From the archives: Battle-damaged A-10 80-0258 from the 172nd Fighter Squadron caught at Tallil

Known pictures of battle-damaged A-10 80-0258 from the 172nd Fighter Squadron, 110th Fighter Wing (Michigan Air National Guard), Battle Creek, taken at Tallil Air Base, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom's main combat phase:



OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- A-10 maintenance members from the 392 Air Expeditionary Wing inspect their aircraft for any additional damages after it was hit by an Iraqi missile in the right engine. The A-10 made it back to the base safely. (U. S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)



Probably a non-official shot. Full size



Probably a non-official shot. Full size



Probably a non-official shot.



A non-official shot, taken on April 11,2003.



A non-official shot, taken April 14, 2003. Note the removed engine nacelle.



Another non-official shot.



U.S. Air Force (USAF) A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft maintenance personnel from the 392nd Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW), inspect their aircraft for any additional damage after it was hit by an Iraqi missile in the right engine. (Probably an U.S. Air Force photo) Hi-res Note: That's the best known close-up view!

Note: Anyone who can/will tell me the story behind this battle damage? Additional pictures are also welcommend. I would be very grateful for any support.

Battle Creek A-10s caught at London IAP, Canada

Two A-10s from the 172th Fighter Squadron, 110th Fighter Wing (Michigan ANG), Battle Creek, Michigian, were caught just after arrival at London International Airport (YXU/CYXU), London, Ontario, Canada, June 22, 2009. The following pictures were first-published on airliners.net. Visible loadouts: AN/AAQ-28 LITENING AT tageting pod on station 10, empty LAU-117/A rail for Maverick on station 9, MXU-648 baggage pod on station 6, CATM-65 Maverick on station 3.



A-10 80-0222 without unit markings. (Photo by Frank Robitaille) Hi-res



A-10 81-0998 still with 110th Fighter Wing unit markings. (Photo by Frank Robitaille) Hi-res

Special thanks to Frank Robitaille from Canada for permission to post his unique shots on my blog!

110th Fighter Wing will held A-10 Farewell Dinner

According to 110th Fighter Wing's newspaper JetStream Journal (June 2009 public online PDF issue), the unit will held an A-10 Farewell Dinner on July 11, 2009.



Probably one of the very last shots in front of 172nd Fighter Squadron's insignia: Brig. Gen. Richard Ritchie (Ret.) speaks to a group at the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Wednesday April 29, 2009. Ritchie was a U.S. Air Force Ace in Vietnam and spoke about how individual traits and teamwork allowed him to be a top fighter pilot. (Photo by Master Sgt. Dale Atkins)

Source

Related info:
Video: A-10 in Action
Battle Creek A-10 going to museum
End of an era - The last A–10 leaves the 110th Fighter Wing
Guard's A-10s make way for small jets

Video: A-10 in Action

An Air National Guard video clip A-10 in Action (running time 01:01) was released on 124th Wing's public website. Visible are A-10s at least from the 172nd Fighter Squadron, 110th Fighter Wing (Michigan ANG), tailcode BC.

Video: "Warthog" officially arrives at Selfridge

Today, on 127th Wing's public website I found a very nice video clip: "Warthog" officially arrives at Selfridge (released by 127th Wing Public Affairs).

Among the four aircraft that flew were the following three ex 172nd Fighter Squadron, 110th Fighter Wing, Michigan ANG, Battle Creek (tailcode BC) 'Hogs': 80-0258 (still with BC tailcode), 81-0996, and 81-0998.

By the way, 81-0975 (which was only displayed on the tarmac) is also an ex BC 'Hog'.

