Friday, October 10, 2008

A-10 Units of Operation Enduring Freedom

By Joachim Jacob

Updated January 5, 2010

Click to enlarge

A-10s and other aircraft are lined up at Bagram AB, Afghanistan (Satellite photo via Google Earth)

In response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, at the New York World Trade Center and the Pentagon, President George W. Bush initiated Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), fighting terrorism abroad.

As the force build-up for OEF began, an A-10 ANG "Rainbow Team" was already deployed for Operation Southern Watch (OSW) to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Group (332nd AEG) at Ahmed Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, as part of a regularly scheduled 90-day Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) rotation, in this case for the AEF 7/8 (Cycle 2) rotation (September – November 2001). During AEF Cycle 2, AEFs with even numbers were assigned to OSW, AEFs with odd numbers were assigned to Operation Northern Watch (ONW) and some other tasks.

The 332nd AEG was activated by Air Combat Command (ACC) in November 1998 to replace the 4406th Operations Group (Provisional) at this air base, often shortened as Al Jaber AB and also dubbed as "The Jab" by deployed U.S. airmen. The heritage of the 332nd AEG reached back to the famous 332nd Fighter Group led by the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II. The 332nd AEG played a key role during OSW, and later also during OEF´s main combat phase (October 2001 – April 2002).

Surprisingly, both A/OA-10A contingents which were regularly deployed to the 322nd AEG as parts of the AEF 7/8 and AEF 9/10 rotations were never tasked with OEF missions. The first involved A/OA-10A contingent was the 74th EFS which consisted of elements from the 74th FS, 23rd FG "Flying Tigers" (ACC), Pope AFB, North Carolina. This EFS regularly deployed for the AEF 1/2 (Cycle 3) rotation. 23rd FG personnel operated simultaneously in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Southern Watch for nearly seven months.

Lt. Col. Matthew D. Neuenswander, an A-10 pilot (El Cid), was the Deputy Commander of the 332nd AEG from July 2001 to July 2002. In March 2002, he led an A-10 detachment that deployed forward into Afghanistan in support of Operation Anaconda and then re-deployed that unit to Bagram Air Base where he became the first AEG Commander in Afghanistan. Colonel Neuenswander flew A-1O sorties as a Forward Air Control (Airborne) (FAC(A)) in support of Operation Anaconda.

In an article, Col. Neuenswander wrote:

[...] When senior air commanders in theater were called upon to provide high-intensity and high-volume CAS and TST to assist in Operation Anaconda, they "pulled out the stops." On the night of 3 March, the CFACC directed the A-10 unit stationed at Al Jaber to move five jets to a classified forward location.
This unit launched the first A-10s 12 hours after notification, and the unit was in place from more than 1,400 miles away with its first operational capability 27 hours after notification.
The A-10s conducted CAS and FAC(A) missions and at times performed the ABCCC and airborne warning and control system (AWACS) missions. These aircraft provided a large
portion of the TACS/AAGS architecture and significantly aided in target area deconfliction, target acquisition, command and control, and terminal control of CAS platforms.
In their role as CAS fighters, these A-10s were responsible for the destruction of a significant number of enemy targets. This included the total destruction of a large enemy counterattack on 5 March. At one point during Anaconda, the pilots and maintainers of the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS) provided 21 continuous hours of FAC(A)/CAS coverage over the target area with only four aircraft.
As soon as the runway at Bagram Air Base was repaired and allowed full-length operations, this A-10 unit moved to Bagram to support CJTF-Mountain and served as the backbone for a new AEG. This group, and later wing, was initially manned and supported by the 332d AEG out of Kuwait. The CFACC took a number of key personnel already in theater "out of hide" to build this unit until these positions could be backfilled from the states.
The feat of moving an A-10 unit 1,400 miles in one ATO day is a testimony to the US Air Force’s combat logisticians, Director of Mobility Forces and 332d AEG. Hundreds of professionals in the Mobility Forces truly made this operation possible. [...]

Source: "JCAS in Operation Anaconda - It’s Not All Bad News" (Field Artillery May-June 2003)

In an 43rd AW PA news article "DOD-level winning squadron compete for Phoenix Award", released in September 2003, 23rd FG commander Col. Vincent DiFronzo was quoted:

"It was the first time they decided to put A-10s into Afghanistan after the first night of Anaconda," DiFronzo said. "We called, and the aircraft were airborne within 14 hours and into the fight. That was unprecedented.
"The maintenance piece was so impressive because they jumped right into recovering the aircraft," the colonel said. "It was a four-hour trip in an A-10 to get into the battle area, and then they had to recover into a classified area with no notice. They were there for a week, went back to (their original Southwest Asia location) and deployed to Bagram a few days later, and the whole time they met every A-10 tasking."

