Photo By Tech. Sgt. Mercedee Wilds | Pilots with the 124th Fighter Wing from Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho fly by as they...... read more read more
Subscribe
A routine training competition for pilots in the 190th Fighter Squadron provided an up-close view of the A-10 in action for approximately 110 Airmen of the 124th Fighter Wing who visited Saylor Creek Range, May 6, 2018.
Airmen from 124th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 124th Fighter Wing Staff and Student Flight traveled to the Saylor Creek Range – one of the wing’s primary areas for air-to-ground training, located 12 miles east of Bruneau, Idaho. The trip was designed to show the Warthog at work, as well as to let Airmen experience the culmination of their labors.
Once at Saylor Creek, Airmen from the 266th Range Squadron hosted and shared some of the capability of the training area.
“It’s always good to put eyes on the actual mission,” said Maj. Andy Labrum, commander of the 124th FWS, who helped organize the trip for his unit. “When you actually see what the A-10s do, I feel like it gives you more of an appreciation for the job you do to support that mission.”
Though the 190th FS is constantly training at the Saylor Creek Range, each year the unit has an A-10 aerial bombing and gun competition, commonly called a “Turkey Shoot.” This year a portion of the competition had an audience. Airmen from the various units filled the tower at the range and crowded around its base to watch the four-ship of A-10s practice basic manual bombing, manual strafing, and manual tactical strafing.
“I was taking pictures of the A-10 passing by on the first strafe, and I heard the gun. I immediately stopped taking photos,” said Senior Airman Joe Morgan, a former A-10 crew chief who worked with the jets for six years before recently transitioning to the command post. “I saw the smoke coming out of the gun and heard the sound and just dropped the camera because I’ve never heard anything like it. You just got this giddy, kid feeling inside – like you are at a theme park or something … but you are in front of a 30-millimeter cannon. It’s just pure insanity. It’s amazing.”
A uniqueness of the Saylor Creek Range allows A-10 pilots to practice firing the live 30-millimeter gun. But, the range is not only beneficial for 190th FS pilots. Labrum explained that joint and coalition partners also utilize the range.
“It’s one of the best ranges in the world,” Labrum said. “Great airspace, and the layout on the ground is unmatched.”
Although the range is known and used by partners world-wide, it was the first time for many, including Morgan and others, to visit the range to see the A-10 in action.
Airman Brian Deeds, a crew chief with the 124th AMXS, made his first visit to the range as well. “It was incredible,” he said. “Working for seven years you are finally able to see them do what they are tasked with doing.
“I deployed so we always saw the airplanes come back with rounds fired or bombs missing. Now you actually see them doing it. When you are always working them, they always come back empty. And you never know what actually goes on,” said Deeds. “It’s always just via YouTube … now to see it in person is pretty cool.”
Morgan added, “I’ve seen the videos on YouTube, but they do not do that sound or that feeling justice. Just having them fly right over the top of us … it felt really communal.”
Jadyn Sanchez, of the student flight who is waiting for training to become a nondestructive inspector, had similar feelings. Not only was this her first time on the range, but it was her first day at the Idaho Air National Guard.
“I guess I didn’t know what to expect going in, and everyone has been super friendly and nice,” said Sanchez. “I don’t have a military background so it’s a whole new world. Everyone here has definitely made me feel more comfortable about it.”
And her reaction to the A-10s: “Just in awe really,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Mission accomplished for leadership who wanted to give Airmen an inside look into the A-10 and where it trains, as well as increase camaraderie at the same time.
“It not only helps the mission, it helps morale,” said Labrum of the firepower demonstration. “What they do in a support role out here [at Gowen Field] is critical to get those mighty jets airborne to complete the mission.”
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.25.2018 18:54 |
| Story ID: | 278528 |
| Location: | HOT SPRINGS, ID, US |
| Web Views: | 244 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A day at the range, by Maj. Rebecca Solosabal, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT