Hobby Master HA1315 USAF Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II Ground Attack Aircraft - 926th Fighter Wing "Ragin Cajuns," New Orleans ANG, Operation Enduring Freedom, Bagram, Afghanistan (1:72 Scale)
"Obsolete weapons do not deter."
- British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
The A-10 and OA-10 Thunderbolt IIs are the first Air Force aircraft designed specifically for close air support of ground forces. They are simple, effective, and highly survivable twin-engine jet aircraft that can be used against all ground targets, especially tanks and other armored vehicles. The first production A-10A was delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ., in October 1975.
The aircraft can carry a wide variety of ordnance under its wings and nose, loiter on-station for long periods of time, and fly over a wide combat radius, making it an ideal warrior on today's battlefield. In the Gulf War, A-10s, with a mission capable rate of 95.7 percent, flew 8,100 sorties and launched 90 percent of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles used in-country.
This particular 1:72 scale replica of a US A-10A Warthog was attached to the 926th Fighter Wing "Ragin Cajuns," New Orleans ANG, then participating in Operation Enduring Freedom, while deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan.
Sold Out!
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 8-3/4-inches
Length: 9-3/4-inches
Release Date: October 2012
Historical Account: "Ragin Cajuns" - When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the 926th Group began deploying people and A-10 aircraft in support of Operation Desert Shield. Then, in December 1990, approximately 450 members of the 926th were recalled to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm as the nation's first Air Force Reserve combat unit recalled to active duty.
Deployments
In February 1992, the unit was redesignated as the 926th Fighter Group. The name change reflected the inactivation of the Tactical Air Command and the establishment of its successor organization, Air Combat Command (ACC). The group began conversion from the A-10 to the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, which was complete by October that year. Two years later, on October 1st, 1994, the unit officially became the 926th Fighter Wing (926 FW).
In 1995, the wing converted back to the A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The conversion was completed and the unit became combat-ready in September 1997.
In the late 1990s, the 926th participated in deployments patrolling the no-fly zones over Iraq in support of Operation Deny Flight, Operations Northern Watch and Southern Watch, and in 1999 returned to Kuwait to participate in Aerospace Expeditionary Force One.
After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, members of the 926th Fighter Wing were mobilized and deployed to various locations worldwide in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle.