Prepping a Hog

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Lt. Col. Stephen Chappel, an A-10 pilot deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing here, performs a walk-around inspection of an A-10 Thunderbolt II May 13 in preparation for a mission over Afghanistan. The A-10 fires a 30-milimeter canon, and can carry up to 16,000-pounds of ordnance for close air support missions to support troops on the ground. Colonel Chappel is an Air Force Reservist deployed from the 442nd Fighter Wing, based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (US Air Force photo by Maj. David Kurle, 455 AEW/PA)

Combat mission

An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off from Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, on a combat mission on Tuesday, May 23, 2006. The A-10 is deployed from the Air Force Reserve Command's 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. David Kurle)

Active-duty, Reserve units take over A-10 flying mission

Published May 25, 2006
By 455th AEW Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- A mix of active-duty and Reserve units started landing their A-10 Thunderbolt IIs May 13 to take part in Air Expeditionary Force 1 and 2.

The 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here is composed of the 81st Fighter Squadron from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany — the lead unit — and the 303rd Fighter Squadron from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., an Air Force Reserve unit.

It’s the third time the 81st FS has deployed here and the second time it’s deployed with a Reserve unit.

“We have a lot of experience with OEF and OIF,” said Lt. Col. Keith McBride, the 81st EFS commander. “The 303rd also brings with it a lot of combat experience.”

The 303rd is part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, which deployed here in 2002 when maintenance operations were conducted out of two tents, according to Chief Master Sgt. Steve Brazeal, the aircraft maintenance unit chief.

“We’ve got actual buildings to work out of,” Chief Brazeal said. “In my opinion, it’s a huge improvement over the past few years in that we have a full-up facility to work out of.”

The A-10s fly daily missions in support of military operations throughout the country.
A majority of the sorties are in support of Army ground operations through a mixture of close air support, reconnaissance, and pre-planned operations.