Original subtitles

Narrator: IT'S MEAN...

IT'S UGLY...

AND IT'S THE AIRCRAFT GROUND TROOPS CALL ON FIRST

WHEN THEY'RE CAUGHT IN A JAM.

Woman: THEY WERE TAKING FIRE AND NEEDED IMMEDIATE SUPPORT.

Narrator: ITS WEAPON OF CHOICE?

THE MOST POWERFUL GATLING-TYPE CANNON

IN THE AIR FORCE INVENTORY.

Man: IT'S CAPABLE OF FIRING 70 ROUNDS PER SECOND.

Man: THEY ARE THREATENED

JUST BY THE SOUND OF THE AIRPLANE.

Narrator: THE A-10 THUNDERBOLT IS THE AIRCRAFT

THAT CHANGED THE DEFINITION OF CLOSE AIR SUPPORT.

Man: EVERY ASPECT OF HOW WE PUT THE A-10 TOGETHER

WAS LIKE A RADICAL INNOVATION.

Narrator: IT'S CAUSED MORE CONTROVERSY

THAN ANY OTHER AIR FORCE FIGHTER.

Woman: THE A-10 SEEMED TO VIOLATE

EVERY PRECEPT OF STREAMLINED, HIGH-SPEED DESIGN.

Narrator: AND SOME OF ITS TOUGHEST BATTLES

WERE AGAINST THE VERY PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT IT TO LIFE.

Man: THE AIR FORCE HAD NO INTENTION

OF DEPLOYING THE AIRPLANE.

Narrator: 2012.

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, AFGHANISTAN.

NATO HAS BEEN WAGING WAR AGAINST THE TALIBAN

FOR 11 LONG AND DEADLY YEARS.

OVER 60,000 U.S. SOLDIERS HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

THE A-10 THUNDERBOLT IS THERE, TOO.

Paul Zurkowski: THE A-10s

HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE OPERATION

SINCE THE BEGINNING.

Narrator: LIEUTENANT COLONEL PAUL ZURKOWSKI

WAS COMMANDER OF AN A-10 SQUADRON

IN OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

Zurkowski: WE PROVIDED PRETTY MUCH 24-HOUR COVERAGE

WITH THE A-10,

WHERE WE HAD AIRPLANES AIRBORNE

JUST ABOUT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.

Narrator: IN MAY, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

ANNOUNCES THAT OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM

WILL SOON COME TO AN END.

President Obama: WE'RE NOW UNIFIED BEHIND A PLAN

TO RESPONSIBLY WIND DOWN THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.

Narrator: COALITION FORCES COUNT DOWN TO A TIME

WHEN THEY CAN LEAVE THE WAR FAR BEHIND.

BUT THE TALIBAN HAS OTHER PLANS.

THEY DON'T INTEND TO LET THE AMERICANS GET OUT ALIVE.

[MEN SHOUTING]

JUNE 2012.

AT BAGRAM AIR FIELD,

ZURKOWSKI AND HIS WINGMAN PREPARE THEIR A-10s FOR FLIGHT.

BUT MOMENTS AFTER TAKEOFF,

THE ROUTINE MISSION TURNS INTO SOMETHING MORE.

Zurkowski: WE WERE RE-ROLLED

TO WHAT IS CALLED "TROOPS IN CONTACT."

THAT MEANT SOMEBODY ON THE GROUND WAS TAKING FIRE

AND THEY WERE REQUESTING SUPPORT.

Narrator: THAT SOMEBODY

IS A 90-MEMBER SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM.

THEY'RE RETURNING FROM A MISSION DEEP IN TALIBAN TERRITORY.

Zurkowski: THEY WERE WORKING UP A SPINE

OR A RIDGE LINE BETWEEN TWO RIVERS

TO A HELICOPTER LANDING ZONE,

WHERE THEY HAD PLANNED TO BE PICKED UP.

THEY WERE COMPLETE WITH THEIR MISSION.

THEY JUST NEEDED TO GET UP THE SPINE

AND GET ON A HELICOPTER TO GO HOME.

Narrator: TWO MILES BELOW THE PICKUP POINT,

THE TEAM IS AMBUSHED BY TALIBAN FIGHTERS.

NOW THE SAFE HAVEN OF THE LANDING ZONE

MIGHT AS WELL BE A MILLION MILES AWAY.

Zurkowski: AT THAT POINT,

THERE'S SO MUCH GUNFIRE ON THE GROUND,

THEY CAN'T EVEN BRING THE HELICOPTERS IN YET.

Narrator: THE SOLDIERS ON THE GROUND

ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED.

TO GET OUT ALIVE, THEY HAVE JUST ONE HOPE:

THE A-10.

Zurkowski: THERE WERE 90 GUYS ON THE GROUND

THAT WERE THREATENED BY ENEMY FIRE,

AND IT WAS AN IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET IN THERE AND HELP THEM.

