Diverted 81st FS A-10s relocated from Ramstein to Spang

By Joachim Jacob

The following three offical USAF photos were released on Ramstein AB's public website:



A-10 82-0649 from the 81st Fighter Squadron prepare to return from Ramstein AB, Germany, to Spangdahlem AB, Germany, on December 1, 2008. Visible in the background are five more A-10s. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Caleb Pierce) Hi-res



A-10 82-0649 from the 81st Fighter Squadron prepare to return from Ramstein AB, Germany, to Spangdahlem AB, Germany, on December 1, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Caleb Pierce) Hi-res



Capt. David Marshall, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany, prepares A-10 82-0649 for return from Ramstein AB, Germany, to Spangdahlem AB, Germany, on December 1, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Caleb Pierce) Hi-res



A-10 81-0962 from the 81th Fighter Sqadron arrives at Spangdahlem AB, Germany (Photo by Mike Becker)



A-10 81-0962 from the 81th Fighter Squadron arrives at Spangdahlem AB, Germany (Photo by Harald Strobl)

Special thanks to German photographers Mike Bekker and Harald Strobl for their permissions to post these rare shots on my blog!

Latest additional USAF 75th EFS A-10 combat picture from Afghanistan

By Joachim Jacob

The following picture was released today on USAF's public main website as part of the "Dec. 3 airpower summary: A-10 bombs anti-Afghan forces". This additional picture is part of a well-known air refueling photo series, and some other shots are already released by USAF and also posted on my blog.



A-10C 79-0135 from the 74th Fighter Squadron, a replacement for the 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, flies a combat mission over Afghanistan providing armed aerial overwatch for coalition forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon) Hi-Res

This additional picture is part of a well-known air refueling photo series, and some other shots are already released by USAF and also posted on my blog.

USAF released first photos of diverted 75th EFS A-10s at Ramstein

By Joachim Jacob

I just found the following four interesting pictures, headlined "A-10's Stop In", and released on Ramstein AB's public website. One the same website, three more related pictures were released with the headline "Aircrafts at Ramstein":



An A-10C from the 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron gets heated to unfreeze the door at Ramstein AB, Germany, on December 1, 2008. Notes: Three bombs as mission markings. Visible in the background at left is A-10C 79-0186 from the 75th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Grovert Fuentes-Contreras) Hi-res



Senior Airman Ryan Daschofsky, 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany, services A-10C 78-0679 from the 75th Fighter Squadron with liquid oxygen at Ramstein AB, Germany, on December 1, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Grovert Fuentes-Contreras) Hi-res



A-10C 79-0138 from the 75th Fighter Squadron prepares to depart Ramstein AB, Germany, on December 1, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Caleb Pierce) Hi-res



A-10C 79-0138 from the 75th Fighter Squadron sits on the flight line after undergoing maintenance at Ramstein AB, Germany, on November 30, 2008. Note: Three bombs as mission markings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Grovert Fuentes-Contreras) Hi-res



An A-10C from the 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron sits on the flight line at Ramstein AB, Germany, after undergoing Time Compliance Technical Order maintenance on November 30, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenny Holston) Hi-res



A-10C 79-0186 from the 75th Fighter Squadron sits on the flight line after undergoing Time Compliance Technical Order maintenance at Ramstein AB, Germany, on November 30, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenny Holston) Hi-res



An A-10C from the 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron sits on the flight line after undergoing Time Compliance Technical Order maintenance at Ramstein AB, Germany, on November 30, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenny Holston) Hi-res

Two diverted 75th EFS A-10s left Ramstein for Spang

By Joachim Jacob

Updated December 6, 2008

Today, the first two of six 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron A-10s which diverted last week to Ramstein AB, Germany, due to fog over Spangdahlem AB, Germany, left this airbase. Callsign was Iron 01/02, a local Spang callsign, because they were flown by 81st Fighter Squadron pilots. At Spang, the aircraft will get wing inspections and repairs. Alongside were two 81st Fighter Squadron A-10s which had also diverted to Ramstein.



