From the archives: A-10 with Miner "49er" ladder door art caught at Tallil in 2003

Updated July 10, 2011

Anyone who can identify this "Hog" by serial number? This official USAF photo was taken during Operation Iraqi Freedom's main combat phase at the occupied Tallil Airfield in southern Iraq.



OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Staff Sgt. Jason M. Smith, a fuels troop with the 392nd Air Expeditionary Wing, refuels an A-10 Thunderbolt II April 3 at a forward deployed location in southern Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)


Update July 10, 2011:

I got feedback from Joe "Dice-man" Hodges and Warthog News contributor Brian Walter, both from the United States, who identified this aircraft as A-10 81-0949. In 2003 it belonged to the 103rd Fighter Squadron, 111th Fighter Wing (Pennsylvania ANG).



This photo was taken on March 5, 2009. (Photo by Brian Walter) Full size

The following well-known official USAF picture was taken at Ahmed Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom:



OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Maintenance troops work on an A-10 Thunderbolt II on March 23 at a forward-deployed Operation Iraqi Freedom location. The tank-killing A-10 is affectionately known as the Warthog. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman JoAnn S. Makinano)

From the archives: The OIF story of "Killer Chick"

At first, just the known pictures:



Right horizontal stabilizer and aft fuselage.



Right horizontal stabilizer.



Right vertical stabilizer.



Rear view of both right horizontal and vertical stabilizers.







Right wing. Note the other A-10s on the flightline.





Right engine nacelle.





She's happy...

Please tell me: Who took these important pictures at Ahmed Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, published on Aircraft Resource Center? I need the photographer's full ID for photo credits, and I would like to get related hi-res versions.

Other related pictures:



Warthog out of battle. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Capt. Kim, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot deployed with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, surveys the battle damage to her airplane. Kim's A-10 was hit over Baghdad during a close air support mission on April 7. (Courtesy photo)






Recovery at Ahmed Al Jaber AB:



OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Tech. Sgt. Mike Emmendorfer drills out rivets while repairing battle damage on an A-10 Thunderbolt II that was shot by enemy fire over Iraq. Emmendorfer is a depot aircraft structural maintenance craftsman with the 649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron from Hill Air Force Base, Utah. He is deployed to a desert base in Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Stefan Alford) Hi-res



OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Tech. Sgt. Jeff McElhoe guides the crane operator to place an A-10 fuselage in position so the shipping cradle can be moved underneath. The aircraft received severe battle damage during a combat mission over Iraq in April and will be shipped back to the United States for repair. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dave Buttner)



OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Staff Sgt. Scott Long and Tech. Sgt. Jeff McElhoe remove the gun faring from the nose of an A-10 to prevent damage while it is loaded on its shipping cradle. The aircraft received severe battle damage during a combat mission over Iraq in April and will be shipped back to the United States for repair. Scott and McElhoe are part of an aircraft battle damage repair team from the 469th CLSS, Hill Air Force Base, Utah who specialize in battle and crash damage repair on A-10 aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dave Buttner)



OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Master Sgt. Mark Kellie guides in a flatbed truck in preparation for loading an A-10 fuselage. The aircraft received severe battle damage during a combat mission over Iraq in April and will be shipped back to the United States for repair. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dave Buttner)


From Airman Magazine, May 2004:



Tech. Sgt. Michael Emmendorfen patches the holes of A-10 aircraft 81-987 days after it was riddled with antiaircraft fire over Baghdad. The Hill repair team couldn't save the jet, so it was dismantled and shipped to Davis-Monthan.



An A-10 that was severely wounded over the skies of Baghdad during the height of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The A-10's existence lies in the balance at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. (U.S. Air Force photo by Terry Vanden-Heuvel)



Members of an aircraft battle damage repair team fine-tune their skills on the rear fuselage of a decommissioned Warthog at Hill. To make the training realistic, explosive ordnance teams use C-4 explosives to blow holes in the aircraft to simulate antiaircraft artillery damage.


Drawing of A-10 81-0987:



Artwork by Warthog News contributor Barry Munden from the United States.

From the archives: A-10 urban CAS over Baghdad in 2003

By Joachim Jacob

For first time ever, during the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom A-10s flew urban close air support missions. Here's some related stuff, already published on the web:











With their 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger cannon an A-10 is engaging the Iraqi Ministry of Planning at Baghdad. Never seen before that an A-10 hit a city building.

Related video:



Anyone who can/will provide me some more related stuff? I would be very grateful for any support.

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.

From the archives: 23rd Fighter Group A-10s caught at Tallil AB, Iraq, 2003

The following exclusive shots were taken by aviationpictures.nl during OIF's main combat phase at Tallil AB, Iraq, 2003. Already in 2005, I got the photographer's permission to post his pictures.



