In March 2005, I had the opportunity to return to Louisiana and pay a visit to the 706th Fighter Squadron and 47th Fighter Squadron. After attending "Hawgswash 2004" hosted by the 47th FS in March 2004, a return visit had to be planned and this time, with weather backup. With the support of Colonel Macauley from the 47th FS, a small multinational team of photographers prepared to return to Cajun's Country. With the 47th FS deployed to Alexandria IAP in Central Louisiana to support an Air Warrior II exercise during that time, planning was done to get some tanker support and a platform for some air-to-air photography. Coordination for tanker support was done with the 507th Air Refueling Wing from Tinker AFB, OK, a unit belonging to Air Force Reserve Command. On this page, you will see some air-to-air photos taken during that refueling mission. Weather was mixed and with the tanker flying at 15,000 AGL, the formation was often between cloud layers. On the second page, you will see some photos of Louisiana's Hogs on the ground taken during that visit. Due to security concerns, only a few photos showing ground crews are posted.

Both the 47th Fighter Squadron and the 706th Fighter Squadron belong to Air Force Reserve Command and are based in Louisiana. The 47th FS is based at Barksdale AFB and belong to the 917th Wing. The 47th Fighter Squadron trains A/OA-10 pilots in initial qualification, forward air control and night vision goggle formal courses. The association of the squadron with the A-10A 'Thunderbolt II' goes back to October 1980 when the squadron phased out its A-37s for the A-10As. Since its arrival at Barksdale AFB in October 1973, the 47th Fighter Squadron has had pivotal roles in the defense role of the United States and its allies. In December 1993, the squadron deployed to Aviano AB, Italy, to support the United Nation's no-fly rule over Bosnia-Herzegovina. Dubbed Operation Deny Flight, the 47th returned to Aviano AB in August 1994 and May 1995 to uphold the U.N. ban on military flights in the airspace over Bosnia-Herzegovina. In May 1996, the squadron deployed for the fourth and final time to Aviano AB, this time under the auspices of Operation Decisive Edge. The end result was a total of 501 sorties flown by the 47th from 1993 to 1996 as part of the NATO peacekeeping effort. On October 7, 1996, the 47th's mission officially changed from combat to A-10 pilot training. Since that time, they have participated in Operation Century Eagle 1999 and 2001, Saguaro Patriot 2001, Patriot Claw 2001 and Patriot Buccaneer 2002. During the first tactical and conventional gunnery competition open to A-10s, Hawgsmoke 2000, the 47th took First Place for Top Hawgsmoke Tactical Unit, Top Overall Pilot and Top Overall Tactical Pilot. Then during the next Hawgsmoke competition in 2002 they won Top A-10 Squadron in the world. In June 2003, the 47th FS deployed to Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss. for Operation Patriot Pursuit. The school currently graduates about 40 active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve students per year and has 17 A-10 assigned to the squadron.

The 706th Fighter Squadron is part of the 926th Fighter Wing and is based at NAS Joint Reserve Base (JRB) New Orleans, LA. Both the 926th FW and 917th Wing report to Headquarters 10th Air Force. The 706th completed its conversion to the A-10A "Thunderbolt II" in June 1982. One year later, it participated in the largest Reserve training deployment to date when the 706th deployed 12 aircraft and more than 450 people to Denmark for a two-week exercise. The same deployment was repeated in 1986 and again in 1989 when it was expanded to four weeks and 500 people. In October 1987, members of the 926th competed in and took top maintenance team honors in Gunsmoke, a worldwide gunnery competition for Air Force fighter units. In December 1990, members of the of the 926th were recalled to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm as the nation's first Air Force Reserve combat unit recalled to active duty. Eighteen pilots flying A-10 "Thunderbolt II" from the 706th Tactical Fighter Squadron left the Naval Air Station for Saudi Arabia on January 1, 1991. The 706th TFS flew combat missions that resulted in hits against enemy targets, including Scud missile launchers, tanks and an airborne Iraqi helicopter. The helicopter shot down by a 706th TFS pilot, Captain Bob Swain, was the first recorded air-to-air kill by an A-10. The 706th played a very successful role in Operation Desert Storm. The unit returned home in May 1991 after four and a half months in Saudi Arabia. Following Desert Storm, the 706th converted to the F-16C and completed its conversion in October 1992. In September 1995, the Pentagon announced that the 706th was converting back to the A-10A. The conversion was completed and the unit assumed a combat-ready status in September 1997. In October 1998, members and aircraft from the 706th deployed to Southeast Asia in support of Operation Southern Watch to help enforce the no-fly zone instituted after the Operation Desert Storm. In September 1999, A-10s and personnel from the 706th Fighter Squadron returned to Kuwait to participate in Aerospace Expeditionary Force 1. From January to March 2001, the 706th participated in Operation Northern Watch as part of AEF 1. Approximately 160 members of the 926th in three 15-day rotations deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey, with the responsibility of conducting Combat Search and Rescue missions (CSAR). In April 2002, members of the 926th were recalled to active duty and deployed for three months with aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Wing members worked alongside members of the 442nd Fighter Wing to form the 706th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. They landed in Afghanistan with two missions; to stand up a bare-base operation and to support the active duty Air Force as part of Operation Southern Watch in Kuwait. Pilots flew more than 500 sorties for more than 1,200 hours providing air coverage to ground troops.

(Special thanks to Jimbo, Archie and Bama!)

(All photos copyrighted 2005 Philippe Colin)