ID ANG's 190th FS wins Hawgsmoke

[Rabbit]

Idaho Guard squadron wins A-10 competition

Staff report
Posted : Monday Oct 20, 2008 18:44:49 EDT

The 190th Fighter Squadron is the top of the heap in the A-10 Thunderbolt world.

The Idaho Air National Guard unit earned the top team honor at the Air Force’s A-10 competition, Hawgsmoke, held last week and in Salina, Kan., and over the nearby Smokey Hill Range.

The competition puts the teams, and the planes, through bombing and firing scenarios.

Thirty A-10s from Reserve and Guard units started arriving at the Salina Airport Oct. 14 and flew for three days to get all 14 teams through the competition. Pilots had to share aircraft because about a third of the service’s A-10 fleet is grounded because of unexpected cracks in the fighter’s wings.

Hawgsmoke takes its title from the A-10’s nickname — Warthog.

The other Hawgsmoke 2008 winners are:

* Top Maverick Missile Team: 303rd Fighter Squadron, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., Reserve.

* Top Tactical Team: 303rd.

* Top Strafe Team: 103rd Fighter Squadron, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, Pa.

* Top Bombing Team: 47th Fighter Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La., Reserve.

* Top Arrival Team: 81st Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

* Top Pilot Award: Capt. Jerry Cook, 45th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Reserve

* Top High-Altitude Dive Bomb Award: Captain Cook, 45th

*Top 30-Degree Dive Bomb Award: Maj. Bill Zutell, 103rd.

* Top Low-Angle, High-Delivery Pop Award: Lt. Col. Bob Pugh, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Test Center, Tucson, Ariz.

* Top Strafe Award: 1st Lt. Nick Decker, 303rd.



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