107th Fighter Squadron first took possession of an F-16 aircraft in late 1989. The squadron was certified mission-ready with the aircraft in early 1990. Prior to the upcoming transition mandated by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure commission, Selfridge had 15 F-16 aircraft assigned. Source

F-16 Pilot Lt. Col. William Hargrove prepares to launch F-16C Block 30B 85-1490 in an alert jet as TSgt. Harold Hayes, aircraft armament systems specialist, goes over the procedures checklist. The alert mission at the 127th Wing, Selfridge ANGB was officially passed off to the 180th Fighter Wing, Toledo, Ohio, on October 2, 2008. Note the mission markings just bellow the canopy. (U.S. Air Force photo) Hi-res

Related info:
Alert Mission comes to an end at Selfridge (3 October 2008)
Michigan Air Guard takes new wings, new mission (12 April 2008)

Guard's A-10s make way for small jets

Battle Creek Enquirer

Trace Christenson, The Enquirer, December 7, 2008

Black fabric was pulled off the new mission of the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base.

During a ceremony Saturday inside a base hanger, officials unveiled Battle Creek decals on a newly assigned C-21, a twin jet aircraft used for cargo and passengers. The plane is the military version of the Lear business jet.

It replaces the A-10 Thunderbolt, a fighter jet based in Battle Creek since 1991.

The fighters are moving to Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Detroit, as part of a military reorganization. Seven C-21 airplanes will be based in Battle Creek no later than Oct. 1 and the 11 remaining A-10s still on the base will be moved by June.

The speakers' podium was flanked on one side by an A-10 — bigger, duller, and more ominous than the gleaming chrome and white small passenger jet.

"This marks the end of the A-10 mission here," Col. Rodger Seidel, commander of the 110th Fighter Wing, told military members at the base. "Now it is time to move to the next mission."

He said the A-10s have been sent from Battle Creek to eight different war zones around the world and flown more than 5,000 hours, almost half in combat.

"You should take great pride in all you have accomplished," Maj. Gen. Thomas G. Cutler, adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard, told the group. "Transition in life can be bittersweet and its sad to see the end of a era but that will be offset by the new challenge."

Assigning the planes to Battle Creek is a bridge until the C-27 or Joint Cargo Aircraft, which are expected to be built and placed in the Air Force inventory beginning in 2010, are assigned to Battle Creek, officials said.

Until then, "this aircraft is critical to keep a flying mission here," Cutler said.

U.S. Rep.-elect Mark Schauer, D-Bedford Township, praised the base for their accomplishments and encouraged them on the transition.

Schauer said after the ceremony that he remains confident about the future of the Battle Creek Air Guard Base.

"This is a dangerous world and we need aircraft serving different missions," he said. "This plane will help service the military effort in a different way but an important way."



U.S. Rep.-elect Mark Schauer of Battle Creek unveils the Battle Creek logo on a new C-21 aircraft at the Air National Guard base on December 7, 2008. (Photo by Trace Christenson / The Enquirer)



Maj. Gen. Thomas Cutler, Michigan National Guard adjutant general, and U.S. Rep.-elect Mark Schauer of Battle Creek look over the C-21 after ceremonies. An A-10 is in the background. (Photo by Trace Christenson / The Enquirer)

Source

BRAC Funding Brings New Building to the 917th Wing

by Capt. Newman Robertson
917th Wing Public Affairs

11/24/2008 - BARKSDALE AFB, La. -- When the 47th Fighter Squadron acquired eight new A-10s and additional manpower as a result of the Air Force's reorganization and the subsequent closing of the 926th Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana, more space was needed to accommodate the extra equipment and personnel.

"Because of the additional aircrew we picked up, we were authorized an additional 7,000 square feet of space," said Master Sgt. Carl Whitaker, NCOIC, Aircrew Flight Equipment, "Over 5,000 of it went to aircrew flight equipment and the rest went to the men's and women's locker rooms, as well as an electrical room for the Civil Engineers."

"Working out of the trailers has been ok, but the new facility is going to be awesome" he added. The new facility was designed with the anticipation of the 47th Fighter Squadron going combat coded in 2010, and will include more storage areas and larger classrooms to accommodate the various types of training the pilots must do.

