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Warthogs at War - Afghanistan Deployment Update

Hi all, I´am a new member (username: usmilobserver). My name is Joachim Jacob (born in 1954). I´am an aviation journalist (freelance) from Berlin/Germany. I prepare some in-depht print publications, which will covered selected U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command air assets during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. In the next time, I will post some A/AO-10A related topics and questions.

Since March 2002, the U.S. military has deployed permanently A/OA-10A Thunderbolt II detachments to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in support of the ongoing Operation ENDURING FREDDOM.

Currently deployed to Bagram AB is the 74th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, Pope AFB, North Carolina (Tailcode "FT"). As 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (74th EFS), the unit meet her scheduled task to fullfil the Air Expeditionary Force (Cycle 5) rotation of AEF 5/6 (May - August 2005). The 74th EFS is commanded by Lt. Col. Jeff Cowan, 74th FS commander.

The 74th EFS replaced pilots and ground personell from the 75th FS, 23rd FG, which were deployed to Bagram AB as 75th EFS during AEF 3/4 (January - April 2005). The 75th EFS was commanded by Lt. Col. Raymond Strasburger, 75th FS commander at this time.

The 75th EFS has formerly replaced a so called "Rainbow Team", which was deployed to Bagram AB during AEF 1/2 (September - December 2004). This "blended" team consisted of aircraft and personnel from the active 81th FS, 52nd FW (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany (Tailcode "SP"), and the 706th FS, 926th FW (AFRC), NAS JRB New Orleans, Louisiana (Tailcode "NO"). Both units teamed up to form the 81st EFS, commanded by Lt. Col. John Cherrey, 81st FS commander.

At Bagram AB, the A/OA-10As and the personell are assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group (455th EOG) - part of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing (455th AEW).

Identified aircraft:
According to Pope Air Force Base´s newsletter "Carolina Flyer" (issue January 21th, 2005), "the [deployed] aircraft are scheduled to remain at Bagram for the next eight months". That means, the 75th EFS transferred all of the aircraft already in place to the 74th EFS.

A news photo ("30_hires") at CENTCOMs public website (www.centcom.mil) from May 2005 shows three aircraft at Bagrams parking ramp: the forward fuselage of "...6", "0252" with checkerboard fins (75th FS), and another plane with this fin markings.

Is there anybody Pope guy, who will tell me the serial numbers of the actual deployed aircraft?

J.J. (usmilobserver)

_________________
Joachim Jacob
Warthog News Editor
http://warthognews.blogspot.com

In a word <b>no</b>. I see you have done your homework and I also see all the info you posted above can be found on the web so, no foul there. You have to remember all the info you posted has been through the AF PA office and cleared for the public but, to ask "us" for aircraft serial numbers without going through either Popes or the AF PA system is a foul. We can't, or wont, give out that info even if it can be found "somewhere" else.

You want to talk A-10s this is the place to do it but, if you want info about current ops not cleared by a PA office I'm sorry to say this is <b>not</b> the place to find it.

BTW welcome to the forum.

Ugly But Well Hung

JJ,

You'll have better luck trying this link http://www.af.mil/main/contactus.asp and then select US Air Force Public Inquires.

Will they provide you with this information? I really doubt it, but you stand a better chance at getting it from them than anyone on this forum.

capche-capche da - we go forward together

Faugh ah Ballaugh -Clear The Way-

_________________


Faugh ah Ballaugh ~ Clear the Way

As a journalist, you have to get your facts right first, the 81st and the 706th formed the 787th EFS when deployed (they simply added their squadron numbers together). I don't think I'm breaking any rules here as it's now a part of history (and after talking to some of the 706th chaps won't be happening again!)There you go, that's a free bit of extra info!

Journalism consists of finding out the right facts from the people involved, not just copy/pasting info from other sources.

Can you tell us exactly what publications you are working for/on? that would make me feel better about answering some questions, as a writer myself on aviation I'm aware of the sensitivities of publishing info on current and ongoing ops and details of aircraft and personnel deployed are best left alone.

