Posted on 05/16/2005 5:49:59 PM PDT by AZHua87
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, May 16, 2005 — The U.S. Air Force A-10s currently deployed at Bagram Airfield are part of the 23rd Fighter Group, the Flying Tigers, out of Pope Air Force Base, N.C., and are a unique group of aircraft - evident by just one look at their nose art.
The noses of these A-10s are emblazoned with an image of a shark's teeth and eyes. The Flying Tigers are the only Air Force unit authorized to display nose art on their aircraft, due to the history it symbolizes.
The Flying Tigers were first activated at Langley Field, Va., in 1941, and took over the tasks of the American Volunteer Group, fighting the Japanese military, in China during World War II. Twenty-nine of the original volunteers joined the 23rd, sharing their knowledge and expertise.
In their first day of combat, the Flying Tigers destroyed five enemy aircraft to help the Chinese fight the Japanese invaders. The original shark's teeth and eyes were designed to scare enemies during battle.
(Excerpt) Read more at defendamerica.mil ...
My son loved the original plane with the teeth -- have a lot of pictures of him next to the plane everytime we visited the AF Museum. Outstanding to see tradition being carried on by the A-10.
Great follow up to thread in the Canteen several months back that I saw on Nose Art except this is in the A-10 Wart-Hog.
I sure miss them A10s
Gun on a jet engine ping
They should have painted a phallic symbol. It would cause the enemy greater discomfiture, distract them and throw them out of balance, thus interfering with their attempts at aiming and shooting back.
I will admit I am not knowledgeable on this sort of thing but I am sure I have seen the 23rd, fighter wing is stationed at Eglin.
LVM
I just noticed it said "fighter group" instead of "fighter wing" whatever the difference is.
The F-4 looked great.
The first pic in your link.......great....
"Something wicked this way comes...."
LVM
Killer wabbit!
AWESOME!!! Thanks for the ping AZ!!!
How about panties?
The 33rd Fighter Wing is stationed at Eglin. They Fly F-15Cs.
You've got it backwards. Our current enemy fears female sexuality.
Paint a vulva on the aircraft and the jihadis will run in terror.
Someone at one time suggested that A-10s be based on CVNs. Well they found out that to do that they'd have to have a nose hook and sail the carrier under the A-10 in order to get it on the flight deck.
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