If you want to know the true story behind the A-10 you need to read:
Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War
http://www.amazon.com/Boyd-The-Fighter-Pilot-Changed/dp/0316796883
Great book, great story, great biographer.
Basically, the air force did not want the A-10 from the get go. Boyd knew we needed it and essentially pulled a fast one to cram it down the Air Force’s throat. Moreover, the air force, or many in the air force, do not prize the role of CAS, they’d rather dog fight or high altitude bomb. Boyd recognized the limitations in such a mindset. He was also instrumental in us getting and maintaining air superiority and why no one can really match us in air to air.
Great read.
That was back in the day when jets were being designed without a gun on it because missiles made dogfighting obsolete. . .we saw how well that worked. . .today the F-22 has a gun and it is invisible to radar.
This was back in the day when the strategic mission (SAC, nukes) was THE primary mission for the USAF and those guys ran the USAF. . .and jets had to be able to carry nukes. . .then the ‘fighter mafia’ came along. . .