A-10, ready for action

An A-10 Thunderbolt II sits on a ramp waiting for its next mission at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, on July 6. The A-10 is used for close-air support. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Oquendo)

Getting gas

A KC-135 Stratotanker from the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron prepares to refuels an A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 442nd Fighter Wing, deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., over Afghanistan. The 22nd EARS is part of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. (US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Lonnie Mast)

When hogs fly

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Col. Tony Johnson, an A-10 pilot from the 442nd Fighter Wing, takes off in an A-10 Thunderbolt II here June 14. Colonel Johnson is deployed here to the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group. (US Air Force photo/Maj. David Kurle)

Combat mission

An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off from Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, on a combat mission on Tuesday, May 23, 2006. The A-10 is deployed from the Air Force Reserve Command's 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. David Kurle)

KC-Hog over Afghanistan

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Aghanistan -- An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo., flies a combat mission for Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan May 18. Whiteman A-10s are deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing and are flying combat air support missions for U.S. and Coalition forces on the ground. (Photo By 1st Lt. Jeff Bellenski)

New arrivals at Bagram Airfield

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- An A-10 Thunderbolt II, flown by pilot, Maj. Mark Ernewein, from the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., arrives at its deployed location with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing here May 13. Pilots and maintainers from the 442nd FW and the 52nd Fighter Wing, from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, will conduct close air support and other air to ground operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The A-10 carries a 30 mm gun and up to 16,000 pounds of bombs and missiles. Its primary role is to support Army Soldiers and other forces operating on the ground. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. David Kurle, 455 AEW/PA)

Recognized excellence

Tech. Sgts. Tyler Bane, Aaron McRoberts and Harry Blunt recover an A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 442nd Fighter Wing's 303rd Fighter Squadron as it arrives at Key West Naval Air Station, Fla., Jan. 10, for the squadron's annual water survival training. The 442nd FW received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for 2005 on Feb. 5. (Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Steven Smith)

Jammer driver

Using a "jammer," a 442nd Fighter WIng member moves an inert Maverick missle to an A-10 Thunderbolt II during an exercise at Whiteman Air Force Base The 442nd Fighter Wing is an Air Force Reserve unit based at Whiteman AFB, Mo. Photo by Maj. David Kurle

Hog Wild

An A-10 from the 303rd Fighter Squadron prepares to exit the Yakima, Wash., Firing Range after dropping six MK-82, 500 pound bombs and firing approximately 100 rounds of 30-milimeter ammunition Tuesday (May 17) during the 442nd Fighter Wing's "Patriot Evergreen" combat training deployment to McChord Air Force Base, Wash. (Photo by Maj. David Kurle)

A-10 landing

A 442nd Fighter Wing A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off from the Salina, Kan. airport for a Combat Search and Rescue Exercise over nearby Smoky Hill Range. (US Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Bill Huntington)

A-10 honored by fire department

A 442nd Fighter Wing A-10 Thunderbolt II returns home to Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., from Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. The 442nd Fighter Wing is an Air Force Reserve unit. (Photo by Master Sgt. Bill Huntington)

A-10 at night

An A-10 from the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., rests over night on the ramp at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., on its way to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. (Photo by Master Sgt. Bill Huntington)