According to this article, at Bagram 74th FS members worked to clear unexploded ordnance, set up a tent city and got maintenance and flying operations working to support 300 Air Force personnel and six aircraft.

For Operation Anaconda check:



- "Operation Anaconda - An Air Power Perspective", Headquarters United States Air Force AF/XOL, 7 February 2005
- "The Airpower of Anaconda" by Rebecca Grant (Air Force Magazine, September 2002, Vol. 85, No. 9)
- Other Sources

I also read the following very interesting books:
- "U.S. ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN" by Charles H. Briscoe, Richard L. Kiper, James A. Schroder, and Kalev I. Sepp, Paladin Press, Boulder, Colorado, 2006;
- "TASK FORCE DAGGER - The Hunt for Bin Laden" by Robin Moore, Pan Books, London, 2004;
- "Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda - Chaos and Courage in the Mountains of Afghanistan" by Sean Naylor, Berkley Books, New York, 2005;




According to my own research work, the "classified forward location", mentioned by Lt. Col. Neuenswander, was Shahbaz Air Base, Jacobabad, Pakistan, 28°16'37.32"N 68°27'05.04"E, called Jacobabad AB by the U.S. Military.




On April 26, 2002, Air Combat Command headquarters activated the 455th Air Expeditionary Group at Bagram Airfield, then designated is as the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing three months later as the Air Force presence and mission to free Afghanistan from the Taliban grew.

Source

Click to enlarge

An aerial view of empty Bagram Airfield, taken on February 27, 2002. (U.S. Navy photo by PH1 Ted Banks)

AEF 1/2 (Cycle 3) rotation (March - May 2002)


74th FS, 23rd Wg (ACC), Pope AFB, North Carolina (FT)

Deployed as 74th EFS, commanded by Lt. Col. Arden Dahl.



Four A-10s from the 74th EFS sit on the flightline at Bagram Airfield. (U.S. Air Force photo)



An A-10 from the 74th EFS. (U.S. Air Force photo)



A-10 79-0223 from the 75th FS. (U.S. Air Force photo)



It says all ... (Archived photo)


Replaced by:

AFRC "Rainbow Team"
303rd FS, 442nd FW (AFRC), Whiteman AFB, Missouri (KC)
706th FS, 926th FW (AFRC), NAS JRB New Orleans, Louisiana (NO)

Both units teamed up to form the 706th EFS, commanded by Lt. Col. Neil McAskill.
This "Rainbow Team" flew for some weeks together with the 74th EFS before it took all A-10 operations at Bagram. Later it flew together with the 75th EFS before returning to CONUS. During the deployment, which ran from April 4 through July 20, the unit launched more than 500 sorties and flew more than 1,200 hours.



A-10 79-0092 from the 303rd FS takes off on May 20, 2002. (U.S. Air Force photo)



A-10 79-0111 from the 706th FS. (U.S. Air Force photo)



One of the AFRES A-10s with 'Let´s Roll' logo. (U.S. Air Force Photo)


Replaced by:

75th FS, 23rd Wg (ACC), Pope AFB, North Carolina (FT)

Deployed as 75th EFS, took over the aircraft from the 74th EFS.



A-10 80-0252 from the 75th FS. (U.S. Air Force photo)


AEF 5/6 (Cycle 3) rotation (September - November 2002)


354th FS, 355th FW (ACC), Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona (DM)

Deployed as 354th EFS. Unit returned home in December 2002.


AEF 7/8 (Cycle 3) rotation (December 2002 - February 2003)


ANG "Rainbow Team"
103rd FS, 111th FW (Pennsylvania ANG), Willow Growe ARS, Pennsylvania (PA)
104th FS, 175th Wg (Maryland ANG), Martin State AP, Maryland (MD)
190th FS, 124th Wg (Idaho ANG), Boise, Idaho (ID)

Deployed as 104th EFS.



