Arm and de-arm

Members of the 442nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare an A-10 Thunderbolt II for takeoff April 17, 2008, at the Arm and De-arm area of Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The A-10, flown by the 303rd Fighter Squadron, is part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command unit based at Whiteman. (US Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel A. Park)

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Getting ready

Tech. Sgt. Brian Gillespie, 442nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, gives the pilot of an A-10 hand signals while Senior Airman Robert Bagby, 442nd AMXS performs a cursory check of the aircraft prior to take-off April 17. The 442nd Fighter Wing is an Air Force Reserve unit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel A. Park)

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Arm and de-arm

Tech. Sgt. Brian Gillespie, 442nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, gives the pilot of an A-10 hand signals while Senior Airman Robert Bagby, 442nd AMXS performs a cursory check of the aircraft prior to take-off April 17. The 442nd Fighter Wing is an Air Force Reserve unit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel A. Park)

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Ready Maverick

Tech. Sgt. John Straka, 442nd Fighter Wing, arms an AGM-65 Maverick missile on an A-10 at the arm and disarm pad prior to take-off April 17. The arm and disarm pad is a final stop for aircraft prior to take-off to allow crews to safely arm or disarm aircraft and perform final checks to ensure the system is safe. The 442nd FW is an Air Force Reserve unit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel A. Park)

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Pull the pin

Tech. Sgt. John Straka, 442nd Fighter Wing, pulls the pins to arm BDU-33 practice ordnance on an A-10 Thunderbolt II at the arm and disarm pad prior to take-off April 17. The arm and disarm pad is a final stop for aircraft prior to take-off to allow crews to safely arm or disarm aircraft and perform final checks to ensure the system is safe. The 442nd FW is an Air Force Reserve unit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel A. Park)

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A-10 taxi

An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., is taxied to the arm and de-arm area of the base April 17 prior to take off. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel A. Park)

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Awaiting clearance

Two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs stand by on the runway awaiting clearance from the air traffic control tower for take-off from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., April 17. The A-10s are piloted by members of the 303rd Fighter Squadron, part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command unit at Whiteman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel A. Park)

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442nd FW "Hog" training

Published April 23, 2008

Arm and de-arm

Getting ready

Arm and de-arm

Ready Maverick

Pull the pin

A-10 taxi

Awaiting clearance