"We designed a storage area in the back of the building with roll up doors that will allow us to store our cadillac bins, a specific type of storage bin for additional assets for deployments, space savers, and chemical warfare equipment," said Sergeant Whitaker. "We also have a night vision goggle room for the pilots to adjust their night vision goggles," said Tech. Sgt. Andre Menard, Technician, Aircrew Flight Equipment.

The 717th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron also gained an addition to its training facility as well. "The new building has a huge break room, a training room with computers set up solely for training, a conference room, and offices for the maintenance officer, superintendant, and production supervisors," said Senior Master Sgt. Hollis Reeves, Flight Chief, 717th AMXS. "The rear of the building is curved because the A-10's needed wing tip clearance to get into the hangar," he added.

Both buildings, which were funded through BRAC money received in 2005, will provide the much needed space to allow members of the 47th FS and the 717th AMXS to train more efficiently and effectively.



The new 717th AMXS building will have a huge break room, a training room with computers set up solely for training, a conference room, and offices for the maintenance officer, superintendant, and production supervisors. The rear of the building is curved because the A-10's needed wing tip clearance to get into the hangar. (U.S. Air Force photo) Hi-res

Source

Conway's Col. Tom Anderson in charge of 188th Fighter Wing

The Log Cabin Democrat
November 6, 2008



By Joe Lamb
Log Cabin Staff Writer

Conway resident Col. Thomas Anderson is settling into his new job as commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard's Fort Smith-based 188th Fighter Wing and taking on the task of preparing the 188th for deployment to Afghanistan in 2010.

He is now in charge of almost 1,000 full and part-time Guardsmen and an annual operating budget of about $40 million.

Anderson served as vice wing commander under Col. Kevin Wear since 2006, becoming wing commander upon Wear's retirement on Oct. 5. Wear had planned to retire in 2005, but stayed on to fight a Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) decision to strip the 188th of its aircraft and reduce its number of personnel.

With the help of a consortium of Fort Smith city and military leaders, the BRAC decision was amended to keep the 188th airborne, but the fighter wing lost its mission to fly Lockeed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. Instead, Wear oversaw a re-tooling of the fighter wing to support its new mission of flying and maintaining Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack and close air support aircraft.

Now that Anderson is in command of the 188th, he will oversee the process of updating the 188th's fleet of A-10s from A to C specifications, a task which involves significant technological upgrades to an aircraft that has, since its introduction in 1977, been among the most low-tech and spartan in U.S. military service.

When refitted as, the 188th's A-10Cs will be better equipped to deliver JDAM precision guided bombs and communicate electronically with other battlefield elements, Anderson explained, though the aircraft's primary weapon will remain the GAU-8, a seven-barreled, 3,900 round-per-minute 30-millimeter cannon around which the aircraft is built.

These updates may be put to use in early 2010, when the 188th is scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan to provide close air support for troops on the ground. Though Anderson said it hasn't yet been decided whether he will join his airmen in Afghanistan, the responsibility of ensuring that his updated A-10s and the Guardsmen who fly them are ready for deployment.

"I would like to go," he said. "Obviously you hate to leave mom and the kids, but it's something you've trained for and something you signed up to do and so you don't have too much anxiety about doing it."

Though originally designed to combat a large-scale mechanized invasion of western Europe as an anti-tank aircraft, Anderson said the rugged construction and slow-speed flight envelope of the A-10 is ideally suited to the role it will be filling in its upcoming deployment.

Anderson earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Central Arkansas in 1985 and a Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's William H. Bowen School of Law in 1995. He has been with the 188th for over 20 years.

Anderson attributes his continued success in military aviation to an upbringing in a National Guard family.

"It's always been in my family," he said. "I've always been interested in the Guard and serving my country. In my military career I've always been at Fort Smith. It's like a second family to me and I try to treat it like family. That mindset has served me well."

Source



The change of command ceremony took place on October 5, 2008. For full 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs news coverage, a statement by Col. Tom Anderson and photos check the
November issue of "The Flying Razorback" online newspaper.

Online is also an Arkansas National Guard news release "Air Guard Fighter Wing to change commanders at ceremony".