The USAF Gunsmoke competition was a premier air-to-ground gunnery and bombing competition hosted by the United States Air Force (USAF). It was designed to test the combat readiness and precision strike capabilities of Air Force fighter units. The competition was primarily held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and included a variety of aircraft types from different fighter wings.
Gunsmoke began in 1949 as an air-to-ground counterpart to the William Tell air-to-air competition. The competition’s primary focus was ground attack, bombing accuracy, and strafing proficiency. Gunsmoke was held biennially (every two years) for much of its history, though there were gaps and changes over time. Aircraft Types that participated Included F-4 Phantom II, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II, and other USAF fighter-bombers. Participating units competed in bombing accuracy, strafing, rocketry, close air support (CAS), and overall combat effectiveness.
Notable Competitions 1981: The first official modern Gunsmoke competition at Nellis AFB after a long hiatus. 1983: Featured F-4E, F-16A, A-10A, and F-111F aircraft. The 388th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) from Hill AFB, Utah, won the overall team title. 1985: Continued with similar aircraft, further emphasizing precision strike tactics. 1989: One of the largest Gunsmoke events, featuring 20 teams from Tactical Air Command (TAC), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), and U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). 1991: Included F-15E Strike Eagles, marking a shift in USAF doctrine toward more multirole fighter-bombers. 1993: The last major Gunsmoke event before the competition was discontinued.
End of Gunsmoke By the mid-1990s, Gunsmoke was phased out, partly due to budget constraints and a shifting focus toward real-world combat operations and large-scale Red Flag exercises at Nellis AFB. Many of the skills tested in Gunsmoke were integrated into regular training events, reducing the need for a dedicated competition.
Legacy Gunsmoke helped refine USAF ground-attack tactics during the Cold War and early post-Cold War years. Many of its concepts were later incorporated into Red Flag and Green Flag exercises. The competition fostered unit camaraderie and professional excellence among USAF fighter crews.
Gunsmoke Photos
Judges inspect an Alaskan Air Command A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft prior to competition during Gunsmoke ’87, an Air Force-wide tactical gunnery and bombing competition sponsored by the Tactical Air Command and hosted by the Tactical Fighter Weapons Center at Nellis.
A maintenance technician conducts a preflight cockpit check of an A-10A Thunderbolt aircraft during Gunsmoke ’89, the Tactical Air Command’s biennial air-to-ground tactical fighter gunnery competition.
A left front view of several A-10A Thunderbolt II aircraft on the flight line during Operation Gunsmoke ’81.
Pilots approach the flight line during Operation Gunsmoke ’81.
A close-up view of aircraft competition patches on a pilot’s helmet bag during Gunsmoke ’87, an Air Force-wide tactical gunnery and bombing competition sponsored by the Tactical Air Command and hosted by the Tactical Fighter Weapons Center at Nellis.
An A-7 Corsair II aircraft pilot from the Colorado “Tiger” guard displays his colors upon arrival during Operation Gunsmoke ’81.
An 8th Tactical Fighter Wing pilot makes final preflight checks in the cockpit of an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft prior to a mission during Exercise GUNSMOKE ’85.
23rd Tactical Fighter Wing ground crewmen service an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft during Exercise GUNSMOKE ’85.
An air to air right side view of four 37th Tactical Fighter Wing F-4E Phantom II aircraft in formation during the Tactical Air Command bombing and gunnery competition GUNSMOKE ’85.
Four F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft of the 432nd Fighter Wing fly in fingertip formation over Misawa Air Base. The aircraft, which represented the wing in the worldwide fighter gunnery meet Gunsmoke ’91, are armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
CPT Pat Shay, a pilot with the 944th Tactical Fighter Group, sits in the cockpit of his F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft as his crew chief, MSGT Ken Mitchell, stands behind him. CPT Shay won “Top Gun” honors at the Air Force worldwide fighter gunnery meet Gunsmoke ’89.
An 8th Tactical Fighter Wing maintenance crewman services an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft during Exercise GUNSMOKE ’85.
Ground crewmen stand by as the aircrew of an F-4C Phantom II aircraft prepares for a mission during Exercise GUNSMOKE ’85.
Principle aircraft commanders are briefed on Operation Gunsmoke ’81.