AT THAT POINT, WE JUST PUSHED IT UP

AND GOT THERE AS QUICK AS WE COULD.

Narrator: WHEN MARINES AND ARMY TROOPS

ARE OVERWHELMED BY THE ENEMY,

THEY WANT JUST ONE AIRCRAFT:

THE A-10.

Paul Doran: WHAT WE GOT HERE IS THE A-10 THUNDERBOLT II,

MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE WARTHOG,

OR JUST "THE HOG" BY THOSE WHO FLY IT.

Narrator: THE WARTHOG:

IT'S THE ULTIMATE GOLD STANDARD FOR CLOSE AIR SUPPORT.

Doran: CLOSE AIR SUPPORT IS PROTECTING TROOPS ON THE GROUND.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THOSE TROOPS

TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE

TO EFFECTIVELY OPERATE SAFELY ON A COMPLEX BATTLEFIELD,

AND WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT FIREPOWER TO HELP THEM DO IT.

Narrator: GREAT FIREPOWER IS THE A-10'S SPECIALTY.

THE WARTHOG IS BASICALLY A GUN WITH AN AIRPLANE ATTACHED.

Doran: THE A-10 GUN IS CALLED THE GAU-8 AVENGER,

OR JUST "THE GUN" BY A-10 PILOTS.

IT'S 21 FEET LONG.

IT'S THE HEAVIEST GUN, AUTOMATIC CANNON, MOUNTED ON AIRCRAFT.

IT WEIGHS MORE THAN 4,000 POUNDS WHEN IT'S FULLY LOADED.

Narrator: THE AVENGER'S MAGAZINE

HOLDS OVER A THOUSAND ROUNDS OF 30-MILLIMETER AMMUNITION,

SPIT OUT AT 70 ROUNDS PER SECOND.

Doran: IT'S EFFECTIVE ENOUGH

TO KILL ARMORED VEHICLES, TANKS, ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS,

ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SMALL SOFT POINT TARGETS.

WE CAN USE IT AGAINST MOVING TARGETS,

WE CAN USE IT AGAINST STATIC TARGETS,

WE CAN USE IT AGAINST BUILDINGS.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING

THAT A REALLY POWERFUL GUN CAN BE USED FOR

WE USE IT AGAINST.

Narrator: THE GUN ISN'T JUST POWERFUL;

IT'S PRECISE.

4,000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND,

THE WARTHOG CAN STRIKE WITHIN 40 FEET OF ITS TARGET.

Doran: YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT ANYTHING WITHIN THAT 40 FEET

IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A GOOD DAY.

Narrator: THE A-10'S 30-MILLIMETER CANNON

IS ONLY PART OF ITS PAYLOAD PACKAGE.

Doran: THE A-10 CAN CARRY A MIX OF ORDNANCE.

PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THE AIR FORCE PRODUCES

WE CAN HANG ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS JET

AND USE IN OUR CLOSE AIR SUPPORT MISSION.

THE OUTER PYLONS ARE RESERVED FOR LIGHTER ORDNANCE,

SPECIFICALLY AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES.

AS YOU MOVE INBOARD,

WE MOUNT SENSORS, FLARES, AND SOME ROCKETS

OUT ON THE OUTER PYLONS.

AS WE MOVE IN TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE PLANE,

WE CAN CARRY HEAVIER ORDNANCE,

SO AIR-TO-SURFACE PRECISION-GUIDED MISSILES.

AND THE BOMBS ARE MOST COMMONLY LOADED ON THE INBOARD STATION.

THIS RIGHT HERE IS KNOWN AS A TRIPLE EJECTOR RACK,

SO THE T.E.R. CAN CARRY THREE BOMBS, 500 POUND EACH.

IT CAN ALSO PUT ROCKET PODS WITH SEVEN ROCKETS EACH

ON THESE STATIONS.

SO YOU CAN PICTURE THE VARIETY AND NUMBER OF ORDNANCE

THAT THE A-10 CAN CARRY INTO THE BATTLEFIELD ENVIRONMENT.

Narrator: IT'S NOT GOING TO WIN ANY BEAUTY CONTESTS.

BUT FOR GENERATIONS OF SOLDIERS,

THE A-10 AND ITS PILOTS HAVE BEEN A LIFESAVER.

Doran: IF I DO MY JOB CORRECTLY,

MORE AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN ARE COMING HOME SAFELY

AT THE END OF THE DAY.

[ROCKET FIRES]

[GUNFIRE]

Narrator: IN AFGHANISTAN,

ZURKOWSKI AND HIS WINGMAN FLY FAST THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS.

IT TAKES JUST MINUTES TO GET TO THE FIREFIGHT.

Zurkowski: WHEN WE FIRST ARRIVED,

WE HAD OTHER ASSETS ON STATION

THAT WERE SUPPORTING THE MISSION.