An A-10 assigned to the 104th EFS takes off on March 20, 2003. Coalition forces in Afghanistan launched another offensive, dubbed Operation Valiant Strike, on March 20 aimed at villages and cave complexes east of Kandahar in the Sami Ghar mountains, defense officials said. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Adam Johnston) Hi-res



An A-10 assigned to the 104th EFS banks to the right after take off on March 20, 2003. On that day, Coalition forces in Afghanistan launched another offensive, dubbed Operation Valiant Strike, aimed at villages and cave complexes east of Kandahar in the Sami Ghar mountains. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Adam Johnston) Hi-res



Maintenance technicians with the 104th EFS replace parts on the first A-10 going through contingency phase maintenance at Bagram AB. Maintainers here say they are accomplishing the first-ever contingency phase maintenance on the A-10 in the field. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Adam Johnston) Hi-res



Tech. Sgt. Mike Milewski, a crew chief, talks to the pilot of an A-10 during an end-of-runway check. Milewski is with the Maryland ANG´s 104th Fighter Squadron’s end-of-runway crew, which is doing a 30-day tour at the base as part of the 455th EOG. The crew gives each ground-attack fighter a thorough going over before it departs on a mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Keith Reed)



Lt. Col. Dan of the 104th FS explains the capabilities of an A-10 to Tech. Sgt. Donald Richardson, a heating and ventilation technician with the 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron at Bagram AB. The A-10 pilots conduct "Warthog" tours for Air Force people here to promote a better understanding of the A-10's capabilities. Dan chose not to release his last name. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Adam Johnston) Hi-res


AEF Blue


From June 2003:

81st FS, 52nd FW (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany (SP)

Deployed as 81st EFS, commanded by Lt. Col. Pat Malackowski. (Originally, the squadron was earmarked to deploy for OIF to Turkey.)



A crew chief from the 455th EOG at Bagram AB marshals an A-10 pilot to a parking spot. The 52nd FW deployed about 150 people and eight A-10s to assume the CAS mission from the Maryland ANG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Eric M. Grill) Hi-res



First Lt. Erik Axt, 81st EFS, touches down at Bagram AB in A-10 650 after flying a mission on August 14, 2003. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Wicke) Hi-res



First Lt. Erik Axt, 81st EFS, emerges from his A-10 after flying a mission at Bagram AB August 14, 2003. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Wicke)



First Lt. Erik Axt, 81st EFS, emerges from his A-10 after flying a mission here Aug. 14 supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Wicke) Hi-res



An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off here Nov. 17 to provide close-air support to the Army's 10th Mountain Division as they pursue Taliban and al-Qaida forces during Operation Mountain Resolve. The A-10 is from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brian Davidson) Hi-res


AEF 5/6 (Cycle 4) rotation (December 2003 – February 2004)


354th FS, 355th FW (ACC), Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona (DM)

Deployed as 354th EFS, commanded by Lt. Col. Tim Saffold.


AEF 7/8 (Cycle 4) rotation (March – May 2004) and AEF 9/10 (Cycle 4) rotation (June – August 2004)


355th FS, 354th FW (PACAF), Eielson AFB, Alaska (AK)

Deployed as 355th EFS from 26 Mar - 1 Oct 04. During the six-month deployment, the A-10s flew more than 2,000 sorties and logged more than 7,500 flying hours. The first aircraft returned to Eielson AFB on Sept. 29, 2004.


AEF 1/2 (Cycle 5) rotation (September – December 2004)


USAFE/AFRC "Rainbow Team"
81st FS, 52nd FW (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany (SP)
706th FS, 926th FW (AFRC), NAS JRB New Orleans, Louisiana (NO)

Both units teamed up to form the 81st EFS, commanded by Lt. Col. John Cherrey, 81st FS commander.


AEF 3/4 (Cycle 5) rotation (January – April 2005)


75th FS, 23rd FG (ACC), Pope AFB, North Carolina (FT)

Deployed as 75th EFS, commanded by Lt. Col. Raymond Strasburger, 75th FS commander.
According to Pope Air Force Base´s newsletter "Carolina Flyer" (issue January 21th, 2005), "the aircraft are scheduled to remain at Bagram for the next eight months". That means, the 75th EFS transferred all of their deployed aicraft to the 74th EFS.


AEF 5/6 (Cycle 5) rotation (May – August 2005)


74th FS, 23rd FG (ACC), Pope AFB, North Carolina (FT)

Deployed as 74th EFS, commanded by Lt. Col. Jeff Cowan, 74th FS commander.


AEF 7/8 (Cycle 5) rotation (September – December 2005)


354th FS, 355th FW (ACC), Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona (DM)

Deployed as 354th EFS. Some aircraft returned home on February 8, 2006. At least four returned home on February 10, 2006.