I'm sorry to doubt your qualifications but unless you can provide more info on your exact role and also give your name I'm forced to believe you're nothing more than an enthusiast/tail number collector after info for a spotter magazine or similar, that's not real aviation journalism in my book.

Please except my sincere apologies if I'm mistaken.

Regards,

Kevin Jackson





Edited by - Gunsmoke on Jul 24 2005 03:42 AM

worse yet with the current terrorism environment world wide some wanna be terrorist could be trolling for intel on personel and their families. Naming names and locations in a public forumn to someone on the web with no knowledge of who they are is foolish.

I also believe your foriengn creditials can be cause for alarm. Considering the large radical muslim population in Europe which has been allowed to operate in the open. Culminating with last weeks sucide bombing in london.

Intersting he hasn't said anything since his first post, though. Must not be that important.

"Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together...." - Carl Zwanzig

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

He posted in Gunsmoke's picture thread thanking him for verifing a tail number with a base which pretty well tells me Gunsmoke had him pegged right as a plane spotter... <img src=newicons/Whatever_anim.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ugly But Well Hung

I still think so!

The reason this got bumped up again was because I had to edit a basic mathematical error that I'm shocked nobody here picked up on!

After lecturing the guy on accuracy I then go and say the combined Panthers/Cajuns TDY EFS was the 707th, what a <img src=icon_smile_clown.gif border=0 align=middle> I am!

It's corrected now, and I'm sure you were all just being polite.

787 was the unofficial name of the unit, officially it was the 81 EFS. The NOLA guys augmented the 81st. But it was a team effort from top to bottom, 787 was how they felt.

Coach

Thank you all for your replies! And sorry for my late response.

To Dice-man:
Thank you for the welcome to the forum!
You wrote: "You want to talk A-10s this is the place to do it but, if you want info about current ops not cleared by a PA office I'm sorry to say this is not the place to find it."
I think, an “A-10 forum” should be open for all A-10-related topics – inclusive actual deployments – and not only for history, technical aspects or some other talk. I joined this forum mainly to get some first-hand informations about Warthog units involved in both ongoing operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. And I hope to meet some pilots and ground crew members on this forum.

To Gunsmoke:
As I wrote, my real name is Joachim Jacob. I´am an aviation journalist (freelance), and I want to stress: I´am not an aircraft spotter! But serial numbers are important for the correct interpretation of published “frontline photos” and the strength of deployment packages. Currently I prepare two separate book manuscripts related to A-10 operations during ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. The publisher would be serious.
You say: “Journalism consists of finding out the right facts from the people involved, not just copy/pasting info from other sources.” That´s right! And exactly that was my intend to join this forum.
You wrote "... the 81st and the 706th formed the 707th EFS when deployed (they simply added their squadron numbers together)." I think, you really mean the 787th EFS (81 + 706 = 787, and not a 707th EFS). I will post a new topic to this question.

Regards
J.J.

_________________
Joachim Jacob
Warthog News Editor
http://warthognews.blogspot.com

If you are freelance and have time on your hands what better way to spend it than by catching a flight to kabul, making your way to the Bagram area and researching any article first-hand then you wo'nt have to rely on second-hand info - i'm not wishing to doubt your sincerity or intentions but i ca'nt really see any other way around it...Loz.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

I think, an “A-10 forum” should be open for all A-10-related topics – inclusive actual deployments – and not only for history, technical aspects or some other talk. I joined this forum mainly to get some first-hand informations about Warthog units involved in both ongoing operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. And I hope to meet some pilots and ground crew members on this forum.


<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I'm sorry to say it but, how you think this forum should be run doen't count it's how we, the teams who's been running it for years, thinks it should be run that matters.

Maybe someone here will talk to you off-line but, current operation <b>will not be talked about in an open forum here!</b>





Ugly But Well Hung

Edited by - Dice-man on Jul 25 2005 05:06 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

I think, an “A-10 forum” should be open for all A-10-related topics – inclusive actual deployments – and not only for history, technical aspects or some other talk. I joined this forum mainly to get some first-hand informations about Warthog units involved in both ongoing operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. And I hope to meet some pilots and ground crew members on this forum.


