It’s based at Barksdale Air Force Base (near Shreveport, La.), and now uses the A10 Warthog fighter exclusively.
Wikipedia (the “free encyclopedia”) says this about the A 10:
“The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s.
“The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support (CAS) for ground forces by attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets with a limited air interdiction capability.
“It is the first U.S. Air Force aircraft designed solely for close air support.
“The A-10 was designed around the GAU-8 Avenger, a heavy rotary cannon which forms the aircraft’s primary armament (and is, to date, the heaviest rotary cannon ever mounted on an aircraft).
“The aircraft’s hull incorporates over 1,200 pounds (540 kg) of armor and was designed with survivability as a priority, with protective measures in place which enable the aircraft to continue flying even after taking significant damage.
“ The A-10’s official name comes from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt of World War II, a fighter that was particularly effective at close air support.
“The A-10 is more commonly known by its nickname ‘Warthog’ or simply ‘Hog.’
“As a secondary mission, it provides airborne forward air control, guiding other aircraft against ground targets. A-10s used primarily in this role are designated OA-10. The A-10 is expected to be replaced in 2028 or later.”
Col. Breazeale said the P47 was credited with eight kills of Japanese planes at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
The A10 is being used extensively in Afghanistan to protect ground troops.
In addition to a PowerPoint presentation about the 47th Fighter Group, the colonel showed a video taken from an A10 in action in Afghanistan, with ground forces calling for air strikes against the enemy forces.
Wikipedia says this about the GAU8 Avenger:
“The General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger is a 30 mm hydraulically-driven seven-barrel Gatling-type rotary cannon that is mounted on the United States Air Force’s Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II.
“It is among the largest, heaviest and most powerful aircraft cannons in the United States military. Designed specifically for the anti-tank role, the Avenger delivers very powerful rounds at a high rate of fire.
“The GAU-8 was created as a parallel program with the A-X (or Attack Experimental) competition that produced the A-10. The specification for the cannon was laid out in 1970, with General Electric and Philco-Ford offering competing designs. Both of the A-X prototypes, the YA-10 and the Northrop YA-9, were designed to incorporate the weapon . . . .
“The gun is placed slightly off center in the nose of the plane with the front landing gear positioned to the right of the center line, so that the actively firing cannon barrel is directly on the aircraft’s center line. . . .
“The A-10 and its GAU-8/A gun entered service in 1977. It was produced by General Electric, though General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products has been responsible for production and support since 1997 when the division was sold by Lockheed Martin to General Dynamics.
“The gun is loaded using Syn-Tech’s linked tube carrier GFU-8/E 30 mm Ammunition Loading Assembly cart. This vehicle is unique to the A-10 and the GAU-8.”
His program was very well received.
The club surprised member Reba Cochran by making her a Paul Harris Fellow. They earned this distinction for her by making a $1,000 donation in her name to the Rotary Foundation.
Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary International.
My paternal uncle was a crew chief on a Jug in Europe, following Patton towards Berlin. He absolutely loved that plane.