AEF 9/10 (Cycle 5) rotation (January – April 2006)


355th FS, 354th FW (PACAF), Eielson AFB, Alaska (AK)

Deployed as 355th EFS. Aircraft left their home base on January 17, 2006, for a week-long trek to Afghanistan. First stopover in Massachusetts. The unit flew more than 1,500 combat sorties and 5,000 hours in the skies over Afghanistan. This marked the unit’s last A-10 combat deployment.



Airman 1st Class Jeremiah Hansen marshals an A-10 for a Christmas Eve launch here. Hansen and other 354th EFS airmen are deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. They are supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Hansen is a crew chief with the squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brian Davidson) Hi-res


AEF 1/2 (Cycle 6) rotation (May – August 2006)


USAFE/AFRC "Rainbow Team":
81st FS, 52nd FW (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany (SP)
303rd FS, 442nd FW (AFRC), Whiteman AFB, Missouri (KC)

Deployed as 81th EFS (also called 384th EFS), commanded by Lt. Col. Keith McBride.

303rd FS aircraft left Whiteman AFB on Saturday, May 6, 2006. 81st FS aircraft left Spangdahlem AB on May 10, 2006.

During this deployment the Panthers performed an intensive regimen of combat patrols to find, fix and destroy elusive, guerilla-type enemy combatants in support of ground forces, flying in excess of 2,000 combat sorties and 7,600 combat hours. The Panthers employed over 109,000 rounds of 30mm, dropped 350 guided and conventional bombs, and fired over 325 rockets in support of 260 Coalition force operations. As a direct result of the combat action in the 2006 deployment two pilots in the Panthers won the prestigious Mackay Trophy and the Daedalian Exceptional Pilot Awards.

The six deployed 303rd FS aircraft flew more than 3,912 hours, the equivalent of one airplane flying non-stop for five-and-a-half months. During the deployment, two planes required two phase inspections.




BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- An A-10 Thunderbolt II, flown by pilot, Maj. Mark Ernewein, from the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., arrives at its deployed location with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing here May 13. Pilots and maintainers from the 442nd FW and the 52nd Fighter Wing, from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, will conduct close air support and other air to ground operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The A-10 carries a 30 mm gun and up to 16,000 pounds of bombs and missiles. Its primary role is to support Army Soldiers and other forces operating on the ground. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. David Kurle, 455 AEW/PA)


AEF 3/4 (Cycle 6) rotation (September – December 2006)


75th FS, 23rd FG (ACC), Pope AFB, North Carolina (FT)

Deployed as 75th EFS. This rotation marked the squadron´s last combat deployment from Pope AFB.


Note: According to 455th AEW Public Affairs, in 2006 the A-10 squadrons assigned to Bagram AB flew over 5,000 sorties, totaling more than 18,120 flying hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.


AEF 5/6 (Cycle 6) rotation (January – April 2007)


The A-10s which rotated out of Bagram AB in January were replaced by F-15Es to provide a more robust all-weather capability during the winter months.

For this rotation ACC replaced the A-10 by F-15E Strike Eagles.

The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing added a new capability to its inventory January 14, 2007. F-15E Strike Eagles, deployed from the 391st FS at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, put wheels down, and started a new chapter in the wing's history.
The 391st EFS´s deployment marked the first time an Air Force F-15E unit has served at the base.

The 391st EFS, deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, arrived at Bagram Jan. 14 and began conducting the close air support mission traditionally performed by A-10s in Afghanistan. For the past year, Wrangler said, "we've been shaping our training for what we'd be doing here."

Wrangler said the F-15E brings speed and versatility of weapons to the fight. The SDB is just one of several munitions the Strike Eagle is capable of carrying. The F-15E also has an all-weather capability that aids in delivering close air support to ISAF and their partnered Afghan ground forces.


A-10s from the 354th Fighter Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., arrived April 17 to bring increased versatility to the capabilities of the aircraft stationed here. This is the second deployment for the squadron since 2006.

Brig. Gen. Christopher Miller, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, said the A-10s, in addition to the F-15Es already here, will provide theater commanders with an even more robust spectrum of air-to-ground capabilities.

The A-10s that rotated out of Bagram in January were replaced by the F-15E, which provided a more robust all-weather capability during the winter months. The current rotation of A-10s will operate in addition to the F-15Es already on station.


