After nearly five decades of service, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base initiated the gradual retirement of the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, marking the turn of a page for the 355th Wing. The first to retire was the A-10C aircraft 82-648, transitioning from the 354th Fighter Squadron to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group for final maintenance in preparation for display.
“The A-10 has been the symbol of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for many, many years, and it will continue to be a symbol for the Airmen of DM-a symbol of their commitment, excellence, and service,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Scott Mills, 355th Wing commander and A-10 pilot. One squadron will be retired in the course of summer-fall 2024, although the decommissioning of the whole fleet is foreseen within the next 3-5 years.
As the A-10 fleet retires, pilots and maintainers will transition at Davis-Monthan to the F-35 aircraft. “There will always be a job for maintainers; it may not be on the A-10, but the Air Force needs maintainers to sustain airpower,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Clarence McRae, 355th Maintenance Group commander. The F-35 community is expected to be a large draw to future maintainers.
Originally designed by Fairchild Republic for Close Air Support – better known as CAS – the A-10 has been a mainstay of the U.S. Air Force since its first model landed at Davis-Monthan back on March 2, 1976. With the capability to carry bombs and rockets on 11 pylons, coupled with a 30mm GAU-8/A rotary cannon, the A-10 has provided unparalleled support to forces on the ground. “The A-10 is singular in its multifarious capability to support our ground forces not only by delivering precision munitions from a distance but also with surgical-like precision with the GAU-8 gun under the most improbable environments imaginable,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Razvan Radoescu, 355th Operations Group commander.
Plans for the A-10’s retirement have been in dispute, with Congress blocking the previous attempts since 2015. However, a new plan to install a Special Operations wing and expand the search and rescue unit at Davis-Monthan may finally allow the Air Force to go ahead with it. Sen. Mark Kelly and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, along with Reps. Ruben Gallego and Juan Ciscomani-both of Arizona-have thrown their support behind modernizing capabilities at the base.
The 354th Fighter Squadron and the 354th Fighter Generation Squadron generated their final sortie with the A-10C Thunderbolt II on June 21, 2024, piloted by Lt. Col. Patrick Chapman. Both squadrons will inactivate in September as the Air Force continues its modernization process and welcomes the 492nd Special Operations Wing to Davis-Monthan.
The A-10 has played significant roles in conflicts throughout the Middle East, demonstrating unprecedented levels of maneuverability, accuracy, and endurance. Yet, with such a rich history, this 2024 National Defense Authorization in place loosens restrictions that put the entire fleet on course for retirement before the end of the decade.
The Davis-Monthan will replace the A-10s for an increased Rescue Footprint, increasing possibly the utility of the HC-130 aircraft and the HH-60W helicopter. Other airframes that should be arriving from the Air Force Special Operations Command include the MC-130 and OA-1K. “From an Ops personnel standpoint, this divestment arguably allows a more expeditious stand-up of the F-35,” noted Radoescu.
The end of the A-10 era in Davis-Monthan indicates a remarkable paradigm shift in both mission and capacity at the base; however, the legacy of the Warthog is not to be forgotten in all that it contributed toward air support.