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From: ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: A-10 Thunderbolt -- Who /really/ flys them?
Message-ID: <10140@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 12 Oct 89 03:18:44 GMT
References: <10017@cbnews.ATT.COM>
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From: ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt)

In article <10017@cbnews.ATT.COM>, jsaker@zeus.unl.edu ( Jamie Saker -- Student, UNO) writes:
> From: jsaker@zeus.unl.edu ( Jamie Saker -- Student, UNO)
 
  Re: A-10s:

  1.  DOES the army have pilots flying them?  Is it only the Air Force that 
      flys them?

      No the Army does not pilot A-10s.  Yes, only the Air Force flys them.
      And having had A-10s fly 'close air support' missions for me in 
      Europe, it appears that only USAF unmarried lieutenants fly them :-).
      (I've watched them have to "pull up" to miss low hilltops - and fly
      "under" my OH-58 Scout Helo).  

  2.  Is the rumor true that the Air Force is trying to get rid of them
      to the Army?

      The rumor is true that the Air Force and the Army are discussing the
      role of Close Air Support Aircraft and who should own them and employ
      them.   
   
      While the Air Force traditionally does not want anything with wings
      in the hands of the Army - the Army is not satisfied with CAS as
      a third place priority in the USAF tactical approach to air operations.
      First is OCA (offensive counterair - engage the enemy over their own
      territory), second is DCA (defensive counterair - engage the enemy 
      over our area, third is CAS.  The Air Force justifies this priority 
      by saying that if we don't gain air superiority through the first
      two types of employment, there will be no chance to conduct CAS.
      (probably an oversimplification).  

      According to the 'Hog Drivers', we need not worry about enemy armor
      'cause the A-10s will destroy all the enemy tanks before they 
      reach the front line troops.  (I like their attitude)

      IMHO:  I don't think the Army can manage the training base needed nor
      the logistics required for 'fighter-type' aircraft in their inventory.

      I think the Air Force will retain the CAS mission.

                 
                      "Where's my air support?"

                      "Sorry, crew rest."


      major