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In April 2005, the 81st FS “Panthers” deployed from Spangdahlem AB, Germany, to RAF Lakenheath, U.K., for a three-week exercise, called "Vanguard".

On the web, I found a very interesting first-hand account, published by Mick Freer (possible an aircraft spotter) and illustrated with some low-res photos from his son Stuart. The report unveils all serial numbers of the 13 + 2 deployed aircraft and some of the temporary radio call signs used during this deployment. This allowed to verify “on block” most of all Warthogs, currently assigned to the 81st FS. For this report klick www.fightercontrol.co.uk/new/ontask/050510/ and enjoy!

Additional hi-res or near hi-res stuff from Warthogs of this significant event you will find at www.airliners.net. All of these really cool photos were taken by aircraft spotters (P R D Jones, Ian Nightingale, Anthony Osborne, Neil Jones, Phil Drake, Michael Hall, Daniel Butcher – Thanks to all!).
My instructions for newcomers: If you have downloaded the main URL, you must klick the button „Take Me To The Photo Search Page!“. If you there, select „Keywords…“ and type in the search word “A-10“. Than switch the „Range…“ button to „Military only“. Finally klick the button “Show me the Photos!”. Currently (as of July 24th , 2005), you must go back approximate three pages to get the first of the related images.

Related official USAF news releases:
Lakenheath-based 48th FW public affairs news articles (only with small pictures):
www.lakenheath.af.mil/jet48/2005Folders ... tindex.htm (front cover with aircraft “985”)
www.lakenheath.af.mil/jet48/2005Folders ... nguard.htm (the article)
www.lakenheath.af.mil/jet48/2005Folders ... nguard.htm (another article)
(This second article was later also published by USAFE www.usafe.af.mil/news/news05/uns05130.htm (hi-res cockpit picture of pilot Capt. Scott Morgan), and SPANG´s base newspaper “Eifel Times” www.spangdahlem.af.mil/Times/Docs/May05/may13_05.pdf (with another small aircraft picture).

J.J.

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

There is a rumour the Hogs may be back at LN for a couple of days in August for 'Excalibur'<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Another related “Vanguard” news story in the current issue of “Air Forces Monthly” (August 2005): “Hogs At The Heath!”, text and photos by Gary Parsons.

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

this made me smile

From the lakenheath.af.mil site
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>The A-10 can carry up to ten Maverick air-to-surface missiles.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

That must be a joke! Really placed at RAF Lakenheath´s public website? Please post the direct link to this joke.

Regards
J.J.

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

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
That must be a joke! Really placed at RAF Lakenheath´s public website? Please post the direct link to this joke.

Regards
J.J.

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

You mean you didn't know about that modification? Two LAU-88s on 3/9 fully loaded, with one each LAU-117s on 1/2/10/ and 11, all wired into 3 or 9 via internal fiber optic.

Normally, though, you'll only see what the weapons troops call the "8-ball" config, or 8 mavericks; with stations 1 and 11 being left for the AIM-9s and pod.

Or was I not supposed to mention this mod here?



Edited by - Type 7 on Aug 03 2005 03:08 AM

Type7=<img src=newicons/spit.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ugly But Well Hung

I like the comment by the Mudhen guy...This is a standard CAS exercise for us. Ho hum, nothing new here, we are all over this CAS stuff.

Coach

Really up to ten Mavericks? Hmmm…

Another question related to SPANG birds:
Sometime after the long Afghanistan deployment in 2003 as part of the interim AEF Blue (June – October) the 81st FS changed her tail fin markings from black (with integrated white lightning) to yellow (with a black lightning). Additionally the black painted panther heads on the engine cowlings were removed. Is there anyone who knows the reason and the time frame of this significant change?

Regards
J.J.

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

Spang changed there tail fin colors and removed the panther head from the engines...<b>why was I not informed of this significant change??</b> <img src=newicons/anim_cussing.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ugly But Well Hung

A-10 pilots from the 81st FS flew against MiG-21s in Romanian territory!

A few minutes ago I read the latest Warthog related news release on USAF´s public website www.af.mil. To get the full story, titled “Spangdahlem pilots fly missions in Romania”, klick www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123011204.

Regards
J.J.

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

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

Oh No..No Not that...

Shocking!

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

"The greatest pleasure is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see their near and dear bathed in tears, to ride their horses and sleep on the white bellies of their wives and daughters."
-Genghis Khan

_________________
\"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. \"

George S. Patton

Hi, Dice-man!
What must I do to place archived pictures from my computer on this forum? I checked out your button "Insert Image". But I think this link is out of order.

Regards
J.J.

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

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Hi, Dice-man!
What must I do to place archived pictures from my computer on this forum? I checked out your button "Insert Image". But I think this link is out of order.

Regards
J.J.

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

Wow with all your web surfing and cut-and-paste savy you don't know how to post pictures to a forum? <img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle> Sorry to say I'm not inclined to help you out at this time, maybe one of the other mods whom you haven't pissed-off, might help you out.

In MHO you came here demanding stuff saying you are a free-lance writer but having showed me nothing to back this up, I think you're a plane spotting wanta be who hasn't seen an A-10 outside an airshow but, think you know it all. Lose a friend while deployed to some shit-hole desert or, miss you childs birth while deployed to the same shit-hole desert and you may have reason to talk to me....nuf-said!



Ugly But Well Hung

I'm glad he's here, otherwise I wouldn't know what was going on in the Hog world. Thanks for all the concise and up-to-date information! I wish I had sources half as good as his.

We've probably seen the pictures already, anyway.

Coach

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I'm glad he's here, otherwise I wouldn't know what was going on in the Hog world. Thanks for all the concise and up-to-date information! I wish I had sources half as good as his.

We've probably seen the pictures already, anyway.

Coach


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

I respect your opinion Coach but, some people just rub you wrong and this is one that rubs me wrong. It's kinda like the young troop/pilot coming into a squardon thinking they knows it all out of school. Hey, that's just me and he isn't banned he can post all day if he wants...

Ugly But Well Hung