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Pilot saves six Marines earning him the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor
The narrative within tells everything we need to know in the debate over retiring the A-10 in favor of one or two more F-35s. The FA-18s couldn't get the job done; the A-10s did against an enemy 10-50 meters from six thankful Marines. (www.luke.af.mil) More...
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Soldiers have to meet the enemy face to face. To not have capable air cover is ridiculous. War cannot totally be conducted by flying a drone from a thousand miles away or zooming at the speed of sound. When the rubber meets the road you better have a good tire.
The grunts need an aircraft to get down and dirty with them. Imagine the sphincter tightness needed to fly down blind between rocks, identify the enemy while watching for the next rock wall and take them out within feet of becoming friendly fire. The award is well deserved for the officer, but should be given to the hawg as well for none other could do it.
Response to a call for Close Air Support can't be "hey guys, wait til 2017 or so until the F-35 can help with it's 200 or so cannon rounds".
How's the stall speed of the rhino compare to the warthog?
Air Force never wanted close air support plane from the get-go... stupid fighter pilot generals want gold plated "Cadillac" planes... not work horses...
IMNSHO, the allies of the USAF seem to include the RAF and the Royal Saudi AF etc, but not USMC, or US Army.
