To gain as much training as possible and avoid unserviceability the 23rd Wing's A-10Cs are hot-refuelled after the first sortie: here a 75th Fighter Squadron takes on fuel prior to another sortie.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - СШАUSA - 1972

This angle of this photograph shows the tightness of the formation to great effect

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - СШАUSA - 1972

The 74th FS (foreground) flies in formation with 75th FS A-10s over the Georgia countryside.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - СШАUSA - 1972

The maintenance crews with the 23rd AMXS get extremely busy at the end of runway (EOR), making weapons live and performing last-minute checks before the A-10s depart and land.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - СШАUSA - 1972

Crew co-operation is essential during CSAR operation; an A-10C circles the 7.62mm minigun-equipped CSAR HH-60G and HC-130P while inbound to a training CSAR exercise.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - СШАUSA - 1972Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk / S-70 - СШАUSA - 1974

Mean'n'Moody - a 23rd Wing A-10C gets close to the cameraship.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - СШАUSA - 1972

Capt Brad Wethington from the 74th FS shows the training AGM-65 Mavericks along with 3kg practice bombs.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - СШАUSA - 1972

The 76th Fighter Squadron, part of the 476th Fighter Group, supports the 23rd Wing with personnel for exercises and deployments; currently the Group has personnel deployed at Kandahar as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. This A-10C was destroyed in a take-off accident on May 10, 2010, but luckily the pilot ejected.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - СШАUSA - 1972

Captain Dylan 'Habu' Thorpe demonstrates the A-10C dispensing flares while Captain Brad 'Slaw' Wethington formates for the camera.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - СШАUSA - 1972

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - СШАUSA - 1972

Cavanaugh Flight Museum's Curtis P-40N Warhawk in original Flying Tiger colours for Maj Gen Charles Bond.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Curtiss P-40D Kittyhawk / Warhawk - СШАUSA - 1941

A 41st RQS HH-60G dispenses flares.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk / S-70 - СШАUSA - 1974

Capt Joel Martin and the crew members from the 71st RQS, who flew the author in an HC-130 and made the photographs for this article possible.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Lockheed HC-130 / KC-130 / MC-130 - СШАUSA - 1959

824th Security Force Squadron personnel prepare to jump from a HC-130P Combat King from the 71st Rescue Squadron.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Lockheed HC-130 / KC-130 / MC-130 - СШАUSA - 1959

Crewmen from the 71st Rescue Squadron push out a bag with the aim of getting it as close to the target as possible. Not all air drops are at high altitude: this was at 100ft (30m) and 300 knots.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Lockheed HC-130 / KC-130 / MC-130 - СШАUSA - 1959