Hoosier ANG A-10 Warthogs in Iraq—And Just in Time

An Indiana Air National Guard Airmen with the 122nd Fighter Wing
at Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station prepares a
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, “Warthog” for flight
during Bold Quest 12-1 June 6. More than 11 Nations participated
or observed the systems communications check.
(Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs)

The A-10 Warthog Is Back in Iraq—And Just in Time — War Is Boring — Medium

The low- and slow-flying A-10 Warthog jet is back in the Middle East—seven years after the attack planes withdrew.

The prospect of A-10s joining the war against Islamic State was subject to rumors in September, when elements of the Indiana Air National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing—which flies the twin-engine A-10—deployed to Southwest Asia.

    The Air Force finally confirmed the A-10s were in the region on Nov. 24, noting the aircraft “landed here over several days” between Nov. 17 and Nov. 21.

While it’s not clear whether the Indiana A-10s have carried out any strikes against Islamic State yet … they surely will soon. The Warthogs’ mission is to provide close-air support to Iraqi army and police and Kurdish Peshmerga troops fighting on the ground.

The USAF's Much Maligned A-10 Warthogs Are Deploying To Fight ISIS 
A-10s deployed to take on the Islamic State - News - Stripes

The planes are with the 163rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. The unit, also known as the “Blacksnakes”, is part of the Air National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing, based at Fort Wayne, Ind. The squadron is a component of the newly reactivated 332ndAir Expeditionary Group, its heritage tied to the famous 332rd Fighter Group led by the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II. The group was reactivated on Nov. 16 to participate in Operation Inherent Resolve.

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