Barksdale bids farewell to A-10s

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Katherine Holt
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  After 33 years, the final three A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft from the 917th Fighter Group, 47th Fighter Squadron left Barksdale June 24.

The final take-off marked the end of an era at Barksdale, as Airmen and community members waved their final goodbyes to the A-10s in a farewell ceremony held on the flightline.

"While today is somewhat sad as we are going to fly the last Barksdale A-10s to their new home, really today is about celebrating the impact of the 917th," said Col. John Breazeale, 917th FG commander. "Today is about the thousands of 917th Airmen and their service to our nation."

The 917th Fighter Group was originally formed as the 917th Troop Carrier Group on Jan. 17, 1963, at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and was assigned to the 435th Troop Carrier Wing. Its mission was to administer and support its assigned 78th Troop Carrier Squadron, which was equipped with C-124s.

Breazeale said the 917th had much to be proud of.

"Today we celebrate the Airmen who activated the group in 1963," he said. "I guarantee they had no idea what the next 50 years would bring, for Barksdale or the 917th. Today we celebrate the hundreds of lives saved or protected by 917th Airmen over the skies in Bosnia in the 1990's or most recently in Afghanistan during OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM."

The 917th FG will inactivate in late September ending a 50 year run of the designation here at Barksdale.

The inactivation is due to the termination of the Continuing Resolution provision and the enacting of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, a plan which defines the budget and expenditures of the U.S. Department of Defense.

"The 917th FG proudly served our nation at Barksdale and deployed locations for over 50 years," said Breazeale. "It has been an honor to be a part of Team Barksdale and the local community."

Members of the 917th FG saluted as the final three ship taxied off the runway for its final take off.

"The departure of the last three A-10s was a sad event for me and for the reserves at Barksdale," said Col. Jonathan Ellis, 307th Bomb Wing commander. "The A-10 Thunderbolts have been a fixture in the skies over the community for decades, and the unit closure will have a deep impact on all the reserve family. The 307th Bomb Wing team stands ready to lend a hand in whatever fashion we can to make the transition for the Fighter Group as smooth as possible."

Though this is the end of the A-10 era at Barksdale, Ellis is ready for the future.

"I am excited about the future of reserve operations at Barksdale and look forward to bringing a number of 917th FG members on board as we continue to define the future of B-52 operations across the enterprise."