AEF 7/8 (Cycle 6) rotation (May – August 2007)


354th FS, 355th FW (ACC), Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona (DM)

Deployed as 354th EFS. Aircraft left Davis-Monthan AB on April 7, 2007. Arrival at Bagram AB on April 17, 2007. 10 A-10 pilots and their aircraft returned home October 26, 2007. Before landing, the jets flew one last pass in formation over the flight line. During this six- or seven-month deployment the 354th EFS pilots completed 2519 sorties, 10051 total hours - 55.5 hours daily average - and had 153,710 30 mm expenditures.


AEF 9/10 (Cycle 6) rotation (September – December 2007)


For this rotation again only a Strike Eagle unit was deployed to Bagram AB: the 336th EFS from Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina.

On November 3, 2007, USAF grounded all of its F-15s in response to the crash of a Missouri ANG F-15C in Boss, Missouri. USAF restricted flights of F-15Es and F-15 Eagles to "mission-critical" sorties only. Training, test and most combat missions were grounded. At Bagram AB the Strike Eagles sat on combat alert status but were not assigned to pre-planned or on-call missions.

The grounding forced CENTCOM to use other Air Force, Navy and French fighters to fill the gaps, though Strike Eagles did fly to support troops in battle in Afghanistan as an emergency measure while they were still under grounding orders

Aditionally, CENTCOM decided to relocate A-10s from Al Asad Airfield, Iraq, to Bagram AB. Originally, the A-10s were deployed for OIF to the 438th AEG, a subordinated unit of the 332nd AEW at Balad AB, Iraq. According to 332nd AEW Public Affairs, the 438th AEG relocated 80% of their 360 Airmen and all A-10s to Bagram AB "in <52 hrs of Warning Order" following worldwide grounding of the F-15 fleet.
The 438th AEG was the first unit to fly newly upgraded A-10C Thunderbolt IIs in combat.

ANG "Rainbow Team"

104th FS, 175th Wg (Maryland ANG), Martin State AP Air Guard Station, Baltimore,(MD)
78-0637, 78-0683, 78-0705, 78-0717, 79-0087

172nd FS, 110th FW (Michigan ANG), Battle Creek (BC)
80-0255, 80-0257, 81-0975, 81-0994

Deployed as 104th EFS, commanded by Lt. Col. Timothy Smith, 104th FS commander. The unit returned home in mid-January 2008.


AEF 1/2 (Cycle 7) rotation (January - April 2008)


81st FS, 52nd FW (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany (SP)

13 A-10s

79-0207, 80-0281, 81-0945, 81-0951, 81-0952, 81-0963, 81-0966, 81-0976, 81-0978, 81-0983, 81-0984, 81-0992, 82-0649

Deployed as 81st EFS.

For pictures of all Spang "Hogs" which returned recently from Bagram AB please check
www.flugzeugforum.de. You must go to the Forum, then to Flugplätze, and then to Spangdahlem (ETAD) aktuell 2008. For the pictures and related comments check pages 42 - 46.


AEF 3/4 (Cycle 7) rotation (May - August 2008)


A-10 "Rainbow Team"

12 A-10s

303rd FS, 442nd FW (AFRC), Whiteman AFB, Missouri (KC)
78-0655, 79-0093, 79-0119, 79-0123

103rd FS, 111th FW (Pennsylvania ANG), Willow Grove ARS, Pennsylvania (PA)
80-0230, 80-0273, 81-0981, 82-0659

190th FS, 124th Wg (Idaho ANG), Boise, Idaho (ID)
78-0611, 78-0627, 78-0653, 80-0250

Departed Whiteman AFB on May 6. Serial numbers spotted during stopover at Lajes on May 8. On their way back to CONUS, the first six aircraft (78-0655, 79-0119, 79-0123, 80-0230, 80-0250, 80-0273) passed through Lajes on September 21, followed by the other six on September 24.

















