The 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., earlier this month began retiring 38 of its A-10s as it prepares to receive 41 A-10s from other units over the next few months as part of a fleet-wide shift of assets, according to base officials. “The change comes from budget cuts in Congress,” said MSgt. Mark Molineaux, 355th FW A-10 divestiture team superintendent, in the base’s April 11 release. “Congress looked at all the A-10s in the fleet and decided which ones to get rid of based on the number of hours on the plane, body condition, and flying ability,” he added. The A-10s leaving the wing began entering the base’s 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, the Air Force’s aircraft boneyard, on April 8, states the release. The first incoming A-10 arrived on April 9 from Barksdale AFB, La. A-10s will also come from Osan AB, South Korea; Spangdahlem AB, Germany; and Whiteman AFB, Mo. (Davis-Monthan report by A1C Betty R. Chevalier)
The U.S. military is carrying out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions along the southern border and off the coast of Mexico using U.S. Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint and U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft as part of the Pentagon’s effort to secure the southern border at the direction of President…