THERE WAS AN AC-130, AN MC-12,

AND THEN THERE WAS A B-1 THAT WAS ABOVE HIM.

Narrator: THE A-10s SOON DISCOVERED

THAT TROUBLE ISN'T JUST ON THE GROUND;

IT'S IN THE AIR, TOO.

Zurkowski: THERE WAS A PRETTY GOOD CELL

OR RAIN STORM THAT WAS DEVELOPING.

THE ENEMIES TACTICALLY USED THIS TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

SO THEY HAD WAITED FOR THE WEATHER TO ROLL INTO THE VALLEY

BEFORE THEY STARTED TO SHOOT.

Narrator: AS THE WEATHER ROLLS IN,

COALITION PLANES ARE FORCED TO FLY LOWER AND LOWER,

OR RISK CRASHING INTO A CLOUD-COVERED MOUNTAIN.

FOR THE A-10s, FLYING LOW IS NO PROBLEM.

Zurkowski: WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO WORK IN POOR WEATHER,

WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO WORK AT LOW ALTITUDE

AND PROVIDE FIRE SUPPORT TO THE GUYS ON THE GROUND

WHEN THEY NEED IT.

Narrator: BUT THE OTHER PLANES

ARE DESIGNED TO FLY HIGH AND FAST.

NAVIGATING THE RAIN CLOUDS IS TOO MUCH OF A RISK.

Zurkowski: AT THAT POINT,

THERE WASN'T ENOUGH ROOM UNDERNEATH THE WEATHER

WHERE THEY COULD OPERATE SAFELY.

THEY, ONE BY ONE, STARTED TO CHECK OUT

BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T PROVIDE ANY SUPPORT.

Narrator: BY NOW,

THE A-10 PILOTS CAN BARELY SEE THE GROUND.

Zurkowski: OPERATING IN THAT RAIN STORM

WAS VERY CHALLENGING.

WHEN IT STARTS RAINING,

YOU CAN'T SEE AS FAR IN FRONT OF YOU

AND YOUR SENSORS CAN'T SEE THROUGH THE WEATHER EITHER.

Narrator: IN ORDER TO LOCATE THE GROUND TROOPS,

A-10 PILOTS HAVE TO RELY ON THEIR GROUND-TO-AIR RADIOS.

FOR MOST FIGHTERS, THIS COULD BE A CHALLENGE.

BUT NOT FOR THE A-10s.

THE WARTHOG IS OPTIMIZED TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY

WITH TROOPS ON THE GROUND.

Doran: CLOSE AIR SUPPORT MISSIONS

START WITH DETAILED INTEGRATION

BETWEEN AIRCRAFT AND GROUND TROOPS.

IN ORDER FOR US TO DO THAT,

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO THEM,

SO MY TOOLS ARE THREE RADIOS THAT I HAVE BY MY LEFT HIP HERE

THAT ALLOW ME TO TALK TO AND COORDINATE WITH

PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE.

Narrator: A WARTHOG PILOT

CAN TAP INTO THREE DIFFERENT RADIO NETWORKS.

THE FIRST ALLOWS THEM TO SPEAK WITH TROOPS ON THE GROUND.

THE SECOND NETWORK

IS DEDICATED TO TALKING TO THE OTHER AIRCRAFT.

THE A-10'S THIRD RADIO NETWORK CONNECTS IT WITH A JTAC,

OR JOINT TERMINAL AIR CONTROLLER.

THAT'S AN OFFICER ON THE GROUND

WHO OVERSEES THE ENTIRE OFFENSIVE OPERATION.

Doran: THE RADIOS ARE CRUCIAL

TO THE EXECUTION OF CLOSE AIR SUPPORT

SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND, WE CAN INTEGRATE,

AND WE CAN ADJUST TO DYNAMIC BATTLEFIELD ENVIRONMENTS.

Narrator: OVER AFGHANISTAN,

ZURKOWSKI AND HIS WINGMAN RADIO DOWN TO THE TROOPS.

THE NEWS THAT COMES BACK ISN'T GOOD.

Zurkowski: THE TROOPS ON THE GROUND SAID THEY WERE TAKING FIRE

AND THEY WERE TAKING FIRE FROM THE NORTH AND FROM THE WEST.

Narrator: ZURKOWSKI AND HIS WINGMAN

ARE RELUCTANT TO USE THEIR CANNON.

IF THEY CAN'T FIND THE TROOPS,

THEY RISK SHOOTING THEIR OWN SOLDIERS.

Zurkowski: IT'S VERY DIFFICULT

TO SEE THE ACTUAL PERSONNEL IN THE KIND OF ROCKY TERRAIN,

AND THEY'RE ALL WEARING CAMOUFLAGE

AND THEY BLEND IN PRETTY WELL.

