By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor
Earlier this month I was really big surprised by some shots taken by Warthog News contributor Bruce Smith from the United States, covering the 358th Fighter Squadron "Lobos", 355th Fighter Wing (ACC), Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, during the recent exercise Green Flag - West, held at Nellis AFB, Nevada. The surprise was: At least some of the jets carried a GBU-12 Paveway II LGB either on station 1 or on station 11! Just after realizing all of that, I asked Bruce for more related pictures. And some days ago he e-mailed me much more related stuff, including the following exclusive picture:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8452564066_254257cf5d_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0270 (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
Loadout configuration:
Station 1: Dual Rail Adapter (DRA) with an ACMI (Air Combat Maneuvering and Instrumentation) pod
Station 2: LAU-131 Rocket Pod
Station 3: CATM-65 Maverick (training)
Station 4: GBU-38 JDAM
Station 5: Mk.82 dumb bomb
Station 6: empty pylon
Station 7: Mk.82 dumb bomb
Station 8: LAU-131 Rocket Pod (unusual on this station)
Station 9: CATM-65 Maverick (training)
Station 10: AN/AAQ-28 LITENING AT targeting pod
Station 11: GBU-12 (!!!)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8372/8451474237_180c8a15b4_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0279 (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
Note: GBU-12 also on station 11.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8451472967_fa873d4537_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0195 (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
Note: GBU-12 also on station 11.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8511/8451472359_7bee873e93_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0151 (2013-01-23).(Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
Note: GBU-12 also on station 11.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8451474895_6e7d0608ff_z.jpg
A-10C 82-0659, marked 358TH FS/CC (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
Note: GBU-12 on station 1.
And here's again the picture which surprised me:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8436147440_613320c063_z.jpg
A-10C 82-0659, marked 358TH FS/CC as the squadron commander's aircraft (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
The problem is:
Normally there are no bombs loaded on the A-10's outboard stations 1 and 11 (and if I remember right also not on stations 2 and 10). Currently, single bombs are usually loaded on stations 4, 5, 7 and 8. Typicall for stations 1 and 11 are either a Dual Rail Adapter (DRA) - either with an ACMI (Air Combat Maneuvering and Instrumentation) pod or with up to two AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles - or an ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) pod. Current combat loadout configs of Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF), Afghanistan, are showing empty pylons on stations 1 and 11 because there are no related threats.
Question:
Are stations 1 and 11 wired to drop a laser-guided GBU-12? (The GBU-12s pictured in the photos above are looking to me like live bombs)
Please note: This post will be updated soon.
See also: GBU-12 on station 1 (!) (?)
Posted by Joachim Jacobat 11:55 PM
Tuesday, February 12, 2013Airmen demonstrate A-10 weapons loading in Korea
Released by 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8467969779_fb35045c31_z.jpg
2/12/2013 - Weapons loaders with the 25th Fighter Squadron connect an AGM-65 Maverick to an A-10 Thunderbolt II in preparation for operational readiness exercise Beverly Bulldog 13-02 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Feb. 8, 2013. The AGM-65 Maverick is a tactical, air-to-surface guided missile designed for close air support, interdiction and defense suppression mission. It provides stand-off capability and high probability of strike against a wide range of tactical targets, including armor, air defenses, ships, transportation equipment and fuel storage facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexis Siekert) Hi-res
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8516/8467964825_2f0ed4a4f0_z.jpg
2/12/2013 - Staff Sgt. Angel Dearce, 25th Fighter Squadron weapons load crew chief, guides an AGM-65 Maverick to attach to an A-10 Thunderbolt II in preparation for operational readiness exercise Beverly Bulldog 13-02 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Feb. 8, 2013. The AGM-65 Maverick is a tactical, air-to-surface guided missile designed for close air support, interdiction and defense suppression mission. It provides stand-off capability and high probability of strike against a wide range of tactical targets, including armor, air defenses, ships, transportation equipment and fuel storage facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexis Siekert) Hi-res
Source (including 6 photos)
Please note: Much photo interpretation will be posted soon.
Posted by Joachim Jacobat 8:29 PM
Tuesday, February 5, 2013358th Fighter Squadron A-10Cs caught at Nellis during Green Flag - West
By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor
Updated February 5 and 6, 2013
At Nellis AFB, Nevada, Warthog News contributor Bruce Smith from the United States had some opportunities to take shots of A-10Cs from the 358th Fighter Squadron "Lobos", 355th Fighter Wing (ACC), Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, which participated in exercise Green Flag - West.
23 January 2013
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8436146442_042a62c5be_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0151 (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8435061881_c5dce670ab_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0195 (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8423018384_ee3d975764_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0205 (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8378/8436146868_1c65c41954_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0207 (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8492/8435062245_94ac8757bf_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0235 (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8435062445_f3240657a8_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0270 (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8420470424_54fce8a1f0_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0279 (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8410697314_2656987e14_z.jpg
A-10C 81-0977 (2013-01-23). Ex 66th WPS "Hog", now with the 358th FS. (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
28 January 2013
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8425890640_93bda6b8d8_z.jpg
A-10C 81-0941 (2013-01-28). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
29 January 2013
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8333/8428722930_7b109fccb8_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0167 (2013-01-29). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
30 January 2013
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8436194286_91137da4a0_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0167 (2013-01-30). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8436147652_0d2597ccb5_z.jpg
A-10C 81-0946 (2013-01-30). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
31 January 2013
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8494/8435063031_8d0422a363_z.jpg
A-10C 78-0712 (2013-01-31). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8436148512_2e2a13d726_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0150 (2013-01-31). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8436194308_21134db510_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0205 (2013-01-31). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8435063311_bfdccfac6f_z.jpg
A-10C 80-0279 (2013-01-31). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8502/8435063487_1b30305f11_z.jpg
A-10C 81-0941 (2013-01-31). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8053/8436450502_83d59c3a73_z.jpg
A-10C 81-0970 (2013-01-31). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8436148000_16f1009e14_z.jpg
A-10C 81-0977 (2013-01-31). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
Update February 5, 2013:
All related pictures provided by Bruce so fare are posted now, sorted by me in order of dates of shots and serial numbers. Seems to me like Bruce caught 14 of the 15 aircraft (excluding A-10C 81-0942):
A-10C 78-0712
A-10C 80-0150
A-10C 80-0151
A-10C 80-0167
A-10C 80-0195
A-10C 80-0205
A-10C 80-0207
A-10C 80-0235
A-10C 80-0270
A-10C 80-0279
A-10C 81-0941
A-10C 81-0946
A-10C 81-0970
A-10C 81-0977
Please note: I will double check all of that.
Update February 6, 2013:
Last night, Bruce told me via e-mail: I never saw 81-0942 present at Nellis, but the 15th one I did see here was 82-0659/358FS. If 942 was here it must have been swapped out for one of the others.
In a second e-mail Bruce stressed: As a side note (if you didn't notice), 946 and 977 are two of the ex WAs involved in the swap.
BTW: This side note is related to a recent A-10C aircraft swap between D-M and Nellis, already reported by Warthog News.
And here's Bruce's photo proof for A-10C 82-0659, delayed by me due to questions:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8436147440_613320c063_z.jpg
A-10C 82-0659, marked 358TH FS/CC as the squadron commander's aircraft (2013-01-23). (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size
But what's that: GBU-12 on station 1!!! Anybody who can explain this???
Posted by Joachim Jacobat 1:22 AM
看球不懂 完全没看明白啥意思:L
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