A-10 Pilot Takes Aim On Terrorism

Talk to almost anyone in the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group, and a recurring theme is the desire to provide the best support possible for friendly forces on the ground. The way to do that is by making sure A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft here are always ready to fly at a moment's notice, so that an overwhelming air presence is constantly available in the sky over Afghanistan, whenever and wherever needed. Ultimately, the fighter pilots of the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron make air dominance in Operation Enduring Freedom a daily reality.

In a recent battle, 1st Lt. Michael Stock, the 354th EFS' newest, youngest pilot, helped provide the kind of support that ground troops expect from Airmen. He also got his first taste of combat experience. The success of his timely interdiction during a heated firefight once again demonstrated the lethal efficiency of the A-10. Lieutenant Stock was flying "convoy-escort" support when an urgent call from a ground radio station came in: "Troops in contact." U.S. Soldiers and members of the Afghan national army were taking intense small-arms fire from enemy forces who had holed-up in a compound. Two American Soldiers and an Afghan soldier had been killed in the fight, and several others were wounded. Just weeks after being certified, "combat-mission ready," the lieutenant was about to enter the fray of battle.

Flying in a two-ship formation with his squadron commander, Lt. Col. John Horner, in the lead and Lieutenant Stock as the wingman, the aircraft swung into action. The youngest and oldest pilots here were en route to the scene. After getting precise guidance from a joint terminal air controller on the ground, Lieutenant Stock provided coverage as Colonel Horner dove in to deliver an AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile that smashed into its target. Despite the direct hit, enemy resistance continued, repelling friendly force attempts to storm the compound. Getting low on fuel, Colonel Horner called Lieutenant Stock over the radio and told him of the situation. The two pilots rolled back toward the target, first the lead ship, then his wingman, both unleashing deadly accurate 30 mm cannon fire into the compound. Having entered battle for the first time, Lieutenant Stock fired his weapons with the cool efficiency and professionalism of a seasoned veteran, Colonel Horner said.

"Given his inexperience, his performance was noteworthy," said the colonel. "The scenario we were in was extremely challenging due to the complexity, the dangerously close proximity of friendly forces to the target, coordination requirements with attack helicopters, terrain, communications limitations and extremely low fuel state. He stayed in formation and put his shots abeam mine with pinpoint accuracy."

Lieutenant Stock said that the many months of fighter-pilot training that he received from outstanding Air Force instructors made him ready for this moment.

"Everything is very methodical in training, and there's a lot of repetition, which is very helpful," he said. "This was just like training … but with real people and real targets."

He said that he did not have time to feel a sense of anxiety or worry when the call for action came, because there were too many other factors to attend to. Most important was to make absolutely sure that it was the bad guys he lined up in his gun sight. He wanted to be absolutely sure that no friendly forces were in the line of fire.

"I wasn't really nervous or excited -- this is what we have to do," Lieutenant Stock said. "I was too concerned about focusing on my parameters and what I needed to do, so I had no time to be scared or excited."

He then explained some of those critical things that a fighter pilot has to consider before launching weapons, including attacking at the right angle, at the proper air speed and with the correct distance from the target before pulling the trigger. He also explained that he had to position his aircraft to shoot from the appropriate direction so that none of the 30 mm rounds would hit "friendlies" battling on the ground.

"It's like splitting hairs," Lieutenant Stock said, explaining the precision of the targeting process. "Until this instance, I'd never taken such precise aim in my life.

He said that having the utmost confidence in his lead pilot during the engagement, along with a sense of not wanting to fail his 354th EFS teammates, provided extra momentum for a successful mission.

"I trusted (Colonel Horner) 100 percent. He's very professional," said the lieutenant. "This entire squadron is very professional, and they don't accept weak links. I didn't want to be one."

In a familiar refrain, Lieutenant Stock said he was glad that he could be there to support the troops on the ground. He also told of the respect that he has for them.

"We come back (to base) after a few hours," he said. "They're out there for weeks on end."

Once he returned here, Lieutenant Stock said he remained concerned about the ground troops. He said there was no room for getting excited about his first combat experience until after he learned more about how his actions affected those engaged in the ground fight.

"Once you know that you did everything asked of you, then you feel good about the job you did," he said. "I feel great that we were able to do our part and take out some terrorists."

ANN thanks USAF Master Sgt. Jeff Szczechowski for this article.

FMI: www.af.mil