An A-10C Thunderbolt II ground-attack jet from the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Fighter Wing received a commemorative livery honoring the unit's 124th anniversary, as well as celebrating the lineage with its parent unit, the 75th Fighter Squadron, from World War II.
The special scheme, developed by the 124th FW's own servicemen, was unveiled this week at the Idaho Guard Paint Facility and is inspired by the same paint pattern used on P-47 Thunderbolt fighters during the War.
After the conflict, many active squadrons remained in service but were reassigned upon transfer to National Guard units authorized to receive equipment, pilots, aircraft mechanics, and personnel upon transfer back to the United States.
The 124th FW is one of dozens of Air National Guard units that can trace its lineage directly to its World War II predecessor, in this case the 405th Fighter Squadron.
The scheme sported by the A-10 is designed to replicate the livery as on the original P-47 Thunderbolt of the 405th while the unit was based in western in 1944.
The paint goes into detail with a white nose, WWII-style US Air Force headdresses on the fuselage and wing, along with D-Day invasion stripes, all painted over an olive basecoat. The “8N” painted on the side of the aircraft indicates the 405th Squadron code.
Not just the unit, but the aircraft also share a common lineage. Designed and manufactured by Republic Aviation, the P-47 Thunderbolt was a single-engine fighter-bomber, armed with eight AN/M2 machine guns. ground attack, including by 1st Fighter Aviation Group, the Jambock Squadron, of the Brazilian Air Force.
After the war, the P-47 remained in service with the US Air National Guard until the early 1950s, where it was used as an economical way to train aircrews.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II was manufactured by Fairchild Republic and designed specifically for close air and armor destruction. Its main feature is the 8mm GAU-30/A Avenger rotary cannon. Its design also earned it the nickname Warhog, a species of African wild pig.
The aircraft is also recognized for its resistance to enemy fire, large load capacity, being able to carry more than 7,2 tons of various weapons, and its presence in missions to troops on the ground, commonly called "Guardian Angel".
Check below some more images of the A-10C Thunderbolt II sporting the commemorative livery. Senior Master Sgt. Vincent DeGroot.
With DVIDS
