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An A-10A Thunderbolt II aircraft of the 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron (91st TFS) flies over the Bardenas Reales bombing range during deployment to Zaragoza Air Base. Members of the 91st TFS and the 91st Aircraft Maintenance Unit have deployed to Zaragoza for practice in aerial bombing, gunnery and maintenance operations
An air-to-air right side view of a 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron A-10A Thunderbolt II aircraft firing its 30mm cannon on a target at the Bardenas Reales bombing range during a training mission while the squadron is deployed to Zaragoza Air Base. The nose
An air-to-air right side view of an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron. The squadron is deployed to Zaragoza Air Base for weapons tactics training
An air-to-air right side view of a A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron firing its 30 mm cannon during training. The squadron is deployed to Zaragoza Air Base for weapons tactics training
A crew chief from the 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron performs a walk-around inspection on an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft to insure all systems are operational. The squadron is deployed to Zaragoza Air Base for weapons tactics training
Artwork decorates the inside of the access ladder hatch on a 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron A-10A Thunderbolt II aircraft. Squadron personnel are deploying to Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, for practice in aerial bombing, gunnery and maintenance operations
A 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron technician performs maintenance on an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft in preparation for deployment to Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, for weapons tactics training
An A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron banks to the left during training. The squadron is deployed to Zaragoza Air Base for weapons tactics training
Artwork decorates the inside of the access ladder hatch on a 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron A-10A Thunderbolt II aircraft. Squadron personnel have deployed to Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, for practice in aerial bombing, gunnery and maintenance operations
A target on the Bardenas Reales bombing range flames after being struck by ordnance from an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron. The squadron is deployed to Zaragoza Air Base for weapons tactics training
Summary
The original finding aid described this photograph as:
Country: Spain (ESP)
Scene Camera Operator: SSGT David S. Nolan
Release Status: Released to Public
Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files
The A-10 Thunderbolt has excellent maneuverability at low airspeeds and altitude and is a highly accurate and survivable weapons-delivery platform. Called the “Warthog” for its aggressive look and often painted with teeth on the nose cone, the A-10 Thunderbolt II is the U.S. Air Force’s primary low-altitude close air support aircraft best known for its GAU-8 Avenger 30mm Gatling gun designed to fire armor-piercing depleted uranium and high explosive incendiary rounds. In the 1970s the threat of Soviet armored forces and all-weather attack operations had become more serious. Six companies submitted aircraft proposals, with Northrop and Fairchild-Republic selected to build prototypes: the YA-9A and YA-10A, respectively. General Electric and Philco-Ford were selected to build and test GAU-8 cannon prototypes. First A-10 was delivered to the U.S. Air Force on 30 March 1976. By 1984, 715 airplanes had been built.