A-10s take off from the Whiteman runway May 6, as part of an OEF deployment.
(U.S. Air Force photos by Tech. Sgt. Samuel A. Park)


AEF 5/6 (Cycle 7) rotation (September - December 2008)


75th FS, 23rd FG, 23rd Wg (ACC), Moody AFB, Georgia (FT)

12 A-10Cs
78-0674 (74th FS, marked 74 FS), 78-0679 (75th FS), 78-0697 (74th FS), 79-0138 (75th FS), 79-0172 (74th FS, ex 190th FS), 79-0179 (74th FS), 79-0186 (75th FS), 79-0192 (74th FS), 80-0140 (74th FS), 80-0149 (75th FS), 80-0178 (74th FS), 80-0226 (74th FS, ex 190th FS)

Deployed as 75th EFS. All twelve serial numbers were identified by European aircraft spotters during the aircraft's arrival for stopover at Lajes Airfield on September 8, 2008. But current squadron assignments of each individual aircraft were provided exclusively to me on November 16 via e-mailed photos taken by João Toste, Portugal. This OEF rotation marked the squadron's first combat deployment from Moody AFB.



Some of the Moody A-10Cs during their stopover at Lajes enroute Bagram AB, Afghanistan. (Photo by João Toste)

Due to a partial A-10 grounding, the 75th EFS got four replacements (including 79-0135 and 80-0272, both from the 74th FS). 80-0140 and 80-0149 relocated to Spangdahlem AB, Germany, for inspections and repairs.

After the A-10 groundings due to wing cracks, Moody AFB officially deployed four additional aircraft as replacements to allow relocate jets of the original aircraft package to Spangdahlem AB, Germany, for inspections and repairs.

In a commentary, published on Moody’s public website on November 21th, 2008, Col. Kenneth Todorov, 23rd Wing Commander, said:

"I want to extend my personal thanks to each of you for your participation in Exercise Flying Tiger 08-11. During the Phase I portion we deployed over 300 personnel, 300+ tons of cargo, four real-world A-10C Thunderbolt II aircrafts for Operation Enduring Freedom, and one real-world HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter to support the Space Shuttle launch. […]"

Source

According to the Scramble Message Board, these four aircraft (probably all from the 74th Fighter Squadron) arrived for stopover at Lajes Field, Azores, on October 22nd, 2008, one day later as expected. They should have landed at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, as Trend 41 on October 29th, 2008.

Part of this flight were at least:

79-0135, 74th FS [USAF photo 7 November 2008]
80-0272, 74th FS [USAF photo 7 November 2008]

On November 22nd, 2008, on the Scramble Message Board was reported that four more A-10s routed Lajes, Sigonella and Middle East (that means Al Udeid AB, Qatar) as more replacements for the 75th EFS.

After that, three more replacements were identified:

80-0144, 74th FS [USAF photo 2 December 2008]
80-0228, 74th FS [USAF photo 24 February 2009] (aircraft identified only by numbers on ejection seat and left canopy rail)
80-0252, 75th FS [USAF photo 24 February 2009]

Meanwhile, a sixth and a seventh replacement are identified by private shots, posted on airliners.net:

82-0657, 74th FS [Chris Hagstrom photo 12 December 2008]
81-0944, without unit markings (ex 190th FS, 124th Wg, Idaho ANG) [Chris Hagstrom photo 14 December 2008] Scramble Aircraft Database notes: Ogden ALC sep07 nm, rep AMARG nov08

On March 11th, 2009, on the Scramble Message Board was reported that 4 A-10s are at Sigonella and will depart early next day to Lajes and then to CONUS on March 13th.

The re-deployment of four A-10s suggest that Bagram AB was simply overloaded with 20 A-10Cs, 18 F-15E Strike Eagles, probably four to six EA-6B Prowlers and some other aircraft.

AEF 7/8 (Cycle 7) rotation (January - April 2009)


74th FS, 23rd FG, 23rd Wg (ACC), Moody AFB, Georgia (FT)

In early March 2009, the 75th EFS was replaced by the 74th EFS, but only by personnel.

Reported on Scramble Message Board April 23, 2009: Six A-10s should be departing from Lajes to Sigonella tomorrow (Thursday) as Mazda 81-86 with KC-10 Gold 31. They arrived at Lajes from Moody AFB yesterday under Coronet East 122.

Reported on Scramble Message Board May 19, 2009: Mazda 81-86 were probably 81-0964, 78-0598, 78-0600, 82-0664, 78-0596 and 81-0979. That suggest six "fresh" Moody A-10Cs were deployed as further replacements to support the extended deployment.



Photographed at Lajes on May 3, 2009, was A-10 79-0138 of the original aircraft package. Photo by Fábio Pinheiro, first-published on www.azoresairphotos.com: Full size

Reported by André Inácio, Portugal, July 6, 2009, in an email to me: Four A-10s arrived at Lajes May 3, 2009, and departed May 5, 2009: 78-0679, 79-0138, 79-0179 (all three of the original aircraft package), and 80-0144 (one of the first eight replacements). They were on their way back to Moody AFB.

