The 47th Fighter Squadron in the A‑10 Thunderbolt II Era
For more than four decades, the Fairchild Republic A‑10 Thunderbolt II shaped not only U.S. close air support doctrine, but also the identity of the units that operated it. Among those units, few were as closely associated with the aircraft as the 47th Fighter Squadron (47th FS) of the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Known as “Dogpatch” and nicknamed “The Terrible Termites,” the squadron’s A‑10 era represents one of the longest and most influential relationships between a single USAF squadron and the Warthog
Becoming an A‑10 Squadron
After multiple activations during World War II, the Cold War air‑defense period, and the Vietnam era, the 47th Fighter Squadron entered its modern chapter following its reactivation in the Air Force Reserve. During the early 1980s, the squadron transitioned to the A‑10 Thunderbolt II, aligning its mission with the aircraft’s core purpose: close air support (CAS). Stationed at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, the 47th FS became geographically and operationally embedded in the heart of the A‑10 community. Davis–Monthan, already associated with A‑10 operations and sustainment, would remain the squadron’s home throughout its Warthog service
The Reserve’s A‑10 Training Authority
During the A‑10 era, the 47th Fighter Squadron evolved into a Formal Training Unit (FTU) for the Air Force Reserve Command. Its mission extended beyond operational flying to include:
- Initial qualification for A‑10 pilots
- Instructor and upgrade training
- Forward Air Controller (Airborne) instruction (OA‑10)
- Advanced tactical and senior officer courses
In this role, the squadron trained generations of pilots, many of whom would later deploy in active‑duty, Guard, and Reserve A‑10 units. By the 2010s, the 47th FS was widely recognized as the Reserve’s center of excellence for A‑10 training, ensuring that institutional knowledge and CAS expertise were preserved and passed on.
Operational Deployments in the A‑10 Age
Although training was its primary mission, the 47th Fighter Squadron was by no means confined to the classroom and local ranges. Elements of the squadron supported real‑world combat operations, with publicly documented participation in:
- Operation Deny Flight over the Balkans
- Operation Decisive Edge
- Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan
These deployments reinforced the squadron’s pragmatic approach to training, grounding instruction in contemporary combat experience and real CAS requirements
Hawgsmoke and Squadron Culture
No account of the 47th FS A‑10 era is complete without mentioning Hawgsmoke, the biennial A‑10 gunnery and tactics competition that became a cornerstone of Warthog culture. The 47th FS was both a frequent participant and, notably, the host of Hawgsmoke 2024 at the Barry M. Goldwater Range in Arizona. Hawgsmoke 2024 carried particular weight. With the U.S. Air Force already executing its phased divestment of the A‑10, the event was widely viewed as one of the final large‑scale gatherings of the A‑10 community. Squadron leadership and historians emphasized the inseparable link between the 47th FS and the Thunderbolt II, the 47th FS ended up winning Hawgsmoke 2024.”
The End of an Era
The A‑10 chapter of the 47th Fighter Squadron formally closed on 6 September 2025, when the 924th Fighter Group, the squadron’s parent organization, was inactivated as part of the Air Force’s broader A‑10 divestment. The ceremony at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base marked the end of the 47th FS’s operational A‑10 mission, drawing together serving airmen, veterans, and alumni to reflect on decades of Warthog service. Speakers described the moment not as a loss, but as the conclusion of a historic era—one in which the 47th Fighter Squadron played a defining role in training, deploying, and preserving the legacy of the A‑10 Thunderbolt II.
47th Fighter Squadron photos
47th Fighter Squadron patches