Related info:
Warthog, Stratotanker Join Air Show Roster
Selfridge Air Wing Launches First A-10
New Jet Comes to Selfridge
A-10C tail markings for 107th Fighter Squadron unveiled

Battle Creek A-10 going to museum

A-10 78-0708 is shown inside Battle Creek's main hangar as preparations are underway to eventualy transport the aircraft to a museum. According to private contacts, the inactive 'Hog', still wearing the Charcoal Lizard paint scheme, was used for Aircraft Battle Damage Repair (ABDR) training. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. David Eichhaker) Hi-res

Note: I extracted this picture from 110th Fighter Wing's base newspaper Jet Stream Journal, May 2009 public online PDF issue. Source

Related background info:
Formerly, A-10 78-0708 (cn A10-0328) was assigned to the 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 174th Tactical Fighter Wing ('The Boys from Syracuse'), New York ANG, Hancock Field, Syracuse, New York (tailcode NY). The unit converted from the Cessna A-37B Dragonfly to the Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II in mid-1979, and converted again to the Lockheed Martin F-16A/B Fighting Falcon in late 1988. Because of their extensive CAS experience with the A-37B and A-10A, they became the first F-16 unit dedicated to this mission.



78-0708 with NY markings at Knoxville - McGhee Tyson (TYS/KTYS), Tennessee, August 28, 1981. (Photo by Gary Chambers) Hi-res

Related online topic: 78-0780 on Warthog Territory Forums.

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.

The first six A-10s arrived at Selfridge in December last year

By Joachim Jacob

The following very important news article "A-10s arrive at Selfridge" was already published on the front page of the "Prevailing Wind", January 2009, online PDF issue. "Prevailing Wind" is the official newspaper of the 127th Wing, Selfridge ANGB, Michigan. Please note: There is still no HTML version of this news article on 127th Wing's public website. From the PDF file I also extracted the two associated pictures, also still not released as JPGs.

A-10s arrive at Selfridge

The first six A-10 Thunderbolt jets arrived at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in December 2008. The jets, from the 110th Fighter Wing in Battle Creek, Mich., are the first of twenty-four "Warthogs" that are part of the 127th Wing's new fighter aircraft mission. Many 107th Fighter Squadron pilots are already away at school learning to fly the new jet.

The 127th Maintenance Group begins its training in mid-January. Active duty airmen from the Field Training Team will be training the Michigan Guardsmen through April in the maintenance of this larger (than F-16) attack plane.

"Everyone is looking forward to beginning this new mission. It's exciting that we're all starting from ground zero and will have these aircraft up and running in a matter of months," stated Chief Master Sgt. Henry Ryan, 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron superintendent.

Newly qualified pilots of the 107th Fighter Squadron will be flying A-10s out of Baltimore, MD., until later this spring after an official ceremony marks the stand-up of the new fighter mission at Selfridge.

A-10C 80-0267 from the 172nd Fighter Squadron after arrival at Selfridge ANGB in December 2008. (Photo by John S. Swanson, 127th Wing Public Affairs)



A-10C 80-0267 from the 172nd Fighter Squadron in front of Hangar 3 after arrival at Selfridge ANGB in December 2008. (Photo by John S. Swanson, 127th Wing Public Affairs)

Source

See also:
127th Wing begins Thunderbolt training
107th Fighter Squadron 'Red Devils' now one step closer to converting from F-16C/Ds to the A-10C

According to the news article 127th Wing begins Thunderbolt training, seven A-10s are now on temporary loan at Selfridge, until the 127th Wing is ready to officially take ownership of the aircraft in late April 2009.

Meanwhile, some 172th FS aircraft are relocated from Battle Creek to Martin State Airport, Maryland. Are they part of the loaned aircraft package and relocated only for 107th FS pilots training?



Airmen look over A-10Cs from Battle Creek and Baltimore before launching them on a mission at Warfield Air National Guard Base on December 17th, 2008. Visible from left to right are: 80-0262 (172th Fighter Squadron), 78-0705 (131st Fighter Squadron) and 80-0263 (172th Fighter Squadron). (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. David Speicher) Hi-res



A-10C 80-0264 from the 172nd Fighter Squadron, and probably also now on loan to the 127th Fighter Wing, heads to the runway for take off at Martin State Airport, Maryland, on January 29th, 2009. (Baltimore Sun photo by Lloyd Fox)

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