Photographed at Lajes June 13, 2009, was A-10 81-0979 (one of the six "fresh" Moody A-10Cs and probably returning to Moody AFB. The following picture was first-published on airliners.net.



A-10 81-0979 from the 74th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Georgia, caught at Lajes Field, Azores, June 13, 2009 - either enroute to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, or on their way back home to Moody AFB. Visible loadout: MXU-648 baggage pods on stations 4 and 8, external fuel tank on station 6. (Photo by Paulo Santos) Hi-res

Photographer's comment: This was some strange way to leave our island! After take-off, they came back, with this A-10 doing an emergency landing! Someone forgot to close some kind of hatch, and it opened inflight! Her it is again, taking-off for the second time that day.



Photographed at the same day at Lajes was A-10 81-0967, also from the 74th Fighter Squadron. Photo by Fábio Pinheiro, first-published on www.azoresairphotos.com: Full size

In an email from July 4, 2009, André Inácio told me that both aircraft arrived June 11 and departed June 13, 2009.

AEF 9/10 (Cycle 7) rotation (May - August 2009)


74th FS, 23rd FG, 23rd Wg (ACC), Moody AFB, Georgia (FT)

Deployed as 74th EFS.

AEF 1/2 (Cycle 8) rotation (September - December 2009)


354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Wing (ACC), Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona

As Stars and Stripes reported earlier this year, elements from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany, with at least twelve of their upgraded A-10Cs were scheduled to deploy as 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron for this rotation.

But instead of that, in July 2009, elements of the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Wing (ACC), Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, deployed with 12 A-10Cs as 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, as part of a new-activated 451st Air Expeditionary Wing (formerly the 451st Air Expeditionary Group). According to news sources, this will be a six-month deployment.

Deployed aircraft:

78-0684 (marked 354 FS/CC), 78-0709 (still without new unit markings), 79-0202, 80-0142, 80-0150, 80-0155 (still without new unit markings), 80-0179, 80-0280, 80-0246 (still without new unit markings), 81-0948, 81-0950, 82-0663.

According to other news sources, A-10Cs from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing (Arkansas Air National Guard), Fort Smith, will deploy for OEF in spring 2010.

Related info:
354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron


The 451st Air Expeditionary Wing





Hi-res

On July 2, 2009, the 451st Air Expeditionary Group at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, transitioned to the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing. Command of the 451st AEW was assumed by Brigadier General Guy M. Walsh, formerly commander of the 175th Wing (Maryland Air National Guard). Up to this date, the 451st AEG was a geographically separated unit of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, and was comprised of more than 400 Airmen who provided medical evacuation capability throughout Afghanistan with HH-60 Pave Hawks, and also intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike missions with unmanned aerial systems (MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper UAVs).


In early October 2009, the 451st AEW launched their own and long-awaited public website, called The Official Web Site of Kandahar Airfield.

Some official unit info from this website:

The 451st Air Expeditionary Wing provides a persistent and powerful airpower presence in the Afghanistan area of operations. 451st AEW Airmen provide world-class Tactical Airlift, Close Air Support, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Command and Control, Airborne Datalink, Combat Search and Rescue, Casualty Evacuation and Aeromedical Evacuation capabilities whenever and wherever needed.

The 451st Expeditionary Operations Group is responsible for conducting flying and aero-medical evacuation operations for the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing. The group oversees the day-to-day operations of one A-10 Thunderbolt II squadron, one C-130H airlift squadron, an HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search and rescue squadron, Tactical Airborne Gateway, MQ-1, MQ-9 Sq and a Control Reporting Center. The 451 EOG also has command of rescue and airlift detachments at FOB Bastion. Additionally, the operations group oversees a range of support functions such as airfield management and operations, intelligence, and weather.

The 451st Expeditionary Mission Support Group provides combat mission support with motivated personnel in four squadrons and one flight to include a Civil Engineer Squadron, Communications Squadron, Logistics Readiness Squadron, Security Forces Squadron and Force Support Flight. The 451st EMSG works in support of the International Security Assistance Force and Operation Enduring Freedom and is responsible for mission support to a composite wing comprised of tactical airlift, close air support, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, command and control, airborne datalink, combat search and rescue, casualty and aeromedical evacuation capabilities.