A-10 79-0141 (marked 23 FG). (Photo by aviationpictures.nl) Full size



A-10 79-0141 (marked 23 FG). (Photo by aviationpictures.nl) Full size



A-10 79-0193 from the 75th Fighter Squadron. (Photo by aviationpictures.nl) Full size



A-10 79-0193 from the 75th Fighter Squadron. (Photo by aviationpictures.nl) Full size



A-10 79-0193 from the 75th Fighter Squadron. (Photo by aviationpictures.nl) Full size



A-10 79-0193 from the 75th Fighter Squadron. (Photo by aviationpictures.nl) Full size

Note: Some more photo info will be uploaded soon.

Logged by the photographer at Tallil at that time were the following 23rd Fighter Group A-10s:

78-0689
79-0139
79-0141 (marked 23rd FG)
79-0189
80-0208
80-0282
82-0661

First to Use the A-10C in Combat

Minutes ago, under this headline 175th Wing Public Affairs released the following archived photo:



An A-10C Thunderbolt II jet taxis in on the flightline at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, after a mission October 27, 2007. The A-10Cs are assigned to the 104th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, which is made up primarily of members of the Maryland Air National Guard. They are the first unit to use the A-10C in a combat zone. Its upgrades have made air power much more efficient and have streamlined the close air support mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Angelique Perez / Released) Hi-res

Note: The aircraft is A-10C 78-0637 from the 104th Fighter Squadron. And I can tell you: This USAF picture was never released online before.

Visible combat loadout: SUU-25 Flare Dispenser on station 2, AGM-65 Maverick on station 3, GBU-12 on station 4, GBU-38 JDAM on station 8, LAU-131 Rocket Pod on station 9, AN/AAQ-28 Litening AT targeting pod on station 10.

For A-10 OIF combat deployments to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq (January - November 2007), please check: A-10 Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom - Part III

Awesome A-10 OIF Artwork by Rick Herter

Just found today by trying Google for A-10 models:



Providing Close Air Support (CAS), an A-10 Warthog from the 23rd Fighter Group makes a tight, descending turn as it approaches its target in downtown Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003. 22"x 32" limited edition print is signed and numbered by the artist. Price: $149.00

Source

Please note: This awesome OIF artwork by Rick Herter is absolutely new to me.

Note: This TOP artwork would be the right front cover for every upcoming A-10 OIF book... (like this one manuscript which I currently prepare to offer Osprey Publishing).

Related background info:

Description: "CAS with Teeth" is a new Giclee print/canvas by Rick Herter. In 2003 Rick was invited by the Air Force to travel to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. While there, he would help historically document the Air Force mission through art for the Air Force Art Program. The artist flew several missions over the length and breadth of the country. One of the places he visited was the captured Iraqi Air Base at Tallil, which is near Basra. A-10 Warthogs from the 110th Fighter Wing, Michigan Air National Guard and the 23rd Fighter Group, Pope Air Force Base, were flying missions from the air base against Iraqi targets.

CAS is the military term for Close Air Support. In this dramatic scene a Hawg from the 23rd FG, 74 FS makes a tight, descending turn as he begins ingress against a target in downtown Baghdad. The Hawg pilot has started to dispense flares to draw off any potential SAM missiles from his heavily armed aircraft. In the distance you'll notice the Hawg drivers' wingman pulling up to altitude after his attack on the target. The reference photos used in this painting were taken by the artist on one of his missions over Baghdad.

If you desire your canvas to be customized, please indicate your squadron/fighter wing in the comments section during checkout.

Source

Another A-10 OIF artwork by Rick Herter ("DFC Over Baghdad"):



Related background info:

Description: On 10, April 2003 A-10 Warthogs from the 110FW 172 FS flew a harrowing mission wherein Lt. Col. Dave "Baja" Kennedy and Maj. Scott "Hoss" Cuel answered a call from U.S. ground troops for desperately needed close air support.

An embattled Marine Corps unit was pinned down by RPG and small arms fire from an Iraqi Army and insurgent force. The Marines were taking heavy casualties and unable to evacuate their wounded. The commanding officer called the Warthogs in to lay down fire only a few meters away from his own troops. The guns pass by the A-10's broke the back of the Iraqi ambush and saved the lives of over fifty Marines. For their actions that day, Kennedy and Cuel were awarded the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross.

Signatures
Lt. Col. Dave "Baja" Kennedy
Maj. Scott "Hoss" Cuel

Source

Rick's A-10 OIF paintings are simply very top!!!