BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE – The 917th Fighter Group will start transferring its A-10 Thunderbolt II jet aircraft to other units on April 8.
The official transfers will start with three aircraft, 79-0197, 79-0151 and 79-0149. Aircraft 149 will be transferred to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., while 151 and 197 will be transferred to the 355th Fighter Wing also at Davis-Monthan AFB.
Of the total 24 aircraft, two A-10s will transfer to (AMARG), five aircraft will transfer to the 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and 17 will transfer to the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB.
In addition to the loss of aircraft, the recent Force Structure Action Implementation Plan dictates that the 917th FG and the 47th Fighter Squadron at Barksdale will be inactivated. A date for the inactivation has not been announced, but it is expect to occur sometime during the last quarter of 2013.
"The 917th Fighter Group proudly served our nation at Barksdale and deployed locations for over 50 years. It has been an honor to be a part of Team Barksdale and the local community," said Col. John Breazeale, commander of the 917th FG.
This is a subscription only section
Want to read more? It's only €10/year.
No account yet? Just Create an account first and head to the shop