Another special paint A-10
In recent years several USAF (and US Navy) units have paid tribute to their proud heritage by giving one of their aircraft a special paint job. Usually a colour scheme is chosen that reflects the World War II history of a specific squadron. More recently the U.S. Air Force's Warthog Demonstration Team chose a Southeast Asia camouflage for their A-10, to remind of service's operations during the Vietnam War.
But in Fort Wayne, in Indiana, they have thought different. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Indiana National Guard, its 122nd Fighter Wing gave one of their A-10C Thunderbolt IIs a striking black and dark gray paint job. The colors follow standard A-10 paint lines on the wings, engines and fuselage.
The A-10, serial number 80-0244, retains the distinctive snakehead nose art found on all Warthogs that belong to the 122nd Fighter Wing, which is nicknamed the Blacksnakes. This green eyed snake , complete with fangs, surrounds the aircraft’s 30mm rotary cannon.
The complete scheme also has a number of other symbolic touches. One side of the aircraft has a 122nd FW tail flash with the text, “Fort Wayne” embossed in yellow over Indiana state-flag-blue background. The opposite tail flash shows a “Racers” checkered flag with the text “Terre Haute” of the disbanded 181st Fighter Wing, now the 181st Intelligence Wing.
The distinctive A-10 twin engines are embossed with an Indiana ANG centennial logo displaying the text “Indiana Air National Guard” under a large number “100,” along with the years “1921-2021.”
The paint job was undertaken by the Air National Guard Paint Facility at Sioux City (IA) during the last weeks of June.
Unfortunately the 122nd Fighter Wing will not be able to enjoy their freshly painted A-10, as the Wing is earmarked for disposal of its Warthogs in Fiscal Year 2022. The USAF plans to reduce the number of operational A-10s from 281 to 218. The 163rd Fighter Squadron of the 122nd FW will then switch back to the General Dynamics F-16 which they said goodbye in 2010.
Photos: Indiana Air National Guard