Photo By Tech. Sgt. Mercedee Wilds | Lt. Col. Jay Labrum, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot with the 190th Fighter Squadron,...... read more read more
Subscribe
An A-10 Thunderbolt II, aircraft 78-611,with the Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Fighter Wing, departed Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, May 27, 2025 heading to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, commonly known as the boneyard, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
This first A-10 departure marks the beginning of a broader transition for both the wing and the U.S. Air Force as it begins to retire some of the aging fleet, but it will not impact the overall end strength of the wing’s A-10s. With each departure a newer aircraft will replace the departing hawg.
The wing plays a critical role in this transition.
“This aircraft has shaped not only how we fight, but who we are as a wing,” said Col. Ryan Richardson, 124th FW commander and an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot. “It’s helped forge a culture of toughness, precision and purpose.”
Even with this departure, the mission of the wing and its Airmen remains the same.
“Our focus and our mission will remain the same,” said Richardson. “Our Airmen will continue to maintain these aircraft so that our pilots can deliver and project airpower, anytime and anywhere in the world. We will continue to add to our wing’s storied fighter history.”
For nearly 30 years, maintainers from the 124th Maintenance Group, including Airmen from the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, play a pivotal role in keeping the hawg mission-ready.
“AMXS has four priority roles in A-10C sustainment: crewing the aircraft, maintaining the avionics, loading munitions for training and combat, and producing airworthy aircraft for the 190th Fighter Squadron,” said Lt. Col. Scott Walker, the 124th AMXS commander. “It’s a team effort across the Maintenance Group—every shop is integral to mission success.”
While 611’s departure had been anticipated, the moment still hit hard. The aircraft holds deep personal meaning for the Airmen who have worked on it, Walker said.
“We are saddened that the day finally arrived but are still excited for our present and future mission,” he said.
As for what’s next, the focus remains on the mission at hand.
“We are ready for whatever comes,” Walker said. “But our day-to-day nucleus is continuing to fly the aircraft we have and prepare for whatever is asked by our Nation and State.”
(This article has been updated on May 29, 2025 to update the word divestment to transition. The transition aligns with the U.S. Air Force’s management of the current A-10 fleet.)
| Date Taken: | 05.28.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2025 14:03 |
| Story ID: | 499085 |
| Location: | IDAHO, US |
| Web Views: | 203 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Hawg 611 heads to the boneyard, the first in a broader aircraft transition, by TSgt Mercedee Wilds, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
