An interesting gallery of U.S. Air Force’s A-10s being refueled over Afghanistan.
Taken on Jul. 10, 2014, the images in this post show U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft assigned to the 303rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, refueled over Eastern Afghanistan by a KC-135 Stratotanker with the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron from Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar July 10, 2014.
The A-10’s armored fuselage, maneuverability at slow speeds and low altitude has made the Thunderbolt (known as Warthog by its pilots) one of the best (if not the best) CAS (Close Air Support) asset throughout Operation Enduring Freedom (and several more operations, including Desert Storm).
Two Warthogs caught on their parking spots in front of a C-5A Galaxy at Westover ARB, Massachusetts.
Taken on Apr. 1, the photo was taken when as much as 16 A-10Cs (most probably 12 + four spares) from the 303rd Fighter Squadron “KC Hawgs”, 442nd Fighter Wing (AFRC), Whiteman AFB, Missouri, arrived at Westover ARB, homebase of the 439th Airlift Wing and its C-5 Galaxy airlifters, to perform an overnight stopover while enroute to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
F-16s, A-10s as well as MC-12s and C-5s Service deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, work around the clock, ensuring mission success 24 hours a day.
Taken in the last days, the following images show the never ending flying activity of all the U.S. Air Force assets operating within the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.
Here below, an A-10 Thunderbolt II receives a final check before taking off on a pre-dawn mission from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 11, 2014:
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon receives a final check before taking off on a mission shortly after dawn from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 11.
First measurable snow of the 2013-2014 winter covered the U.S. aircraft based at Bagram airfield, in Afghanistan on Dec. 29, 2013.
Snow accumulated on A-10s, C-130s , C-17s, and F-16s but the snowstorm did not stop flying activities at the largest U.S. airbase in Afghanistan.
On Dec. 15, Bagram main runway was reopened after 121 days during which it was renovated and expanded 2,000 feet to accomodate the incoming F-16 of the 457th Fighter Squadron from Kandahar.
The F-16s take-off and landing distance for the loads they carry are much greater than any other aircraft at Bagram, hence the need to expand it.
The length of the renovated runway not only allows F-16s and A-10s to carry more ammunition, but also allows cargo aircraft to carry more loads.
An air cargo drop mission can be quite demanding, especially if conducted at night.
The thing becomes much more challenging when the flight takes place over the enemy territory where there is a residual risk of MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense Systems) or small arms.
On these missions, not only pilots but all the crew wear Night Vision Goggles, and use the side windows of the plane to spot any sign of hostile fire.
The images in this post show aircrew of the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130H Hercules from Bagram airfield, involved in an airdrop mission in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, on Oct. 7, 2013.
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