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Afghanistan
Thunderbolts Surge
2006-08-23
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Aug. 18, 2006 – Six U.S. and coalition troops peer out from a remote position on a ridge top in Afghanistan. At sunset on the third day of their vigil, a large force of Taliban extremists carrying heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades surround and pin down the team.

By design, an Air Force joint tactical air controller is with the team. His job is to direct strike aircraft to targets on the ground. The situation on the ridgeline is desperate until an Air Force pilot flying an A-10 Thunderbolt II in the vicinity contacts him.

Helping the A-10 pilot find and target his attackers on the ground, the air controller stays in radio contact, except when forced to pick up his weapon and fire at the enemy closing in.

The A-10 and its pilot hammer at the enemy with bombs and the plane’s massive gun. “Fifty minutes later the remaining enemy retreated and (the JTAC) and his team walked off that ridge to re-supply and fight again the next day,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Keith McBride, commander of the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed here.

McBride, an A-10 pilot, uses this real-life story to illustrate his point that the A-10 is saving lives in Afghanistan.

“There have been numerous occasions where our troops have been taking heavy fire and we show up, and either our presence ends the engagement or we employ against enemy positions and end the engagement,” said Air Force Col. Tony Johnson, the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group commander and an A-10 pilot.

More at link
Posted by:Bobby

#24  Prettiest ugly airplane ever built.
Posted by: Mike   2006-08-23 22:58  

#23  Deverlopment Info

Good perspective photos

Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-08-23 19:12  

#22  I expect that sorta how they did it D66. Needed something that would open up the top armour of a T-72, designed the cannon, the designed the aircraft. A weapon system don't cha know.

The reloading system was build in TLH.
Posted by: 6   2006-08-23 18:44  

#21  OK the official name is Avenger. Do they really call it the Plinker?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-08-23 18:39  

#20  Can you picture the brain storming session, lets see we have this big ass gatlin so what do we do with. hmmmm build a plane around it yea thats it. :)
Posted by: djohn66   2006-08-23 17:17  

#19  Gun's got it's own name, Avenger.
Posted by: 6   2006-08-23 16:43  

#18  A plane built around a gun. Lovely.
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2006-08-23 14:46  

#17  I have always loved this airplane. It was designed for a specific mission and, funny, that mission does not go away. I don't know that you could build a better airframe for the purpose today, so why try.

You know those Talibunnies shit their drawers when they see the warthog lining up on them.
Posted by: remoteman   2006-08-23 12:47  

#16  What is that manuver called the 'Warthog Stomp'?
Posted by: CrazyFool   2006-08-23 11:47  

#15  What is that manuver called the 'Warthog Stomp'?
Posted by: CrazyFool   2006-08-23 11:41  

#14  Ahhh..I love it when Warthogs make the press...the reason why I chose the moniker...
Posted by: Warthog   2006-08-23 11:37  

#13  The reason the AF still has A-10s is that every time Air Staff plans to replace them with F/A-16s, the Army says that if the AF doesn't want them, the Army will take them and the CAS mission. The AF always reconsiders.
Posted by: RWV   2006-08-23 11:26  

#12  Thunderbolt II is a descendent of the famous WWII P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as “Jug”. It wasnÂ’t pretty either but it was one hell of a ground attack aircraft for itÂ’s time. Also in the lineage are the Korean War vintage F-84 Thunderjet “Stovepipe” F-84F Thunderstreak (swept wing version). Lest we forget there was the ubiquitous Vietnam era F-105 Thunderchief “Thud”.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC   2006-08-23 11:15  

#11  GAU 30 Mike Mike

WartHog works muj/Talibunnies on hill in Dey Chopan region


A-10 T-Bolt

More Hog Werk

git sum
Posted by: RD   2006-08-23 11:03  

#10  Excellent close air support and anti-tank plane. The Air Force hated 'em. The Marines love 'em.
Posted by: mojo   2006-08-23 10:37  

#9  Do not retire this airplane.
Posted by: Steve White   2006-08-23 10:01  

#8  Warthog is the "unofficial" name, I believe. Many aircraft have two. Prowlers are called "Queers"???
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2006-08-23 09:52  

#7  Warthog is the nickname given by the flyboys because they are not considered a "pretty" airplane. Occicial name is Thunderbolt II.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2006-08-23 09:50  

#6  The spiritual descendants of the brass who fought the and nails against the adoption of the P51 Mustang.
Posted by: JFM   2006-08-23 09:48  

#5  And to think that at one time, the upper brass of the USAF thought of retiring the A-10.
Posted by: Lancasters Over Dresden   2006-08-23 09:30  

#4  Sucks being the 'bait.' But sucks even worse being the 'catch.' And a serious rush being the fisherman.
Posted by: Glenmore   2006-08-23 09:11  

#3  The designers built the plane around the gun.
A-10 Thunderbolts, I thought they were called A-10 Warthogs.
Posted by: wxjames   2006-08-23 09:04  

#2  A flying tank and for some reason I like the look of them. I am glad we are still using them.
Posted by: djohn66   2006-08-23 08:22  

#1  I love A10's - the Nose Tackle of close in air support
Posted by: Frank G   2006-08-23 08:06  

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