A-10s over Kosovo

A-10s OVER KOSOVO
Spangdahlem AB, Germany, with some personnel and aircraft
from the deactivated 81st Fighter Wing at RAF Bentwaters, England.
Subsequently, the 81st FS deployed many times to the
Balkan theater, and, until the spring of 1997, a portion of the
squadron maintained a near-continuous presence at Aviano AB,
Italy, in support of AFAC operations over Bosnia. At that time the
31st AEW, based at Aviano AB and flying F-16CGs, relieved the
81st by assuming the Bosnia AFAC tasking. Afterward, the 81st
FS Panthers only were required to operate out of Aviano when
the situation in the former Yugoslavia called for additional capability,
or when the F-16s were deployed and unable to fulfill the
AFAC mission. As a consequence of this arrangement, the Panthers
began a one-month deployment to Aviano AB in January
1999 with six aircraft and 100 personnel to backfill their F-16
AFAC counterparts—the 510th FS, nicknamed “Buzzards.” In
response to the growing Kosovo crisis, the 81st increased its
presence to 15 A-10s and 170 personnel before the outbreak of
hostilities on 24 March. During this time, the Panthers flew CAS
and AFAC sorties in Bosnia supporting Operation Deliberate
Force. With timely approval, the Panthers also were able to practice
CSAR operations with US, Italian, and French air force and
navy rescue helicopters.
A-10s of the 81st EFS at Gioia del Colle AB, Italy
USAF Photo
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