<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I'm sorry to say it but, how you think this forum should be run doen't count it's how we, the teams who's been running it for years, thinks it should be run that matters.

Maybe someone here will talk to you off-line but, current operation <b>will not be talked about in an open forum here!</b>





Ugly But Well Hung

Edited by - Dice-man on Jul 25 2005 05:06 AM
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

You beat me to it...was just about to say the same thing....

<img src="http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/prkiii/70th.jpg" border=0><img src="http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/prkiii/Mav_shot.jpg" border=0><img src="http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/prkiii/25.jpg" border=0>

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JJ, I made a goof with the numbers and I corrected that before you posted. I did miss your name the first time round so I apologise for that.

Coach, thanks for putting me straight on the official/unofficial EFS's, didn't know that!

Good luck with your research, but I still don't see what the use is of the serial numbers, I'd be far more interested in tdy stories from maintainers and pilots than boring facts and figures, but maybe that's just me!

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
JJ, I made a goof with the numbers and I corrected that before you posted. I did miss your name the first time round so I apologise for that.

Coach, thanks for putting me straight on the official/unofficial EFS's, didn't know that!

Good luck with your research, but I still don't see what the use is of the serial numbers, I'd be far more interested in tdy stories from maintainers and pilots than boring facts and figures, but maybe that's just me!


<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

TDY stories from pilots and ground crews are defintely more interesting. These folks make histories flying and maintaining the Hogs. If you want to refer to particular aircraft, just use their nicknames or last three as ground crews do! Serial numbers are only good to keep track of a particular airframe. You'll learn more about an aircraft if you speak to his crew chief!

I could not resist on that one!

Tip of the hat to all the hogdrivers and hogmaintainers out there providing CAS to the troops on the ground!

Mephisto<img src=newicons/icon_hog.gif border=0 align=middle>

“… current operation will not be talked about in an open forum here!” (posted by moderator Dice-man)

WOW!!! This is clearly a personal restriction, possible orientated on current operational security rules (OPSEC rules) in the U.S. CENTCOM AOR.

But it´s okay, Dice-man!
Everyone, who will discuss “current” Warthog operations at a “private level” outside of this forum, can contact me via joachim.jacob@gmx.de. Especially welcome are pilots, administrative staff personnel, aircraft maintainers and ammo guys, who were really involved in both OEF and OIF.
I mean, it´s time to tell the true story of A/OA-10A involvements during both operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. I spend about three long years of observations, investigations and researches to put together a “public version” of the “big picture”. The real “big picture” is still only in the brains of formerly top U.S. CENTAF leaders and in “classified” documents. To these documents, I have no access.

I am of the opinion that the combat engagements of A/OA-10A units during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM are meanwhile history. Would you agree, Dice-man? Since the surprising withdrawal of the 332nd AEW from Ahmed Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, and the departure of possible eight A/OA-10As from Kirkuk AB as a detachment from the 354th EFS, mainly deployed to Bagram Airfield, no further Warthogs (up to day) were deployed to Southwest Asia. Their role over Iraq assumed F-16CG units, at first deployed to Kirkuk AB and later to Balad AB, supported from F-16CGs and F-15Es deployed to Al Udeid AB, Qatar.

Another viewpoint are the ongoing A/OA-10A deployments to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

Dice-man, please give me a precisely and unambiguous answer.

Regards
J.J.

_________________
Joachim Jacob
Warthog News Editor
http://warthognews.blogspot.com

JJ,

OK, either your written English is poor or you are being sarcastic towards Dice. Wrong move dude!

I can tell you with a fair amount of confidence that nobody involved directly with the A-10 will be emailing info to you simply because it would break OPSEC/COMSEC rules, rules that exist to protect people who are putting themselves in harms way to protect our freedoms.

