Content deleted Content added
reduce bytes used |
|||
Line 104:
[[Image:A-10 firing AGM-65.JPEG|thumb|A-10 Thunderbolt II firing off an [[AGM-65 Maverick|AGM-65]].]]
The first unit to receive the A-10 Thunderbolt II was the [[355th Fighter Wing|355th Tactical Training Wing]], based at [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]], Arizona in March 1976. Other bases to receive A-10s included [[Seymour Johnson Air Force Base]], NC; [[Osan Air Base]], Korea; and [[RAF Bentwaters]]/[[RAF Woodbridge]], England. The 81st TFW of RAF Bentwaters operated rotating detachments of A-10s at four German bases: Leipheim, [[Sembach Air Base]], Nörvenich, and Alhorn.
The A-10 saw combat for the first time during the [[Gulf War]] in 1991, destroying more than 1,000 Iraqi tanks, 2,000 military vehicles, and 1,200 artillery pieces. A-10s shot down two Iraqi helicopters with the [[GAU-8]] gun.<ref name="glsec_hist"/> Seven A-10s were shot down during the war,<ref>[http://webcom.com/~amraam/aaloss.html Fixed-wing Combat Aircraft attrition in Desert Storm]</ref> far fewer than military planners expected.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} A-10s had a mission capable rate of 95.7%, flew 8,100 sorties, and launched 90% of the [[AGM-65 Maverick]] missiles fired in the conflict.<ref name="USAF_factsh">[http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=70 A-10/OA-10 USAF fact sheet]</ref> Part of the reason for this success were the burning oil wells that provided Iraqi tanks some cover from advanced electronics and high-flying fighters like the F-15 and F-16, where the trained eye, longer gun range and stable gun platform of the A-10 proved its worth.{{Fact|date=May 2007}}
| |||