The 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Group consists of maintainers working in two expeditionary maintenance squadrons providing world-class flightline, backshop, and munitions support for aircraft across eight different mission data series in the largest maintenance complex in the southwest area of responsibility. Missions include close air support, tactical air support, intelligence/ surveillance/ reconnaissance, tactical airborne gateway, combat search and rescue, and medical evacuation to support joint/coalition/NATO forces promoting democracy and human rights.


Related info:
Latest A-10 OEF deployment info from Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
Kandahar Airmen use AFSO 21 at war
Commander discusses challenges facing new AEW
First A-10Cs at Kandahar


ANG "Rainbow Team"


In January 2010, the 354th EFS at Kandahar Airfield was replaced by an Air National Guard "Rainbow Team", consisting of elements from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing (Maryland ANG), Martin State AP Air Guard Station, Baltimore, Maryland (tailcode MD), and from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing (Arkansas ANG), Fort Smith Regional Airport, Fort Smith, Arkansas (tailcode FS).

The following A-10Cs arrived at Kandahar January 11 and 13, 2010:

104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing (Maryland Air National Guard), Martin State AP Air Guard Station, Baltimore, Maryland (tailcode MD):

78-0640, 78-0682, 78-0702, 78-0720, 79-0082, 79-0165, 78-0719

184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing (Arkansas Air National Guard), Fort Smith Regional Airport, Fort Smith, Arkansas (tailcode FS):

78-0613, 78-0646, 78-0659, 79-0129, 80-0166

During the first half of this four-month combat deployment, the unit was designated 104th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, during the second half it would be designated 184th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. 104th EFS commander was Lt. Col. Patrick McAlister.


81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron

In May 2010, the ANG "Rainbow Team" was replaced by the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron with twelve A-10Cs from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany.

Already identified by USAF photos from Kandahar are A-10Cs 81-0945, 81-0980, 82-0649, 82-0654.

Please note: As Stars and Stripes reported in early 2009, elements from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany, with at least twelve of their upgraded A-10Cs were scheduled to deploy as 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron for USAF's AEF 1/2 (Cycle 8) rotation (September - December 2009). But instead of that, in July 2009, elements of the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Wing (ACC), Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, deployed with 12 A-10Cs as 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, as part of a new-activated 451st Air Expeditionary Wing (formerly the 451st Air Expeditionary Group).


The first ten A-10Cs from the 81st EFS returned home to Spang September 27, 2010:

A-10C 80-0275
A-10C 81-0945
A-10C 81-0963
A-10C 81-0976
A-10C 81-0980
A-10C 81-0985
A-10C 81-0991
A-10C 82-0649
A-10C 82-0654
A-10C 82-0656

On the same day, the following two A-10Cs from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (Idaho Air National Guard), Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, arrived at Lajes for stopover enroute back to CONUS:

A-10C 78-0703
A-10C 79-0194, marked 124 OG as the 124th Operations Group's bird

Both Hogs were part of a surge deployment to reinforce the 81st EFS at Kandahar.


23rd Fighter Group

In September 2010, the 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron replaced the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Spangdahlem AB, Germany. Originally, the 81st EFS was deployed with 12 A-10Cs. Later, related to a surge, it was reinforced by six more A-10Cs from Spang and two ANG A-10Cs.

Originally, the following 18 23rd Fighter Group aircraft deployed:

A-10C 78-0596, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 78-0600, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 78-0688, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 79-0139, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 79-0159, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 79-0172, 74th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 79-0206, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 79-0207, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 79-0223, marked 23 FG as 23rd Fighter Group flagship
A-10C 80-0172, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 80-0180, marked 476th FG as 476th Fighter Group flagship
A-10C 80-0208, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 80-0223, marked 23 WG as 23rd Wing flagship
A-10C 80-0259, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 80-0282, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 81-0947, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 81-0953, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 81-0995, 75th Fighter Squadron



WHAT A GREAT VIEW: All eighteen 75th EFS A-10Cs are parking at Lajes Field, Azores, diverted in three sections of six aircraft each. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size

Later, the 75th EFS was downsized from 18 to 12 aircraft. On December 6, 2010, six A-10Cs from the 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron arrived at Lajes Field, Azores, for stopover enroute back to CONUS:

A-10C 78-0600, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 78-0688, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 79-0172, 74th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 79-0207, 75th Fighter Squadron
A-10C 80-0223, marked 23 WG as the 23rd Wing's flagship
A-10C 81-0947, 75th Fighter Squadron

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