A-10C 78-0679 from the 75th Fighter Squadron departs Ramstein AB, Germany. (Photo by Dalibor Ankovic / Photaviaworks) Hi-res



A-10C 79-0138 from the 75th Fighter Squadron departs Ramstein AB, Germany. (Photo by Dalibor Ankovic / Photaviaworks) Hi-res



A-10C 78-0679 arrives at Spangdahlem AB, Germany. (Photo by Oliver Jonischkeit) Hi-res



A-10C 79-0138 arrives at Spangdahlem AB, Germany. (Photo by Oliver Jonischkeit) Hi-res

According to the Scramble Messageboard, three more 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron A-10s left Ramstein AB on December 2, 2008 (single ship departed 15:40, two ship departed 16:02 local time). The fourth aircraft taxied back to ramp 4.

UPDATE: The last A-10C, serial 78-0674, departed Ramstein AB as "Maniac 01" on December 5, 2008.

Special thanks to my German contributors who spent a lot of time and also money (for gasoline) to take these rare shots.

See also: Intel: Enroute to Spang, Bagram A-10s diverted to Ramstein

A-10 Afghanistan Combat Summary for November 2008

by Joachim Jacob

From the "Airpower Summaries", released on USAF's public main website, for November 2008 I extracted and edited all available info related to A-10 Thunderbolt II combat missions in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom). The mostly daily airpower summaries for OEF and OIF are provided by Combined Air and Space Operations Center (CAOC) officials at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. According to the sources, all of the listed missions were confirmed successful by on-scene joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs).

Nov. 1: A-10s performed shows of force to deter enemy activities near Sheykhabad.

Nov.2: No A-10 info

Nov. 3: No A-10 info

Nov. 4: A-10s performed shows of force and provided armed aerial overwatch to deter anti-Afghan forces from firing at a coalition convoy conducting operations near Monari.

Nov. 5: Not released

Nov. 6: No A-10 info

Nov. 7: No A-10 info

Nov. 8: In the vicinity of Sheykhabad and near Kabul, A-10s conducted shows of force to deter enemy activities.

Nov. 9: No A-10 info

Nov. 10: A-10s performed shows of force to deter enemy activities and provide armed aerial overwatch for coalition ground forces who were moving through a village in the vicinity of Bagram. In the vicinity of Gardez, Moqur and near Qarah Bagh, A-10s conducted shows of force to deter enemy activities.

Nov. 11: A-10s performed shows of force to deter enemy activities and provided escort for a coalition ground forces convoy that was traveling through known enemy ambush points in the vicinity of Sheykhabad, near Bagram. An A-10 conducted a show of force and provided armed aerial overwatch for coalition ground forces conducting operations in the vicinity of Mata Khan.

Nov. 12: A-10s performed shows of force to deter enemy activities and provided escort for a coalition ground forces convoy that was conducting operations in the vicinity of Ghazni. In the vicinity of Malek Din, an F-15E and an A-10 performed shows of force to deter enemy activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for coalition vehicles that were conducting convoy operations.

Nov. 13: An A-10 fired cannon rounds against anti-Afghan forces who were firing mortars and rocket-propelled grenades at a coalition ground forces convoy. Furthermore, A-10s performed shows of force to deter any further enemy action against the coalition convoy's disabled vehicle in the vicinity of Bolocan. In the vicinity of Gardez and Worzhanah, A-10s performed shows of force and provided armed aerial overwatch for coalition ground forces conducting IED search operations.

Nov. 14: No A-10 info

Nov. 15: In the vicinity of Lashkar Gah, A-10s fired cannon rounds and a B-1B dropped a GBU-38 onto anti-Afghan forces hiding in a compound trying to shoot down an aircraft. Furthermore, a coalition aircraft performed a show of force to deter enemy activities near the compound where the anti-aircraft fire was seen. An F-15E Strike Eagle and A-10s performed shows of force to deter enemy activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition ground forces convoy conducting operations near Monari. In the vicinity of Sheykhabad A-10s conducted shows of force to deter enemy activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy recovering a vehicle that was hit by an IED.

Nov.16: In the vicinity of Ghazni, an A-10 performed a show of force to deter enemy activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for coalition forces conducting operations.

Nov. 17: An A-10 performed a show of force to deter enemy activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for coalition forces conducting operations in the vicinity of Bari Kowt.

