admin

Hawgsmoke

Hawgsmoke grew out of the discontinued “Gunsmoke” Air Force Worldwide Gunnery Competition. Gunsmoke had been the USAF’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 AFB.

Colonel Cliff Latta of the 172d Fighter Squadron is credited with initiating the first Hawgsmoke competition at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan which was hosted by the Michigan Air National Guard’s 172d FS from Battle Creek Air National Guard Base. 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. 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.

Hawgsmoke 2004 was hosted by the 47th FS 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. 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.

October 14 to 18, 2008, the 303d hosted Hawgsmoke 2008 at Salina Airport, Kansas. The location was chosen because of its location near the Smoky Hill Range, Kansas and the ample ramp space. The Idaho Air National Guard’s 190th Fighter Squadron based at Gowen Air National Guard Base, Boise, Idaho, won the prize for Top Team. Hawgsmoke 2010 was held between 13–15 October 2010, again at Gowen ANGB. The home-based 190th FS won Top Team in the competition for the second time in a row. The 190th won a second prize when Maj. Scott Downey was named top pilot at Hawgsmoke 2010.

The 355th Fighter Wing hosted Hawgsmoke 2012, between 15–17 August 2012 at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona and utilized the Barry M. Goldwater Range.[10] Davis Monthan’s resident 357th Fighter Squadron won the prestigious Al “Mud” Moore Trophy for Top Overall A-10 unit. Hawgsmoke 2014 was held again at Davis Monthan AFB, with 355 FW hosting the event between 9–12 July 2012. The 14 A-10 units made extensive use of the Barry M. Goldwater Range during the competition. The 47th Fighter Squadron, an Air Force Reserve Command unit based at Davis-Monthan was awarded the Top Overall A-10 unit. 13 A-10 teams gathered to compete at Hawgsmoke 2016, once again taking place at Davis Monthan. Running from 1–3 June 2016, pilots expended their ordnance over the vast Barry M. Goldwater Range. Davis Monthan’s 47th FS was again named Top Overall A-10 unit.[13] Capt. David “Gnome” Knighton of the 47th FS won the top pilot trophy at Hawgsmoke 2016.

Hawgsmoke 2018 took place from 17 to 20 October 2018 at Whiteman AFB. The Cannon Range located near Laquey, Missouri, was used for the competition. 74th Fighter Squadron from Moody AFB, Georgia won the prize for Top A-10 Unit. The 74th also won Top Tactical and Top Conventional team awards. Hawgsmoke 2020 was due to be hosted by the 74th FS at Moody AFB,[16] but took place from 14 to 17 April 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 190th FS outperformed twelve other A-10 units to win Hawgsmoke 2021 after winning the Top Overall Team Award, Top Overall Flying Team, Top Tactical Team & Top BSA award. Other awards were: Individual Top Gun Overall, Captain Taylor ‘Pistol’ Price, 104th FS; Individual Top Gun Dive Bomb, Lieutenant Colonel Aaron ‘Puff’ Palan, 358th FS; Individual Top Gun Low Bomb, Captain Taylor ‘Pistol’ Price; Individual Top Gun Strafe, Captain Taylor ‘Petrie’ Bye, 75th FS; Weapons Load Competition, Staff Sergeant Riley McIrvin, Airman First Class Maria Bermudez and Senior Airman Najee King, 354th Aircraft Maintenance Unit; Marshalling Award, 354th AMU, Airman First Class Derek Delosh; & Overall Maintenance Award, 104th AMU.

Hawgsmoke 2022 was held between 6–9 September 2022 at Gowen ANGB. The home-based 190 FS won the competition for a fourth time, beating 14 active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve units.Hawgsmoke 2024 was held at Davis Monthan AFB, between 11–15 September 2024. The home-based 47th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the “Termites” emerged victorious after winning; top conventional bombing team, top conventional strafe team, top tactical team and the top overall team. During Hawgsmoke 2024, an inactivation ceremony was held at Davis Monthan AFB for the 354th Fighter Squadron.