We don't even know what publication will publish your work, is it going to be cleared by the Pentagon PA before going to print? You're going to have to work a lot harder than this to convince people to trust you with information, publically or privately.

Regards,
Kev

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
“… current operation will not be talked about in an open forum here!” (posted by moderator Dice-man)

WOW!!! This is clearly a personal restriction, possible orientated on current operational security rules (OPSEC rules) in the U.S. CENTCOM AOR.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Call it what you will and take it anyway you want it.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
But it´s okay, Dice-man!
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Don't need your approvel.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Everyone, who will discuss “current” Warthog operations at a “private level” outside of this forum, can contact me via joachim.jacob@gmx.de. Especially welcome are pilots, administrative staff personnel, aircraft maintainers and ammo guys, who were really involved in both OEF and OIF.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I believe I suggested this in my last post??



<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I am of the opinion that the combat engagements of A/OA-10A units during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM are meanwhile history. Would you agree, Dice-man?
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

This is the only direct question I see I need to give a,"...precisely and unambiguous answer." to.
So here goes, yes I believe they are history which needs to be documented <b>but</b> they need to be documented through the proper channels and not on an open forum on the net.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Since the surprising withdrawal of the 332nd AEW from Ahmed Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, and the departure of possible eight A/OA-10As from Kirkuk AB as a detachment from the 354th EFS, mainly deployed to Bagram Airfield, no further Warthogs (up to day) were deployed to Southwest Asia. Their role over Iraq assumed F-16CG units, at first deployed to Kirkuk AB and later to Balad AB, supported from F-16CGs and F-15Es deployed to Al Udeid AB, Qatar.

Another viewpoint are the ongoing A/OA-10A deployments to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

No comment. see how easy that was.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Dice-man, please give me a precisely and unambiguous answer.

Regards
J.J.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

See above.
You know I try to help people when I can and there are a number of <b>published</b> journalist on this board who can back me up on this. You on the other hand come on here and start screeming what you want....well, I will say it one more time and this will be the last time...<b><i>there will be no talk of current operation on this forum ouside of what can be found on the net!</b></i>

Anyone out there who wants to contact you and talk...fine I can't control that but if they are smart they will want more prof of who you are than a vage statements like.....

" I prepare some in-depht print publications, which will covered selected U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command air assets during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM."

and...

"I´am an aviation journalist (freelance), and I want to stress: I´am not an aircraft spotter! But serial numbers are important for the correct interpretation of published “frontline photos” and the strength of deployment packages. Currently I prepare two separate book manuscripts related to A-10 operations during ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. The publisher would be serious."

Hey, but that's just me! <img src=newicons/Whatever_anim.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ugly But Well Hung

USmilobserver,

I too have a liking for history and documentation of unit and aircraft history, and believe there are many stories to be told and be published. But you have to admit, in this day and age, when many types of even open-source information can be gathered on the net and pieced together by those unfriendly to the US in order to create something useful against the US, that posting of such info for all to see isn't the wisest move to make. If you've done research and found detailed info, good on you. But to come into here with no verifiable credentials and demand information....detailed information at that, even you have to admit that that would raise a few eyebrows. There's no information on title, publisher, any verifiable official channels you're working through, etc. Turn the tables and tell me how that would look. Doing that, then you'll likely get an appreciation for how many of the members feel here.

There are many usmilobservers out there today, many of whom aren't very friendly.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> WOW!!! This is clearly a personal restriction, possible orientated on current operational security rules (OPSEC rules) in the U.S. CENTCOM AOR.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Actually, usmilobserver, it's not a personal restriction. I would say 90% of the people here on this site are past or present military. (Dice, you may correct me on this if you'd like)<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> We know about COMSEC and are required to abide the restrictions placed on us. When Dice said current operations will not be talked about on this forum, it was directed at you. He wasn't telling us...we already know better. We have many friends in the "field" and we don't want to risk their safety.

Go Ugly Early !
No body's ugly after 2:00 A.M.

_________________
Go Ugly Early!
Nobody is ugly after 2 A.M.