But They've Traded Their P-40's For Warthogs
The legacy of American volunteers protecting China flying
shark-faced P-40 Tomahawks during World War II has become a fixture
in the war in Afghanistan.
In homage to the storied airmen of the past, the 74th
Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, deployed from Moody Air Force Base,
GA, has the iconic shark's face painted on the front of its A-10
Thunderbolt II's, lovingly nicknamed the "Warthog."
The Warthogs provide daily close-air-support and
precision-engagement missions throughout Afghanistan in support of
coalition ground forces.
The squadron has had at least two aircraft airborne and
providing support to their warrior counterparts on the ground on
every day of its deployment. But the 74th Aircraft Maintenance Unit
keeps the A-10s ready to fly.
"Just like the airmen that defended China in World War II, the
74th AMU is often short on resources, said Air Force Capt. James
Schieser, officer in charge of the squadron's maintenance unit. The
maintenance airmen make do with what they have to maintain their
aging aircraft, he added. "The strong leadership, dedication and
perseverance of our noncommissioned officers, senior
noncommissioned officers and officer corps, are what ensure every
aircraft is fully mission-capable. The maintainers of the 74th AMU
understand, with the Flying Tiger legacy they inherited, failure is
not an option."
The Flying Tigers have broken records by flying more than 12,000
mission hours, expending more than 100 tons of ordnance since
arriving in February. Sometime, though, all it takes is a show of
force to end an engagement. But when enemy combatants don't flee
after a show of force, the Warthog can deliver a precise strike to
protect coalition ground forces.
Army Spc. Jason Dorsey, Company C, 178th Infantry, saw firsthand
the precision and power of the Warthog. "The A-10s were a valuable
asset to us on ground missions here in Afghanistan," Dorsey said.
"Their speed and precise targeting provided great support for us
and kept the bad guys' heads down during firefights."
Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Thomas E. Moore, lead production
superintendent for the maintenance unit, said he hears from a lot
of grateful soldiers coming in from the field. "...it's their
stories of desperately needing air [support] and seeing an A-10
flying overhead providing cover for them that kept us energized and
motivated," he said "It kept us working hard even when it
seemed all we were doing was launching and recovering jets
24/7."