Hawgsmoke related Patches

Hawgsmoke Photos

Members of the Idaho Air National Guard’s 190th Fighter Squadron (from left to right) Maj. Scott Downey, Lt. Col. Ryan Odneal and Capt. Ryan Brown pose with the trophy that they won during Hawgsmoke 2010 at Gowen Air National Guard Base in Boise, Idaho, Oct. 16, 2010. Missing from the photo, but pictured in a photo cutout, is Maj. Justin Keskey. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Josh Breckon, Idaho National Guard)
Four members of the US Air Force (USAF) 47th Fighter Squadron (FS) from Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB), Louisiana (LA), stand in front of a A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft on the flight line at Wheeler Sack Army Airfield, Fort Drum, New York (NY), during the Hawgsmoke 2002 Competition. The 47th FS won this years competition.
High angle view of the ramp at Wheeler Sack Army Airfield, Fort Drum, New York (NY), during the Hawgsmoke 2002 Competition, showing US Air Force (USAF) Air National Guard (ANG), maintenance personnel preparing A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft for competition.
Lt. Cols. Lee Saugstad and Rick Mitchell with the 303d Fighter Squadron read the names of fallen A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots during the opening ceremony of Hawgsmoke at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., October 17, 2018. The 303 FS has flown the A-10 since 1982. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Missy Sterling)
The Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Fighter Wing is hosting biennial A-10 Thunderbolt II competition, Hawgsmoke, Sept. 6-9, 2022. On Sept. 7, nearly 30 A-10s from across the nation parked at Gowen Field’s flightline in preperation for the competition. At the previous competition, Hawgsmoke 2021, the 124th Fighter Wing’s 190th Fighter Squadron was recognized as the top pilot team at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The winning team traditionally hosts the next competition. The 190th Fighter Squadron won all three team awards in 2021: overall champion, top bombing team and top tactical team. The overall win was the squadron’s third since 2003. More than 150 pilots, maintainers and weapon teams from approximately 14 active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units from across the globe are in the competition. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Becky Vanshur)
U.S. Airmen assigned to the 104th Fighter Squadron and 175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, prepare for flight during Hawgsmoke 2021, April 16, 2021, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The 175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron won the Overall Maintenance Award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hayden Legg)
The 124th Fighter Wing hosts Hawgsmoke 2022 at Gowen Field, Boise, ID, Sept. 8, 2022. The 190th Fighter Squadron, having won this aerial warfighter skills competition three times since it’s inception in 2000, is back on their home turf defending the title. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph R. Morgan)
The 124th Fighter Wing hosts Hawgsmoke 2022 at Gowen Field, Boise, ID, Sept. 8, 2022. The 190th Fighter Squadron, having won this aerial warfighter skills competition three times since it’s inception in 2000, is back on their home turf defending the title. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph R. Morgan)
Winners, assigned to the 190th Fighter Squadron, pose for a photo April 16, 2021, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The 190th FS, Idaho Air National Guard, won the Top Overall Team Award during Hawgsmoke 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Rachel Perkinson)
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – (Left to Right) Majors Robert Carpenter, Daniel Levy, James Buchanan, and Ryan Cummings, 47th Fighter Squadron pilots, pose for a photo before stepping to their A-10 Thunderbolt IIs during the Hawgsmoke 2021 competition at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., April 13-17, 2021. The competition consisted of A-10 Thunderbolt II four-ship teams from around the world fighting to be considered the ‘Best of the Best’ in ground attack and target destruction. These pilots brought home 2nd place overall. The 47th FS, a flying squadron in the 924th Fighter Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, is a Geographically Separated Unit of the 944th Fighter Wing. (Courtesy Photo)
Idaho National Guard A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots and their crews come home to Boise as the 2021 Hawgsmoke Overall Team champions. The Hawgsmoke is a biennial aerial competition where approximately 150 Airmen from 13 Air Force units compete in a competition designed to test the bombing, missile and tactical gunnery skills of the pilots and maintainers of the U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft. This year it was held at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, from April 14-17 and Idaho won the Top Overall Team. Idaho will then host the next one, tentatively scheduled for late spring of 2023. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Becky Vanshur)
A-10 Thunderbolt IIs arrive at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, to compete in Hawgsmoke 2022, September 6, 2022.Staff Sergeant Mercedee Wilds/U.S. Air National Guard

Related posts

Leave a Comment