Whiteman A-10s upgrading with "smart" displays

An A-10 Thunderbolt II, or "Warthog," from the 442nd Fighter Wing takes off Jul. 4, 2006, on a combat mission from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. A new smart color multi-function display for the A-10 is designed to help pilots communicate better and provide greater situaltional awareness over battlefields in the Global War on Terror. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. David Kurle)

Reconstituting the A-10

An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off from Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, on a combat mission on May 23, 2006. The A-10 was deployed from the Air Force Reserve Command's 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. David Kurle)

When hogs fly

Col. Tony Johnson, an A-10 pilot from the 442nd Fighter Wing, takes off in an A-10 Thunderbolt II from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, in June. Colonel Johnson is deployed here from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., where he commands the 442nd Operations Group. He is serving as the commander of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group while at Bagram. Airmen from the 442nd make up half of the A-10 effort here, the lead unit is from the active duty's 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. (US Air Force photo/Maj. David Kurle)

A-10s spend busy summer supporting ground troops in Afghanistan

An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, taxis to a de-arm area at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, following a combat sortie over Afghanistan. The A-10's 30-mm gun, a signature capability of the aircraft, delivers enormous firepower to support ground forces engaged against anti-Coalition extremists. This A-10 is deployed to Bagram from the 81st Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. In addition to the 81st FS, the Air Force Reserve?s 442nd Fighter Wing, from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., contributed aircraft, pilots and maintainers to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram for an Air Expeditionary Force rotation. (US Air Force photo/Maj. David Kurle)

A-10s spend busy summer supporting ground troops in Afghanistan

Capt. Rick Mitchell, pilot, prepares an A-10 Thunderbolt II for a nighttime sortie over Afghanistan with the help of a crew chief on the ground, Staff Sgt. Scott Gaitley, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, in early August. Both are deployed from the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve A-10 unit, based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (US Air Force photo/Maj. David Kurle)

"Holey" work

Senior Airman Lauryn Boberg repairs a nut plate on the nose-wheel landing gear door of an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug 6. Airman Boberg is an Air Force Reserve sheet metal specialist deployed to the 455 Expeditionary Maintenance Group at Bagram from the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. Maintenance Airmen at Bagram are working around the clock to inspect A-10 combat aircraft every 400 flight-hours in what is called a "phase inspection." The A-10 provides close air support to U.S. and Coalition forces fighting extremists in Operation Enduring Freedom. (US Air Force photo/Maj. David Kurle)