Nov. 18: In the vicinity of Sheykhabad, an A-10 and a F-15E Strike Eagle conducted shows of force to deter enemy activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy that hit an IED. An A-10 performed shows of force to deter enemy activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for coalition ground forces conducting search operations near Kabul.

Nov. 19: An A-10 conducted a show of force to deter enemy activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy that had struck an IED in the vicinity of Bari Kowt.

Nov. 20: A-10s conducted shows of force to deter enemy activities in the vicinity of Worzhanah Kalay and Sheykhabad.

Nov. 21: An A-10 dropped a guided bomb unit-38 onto anti-Afghan forces who were firing rocket propelled grenades at coalition forces from inside a compound in the vicinity of Musa Qal' Eh. A-10s also conducted shows of force to deter enemy activities and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition foot patrol in the same area. A-10s also conducted shows of force in the vicinity of Worzhanah Kalay and Qalat.

Nov. 22: A-10s and F-15E Strike Eagles dropped guided bomb unit-31s, GBU-38s and fired cannon rounds onto anti-Afghan forces who were firing rocket-propelled grenades at coalition forces in the vicinity of Bari Kowt.

Nov. 23: An A-10 fired cannon rounds onto anti-Afghan forces who were emplacing improvised explosive devices in the vicinity of Gardez. Near Sheykhabad, an F-15E Strike Eagle and an A-10 conducted shows of force to deter enemy activities and provide armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy that struck an IED.

Nov. 24: A-10s dropped a guided bomb unit-38 and fired cannon rounds onto anti-Afghan forces who were firing rocket-propelled grenades at coalition forces on a hillside in the vicinity of Bari Kowt.

Nov. 25: A-10s fired cannon rounds onto anti-Afghan forces who were firing rocket-propelled grenades at coalition forces from multiple directions in the vicinity of Nangalam.

Nov. 26: An A-10 fired cannon rounds onto anti-Afghan forces who were firing rocket propelled grenades and mortars at coalition forces from behind a ridgeline in the vicinity of Nangalam.

Nov. 27: F-15E Strike Eagles and A-10s fired cannon rounds, and a Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet dropped a guided bomb unit-38 onto anti-Afghan forces in the vicinity of Morghab. In the vicinity of Shkin, an A-10 conducted a show of force to deter anti-Afghan activities.

Nov. 28: In the vicinity of Shkin, A-10s dropped 500 pound bombs onto an anti-Afghan forces mortar team that was firing at a coalition convoy from a ridgeline. An A-10 and a coalition aircraft conducted shows of force to deter enemy activities near Lashkar Gah and Sangin.

Nov. 29: An A-10 fired cannon rounds against anti-coalition members who were emplacing improvised explosive devices on the side of a known travel route in the vicinity of Gardez. In the vicinity of Monari, F-15E Strike Eagles and A-10s performed shows of force and provided armed overwatch to deter anti-Afghan forces from firing at a coalition convoy traveling to a nearby forward operating base.

Nov. 30: In the vicinity of Nangalam, an A-10 dropped GBU-38s onto a building where anti-Afghan forces were hunkered down and firing at coalition forces. In the vicinity of Ghazni, A-10s performed shows of force and provided armed aerial overwatch to deter anti-Afghan forces from firing at a coalition ground forces patrol conducting search operations in the area.

Pilot surpasses 3,000 hours in A-10 Thunderbolt

by Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

11/29/2008 - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- The list of single-seat fighter pilots who have flown 3,000 hours in one particular aircraft is short. On Nov. 21, a new name was added to that list when Lt. Col. David Dressel, flew his 3,000th hour in an A-10 Thunderbolt II while flying a close air support mission over Afghanistan.

Colonel Dressel, a native of Watertown, Minn., began flying in 1991. The A-10 was his number one choice coming out of pilot training.

"When I was a senior in high school I was placed in a Minnesota mentor program where you go to school half time and work with an industry half time," he said. "I was interested in aviation and was placed with a company that designed bullets for the military. I was put on a design team that built 30 mm shells for the A-10. I said this is awesome. The only plane that carried the 30 mm cannon was the A-10 - that's what lead me down that road."

From his first sortie in the A-10 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., 18 years ago, to flying combat sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Colonel Dressel has come a long way.

