Hawgsmoke

Hawgsmoke is a biennial United States Air Force bombing, missile, and tactical gunnery competition for A-10 Thunderbolt II units. It is hosted by the winners of the previous competition and provides both skills competition and an opportunity to share in the camaraderie and fellowship within the A-10 community.

Operations

An A-10 Thunderbolt II conducts a strafing run during Hawgsmoke 2008

Remembering the fallen

Hawgsmoke opens with a remembrance ceremony for fallen comrades. Following the reading of the names of all fallen A-10 pilots, a missing-man formation flies overhead. At the conclusion, the participants drink a shot of whiskey then smash the shot glasses, in honor and remembrance of old friends and colleagues.[1]

Competition

The competition itself takes place over two days and includes team and individual scoring of strafing, high-altitude dive-bombing, 30-degree dive-bombing, low-angle high-delivery, Maverick missile precision, and team tactics.[2]

History

Hawgsmoke grew out of the discontinued "Gunsmoke" Air Force Worldwide Gunnery Competition. Gunsmoke had been the US Air Force's air-to-ground gunnery and bombing competition involving multiple airframes, first held in 1949 and then biennially (except for 1963–1980) from 1954 to 1995 at Nellis Air Force Base.[3]

30 mm bullet impact during Hawgsmoke 2008

Colonel Cliff Latta of the 172d Fighter Squadron is credited with initiating the first Hawgsmoke competition at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan and was hosted by the Michigan Air National Guard's 172d Fighter Squadron from Battle Creek. A-10 units from around the world sent four aircraft and associated crew to compete in ground attack and target destruction events. The 118th Fighter Squadron from the Connecticut Air National Guard won the first event and in turn hosted Hawgsmoke 2002, at Fort Drum, New York.[3]

In 2002 17 teams and 62 aircraft competed. The overall winner was the four-member team from the 47th Fighter Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Hawgsmoke 2002 emphasized target acquisition and focused on accurately dropping practice bombs, firing the AGM-65 Maverick missile, and strafing proficiency with the 30 mm GAU-8 Gatling gun.[3]

Spectators watching Hawgsmoke 2008

Hawgsmoke 2004 was hosted by the 47th Fighter Squadron and held at England Air Park, Louisiana. The competition grew to include 18 teams and more than 70 aircraft. Weather conditions forced the cancellation of the competition events and consequently the event became known as "Hawgwash" 2004.[3]

As there was no winner in 2004 the 355th Fighter Wing was selected to host the 2006 event. It was held 22–25 March at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. Hawgsmoke 2006 coincided the 30th Anniversary of the A-10; consequently, over 140 aircraft flew in to take part. The 303d Fighter Squadron from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri emerged the winner. In turn the 303d hosted Hawgsmoke 2008 at Smoky Hill Range, Kansas.

List of winners

2008 participants[4]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Hawgsmoke 2006: An Interview with A-10 Pilot Major Dan Manning".
  2. ↑ "2008 Hawgsmoke Winners". Archived from the original on 2012-07-16.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Hawgsmoke Overview".
  4. ↑ "Hawgsmoke Page".

Bibliography

See also