"You remember where you were when you hit 1,000, and when you hit 2,000 hours," he said. "To hit 3,000 hours in a combat sortie was really special."

Colonel Dressel, deployed with the 75th Fighter Squadron from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., is no stranger to combat. He has deployed in support of Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He said there is no other place he would rather be than deployed.

"Our job is to support the guys on the ground," he said. "Unlike other aircraft, that's our main focus - providing close air support to guys on the ground, slugging it out day after day, 24/7.

"Back home you rate your success on how well you performed," he continued. "Here, you rate your success on how well the ground guys do. Our success comes down to whether or not the ground commander was able to accomplish his mission."

Despite his accomplishments, this veteran pilot tips his hat to the new pilots he works with.

"It was seven years before I shot in combat," he said. "When I came in, we were a nation at peace, now we are in a conflict. Anyone who signed up after 9/11 knew they were going to deploy and see combat. My hat's off to them."

Next for Colonel Dressel is passing 500 combat hours in the A-10 - something he is on track to accomplish during this deployment.

Source



Lt. Col. David Dressel, a pilot with the 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, powers down A-10C 79-0192 from the 74th Fighter Squadron after flying his 3,000th hour in the aircraft on November 21, 2008, at Bagram AB, Afghanistan. Colonel Dressel, deployed from Moody AFB, Georgia, is among a handful of active-duty pilots to reach this milestone. (Courtesy photo) Hi-res



Lt. Col. David Dressel poses in front of an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Bagram AB, Afghanistan. Colonel Dressel, a native of Watertown, Minnesota, has flown more than 3,000 hours in the A-10 and is on track to reach 500 combat hours during his current deployment. (Courtesy photo) Hi-res

Related news:
47FS pilots make history (June 2008)
104th Fighter Wing pilots break records! (March 2007)
Deployed A-10 Pilot Reaches 3,000-Hour Mark (July 29, 2005)

Nov. 25 airpower summary: A-10s deter anti-Afghan attacks

The following picture was released yesterday on USAF's public main website as part of the "Nov. 25 airpower summary: A-10s deter anti-Afghan attacks". This additional picture is part of a well-known air refueling photo series, and some other shots are already released by USAF and also posted on my blog.



A-10 79-0135 from the 74th Fighter Squadron, currently deployed as a replacement with the 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron for Operation Enduring Freedom to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram AB, flies a combat mission over Afghanistan on November 7, 2008. Freedom. A-10Cs from the 75th EFS provide close air support and perform sorties daily providing top cover for ground forces in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon) Hi-res

Intel: Enroute to Spang, Bagram A-10s diverted to Ramstein

According to latest spotter info on Scramble Messageboard and Flugzeugforum, yesterday some A-10Cs from the 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, enroute from Bagram AB, Afghanistan, to Spangdahlem AB, Germany, for wing inspections and repairs diverted to Ramstein AB, Germany, due to fog.

Noted were: 78-0674, 78-0679, 79-0138, 79-0186, 79-0192 and A-10 "74TH FS".

Because 78-0674 is currently marked "74 FS" the number of aircraft could be incorrect. One user on Scramble Messageboard wrote: 1255L: MAZDA81 flight arrived here due fog at Spang. Not sure if it's 4 or 6 FT A10's as it should of been MAZDA81-84 and TREND53,54.

UPDATE: Later today, Dalibor Ankovic from Germany sent a very helpful comment to this breaking news (click the comment link bellow). And thanks to him, all six diverted aircraft are identified now:

Mazda 81-84: 78-0674 (74th FS, marked 74 FS), 78-0697 (74th FS), 79-0138 (75th FS), 79-0186 (75th FS)
Trend 53-54: 78-0679 (75th FS), 79-0192 (74th FS)

Special thanks to Dalibor for his great input!

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

Intel: Four more A-10 replacements enroute to Bagram?

By Joachim Jacob

According to the Scramble Messageboard, probably over the last weekend four more A-10s passed through Lajes Field, Azores, and Sigonella, Sicily, for stopovers enroute to Bagram AB, Afghanistan, as additional replacements due to partial A-10 groundings. At the moment, I'm very busy to get some more related first-hand info like serial numbers and pictures.

Please note: That's a breaking news. I will make updates if further info is available.