Narrator: BY NOW, THE NEWS FROM THE GROUND IS URGENT.

THE TALIBAN IS CLOSING IN FAST.

Zurkowski: IT WAS CRITICAL WE PROVIDE SUPPORT,

OR IT WAS LIKELY THAT THEY WOULD BE OVERRUN,

AND THERE WERE 90 LIVES AT STAKE ON THE GROUND THERE.

Narrator: IF THE A-10s DON'T SHUT THE ENEMY DOWN SOON,

IT WILL BE TOO LATE.

TWO A-10s CIRCLE LOW THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS OF AFGHANISTAN.

BELOW THEM, 90 SPECIAL OPERATIONS TROOPS

ARE SURROUNDED BY TALIBAN SOLDIERS.

Zurkowski: SO AT THIS POINT,

IT IS STARTING TO RAIN A LITTLE HARDER

AND MY CONFIDENCE LEVEL IN THE TARGET

WASN'T AS HIGH AS I WANTED IT TO BE.

Narrator: VISIBILITY IS ALMOST ZERO.

COORDINATION WITH GROUND TROOPS WILL HAVE TO BE PERFECT

TO AVOID FRIENDLY FIRE.

ZURKOWSKI RADIOS DOWN TO THE SOLDIERS

AND COMES UP WITH A PLAN.

Zurkowski: I ELECTED ON MY FIRST PASS

TO PUT DOWN A WHITE PHOSPHORUS ROCKET.

IT'S A ROCKET THAT HITS, AND IT PRODUCES A BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE,

AND IT'S A GREAT REFERENCE POINT ON THE GROUND.

Narrator: THE ROCKET WORKS PERFECTLY.

GROUND TROOPS RADIO UP TO HELP ZURKOWSKI REFINE HIS TARGET.

Zurkowski: THEY CORRECTED OFF OF THE ROCKET ON THE GROUND

AS A REFERENCE,

REQUESTED 30-MILLIMETER JUST NORTH OF THE ROCKET IMPACT.

Narrator: IT'S TIME FOR THE A-10 TO GO IN FOR THE KILL.

Zurkowski: I CAME AROUND FOR A SECOND PASS.

I PUT ABOUT 300 ROUNDS ON THE RIDGE LINE

JUST NORTH OF THE ROCKET.

IN THAT TYPE OF WEATHER,

YOU CAN SEE A DISTURBANCE IN THE AIR

OF WHERE THE BULLETS ARE.

SO YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE THE BULLETS,

BUT YOU CAN SEE KIND OF A WAVE IN THE AIR,

A DISTURBANCE OF WHERE THIS MASS OF METAL IS GOING DOWN-RANGE.

Narrator: THE A-10 MAKES ANOTHER PASS.

IT CAN'T SEE THROUGH THE CLOUDS TO TELL IF IT'S HIT ITS TARGET.

BUT GROUND TROOPS RADIO UP THE GOOD NEWS.

Zurkowski: ON THE LAST PASS, THEY WERE CONFIRMED

THAT, YEAH, JUST HIT YOUR LAST IMPACTS,

THAT WAS EFFECTIVE.

Narrator: FINALLY, TWO RESCUE HELICOPTERS ARE CLEARED TO LAND.

Zurkowski: IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL MISSION.

WE GOT EVERYBODY OUT THAT DAY.

THERE WERE 90 PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.

Narrator: TENACITY...

TOUGHNESS...

RELIABILITY...

HALLMARKS OF THE AIR FORCE'S GO-TO PLANE

FOR CLOSE AIR SUPPORT.

Zurkowski: IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE CAPABILITIES OF THE A-10

IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO OPERATE UNDERNEATH THE WEATHER,

BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE ACCURATE PINPOINT FIRES

TO SUPPORT THE GUYS ON THE GROUND.

Narrator: NOT BAD FOR A WEAPON

THAT SOME SAY THE AIR FORCE NEVER WANTED AT ALL.

1965.

THE U.S. AIR FORCE AND THE ARMY ARE AT WAR.

NOT JUST IN VIETNAM, BUT WITH EACH OTHER.

IT'S A BATTLE THAT'S BEEN BREWING FOR YEARS.

Rebecca Grant: THE AIR FORCE HAD HAD A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE ARMY DURING KOREA,

BUT AS THE 1950s AND EARLY 1960s PROGRESSED,

THE ARMY AND THE AIR FORCE MOVED FARTHER APART.

Narrator: REBECCA GRANT

IS AN AIR FORCE HISTORIAN AND DEFENSE ANALYST.

Grant: DURING WORLD WAR II,

CLOSE AIR SUPPORT WAS ONE OF THE PRIMARY MISSIONS

FOR THE AIR FORCES.

BUT IN THE 1950s, THE NUCLEAR MISSION TOOK OVER,

AND CLOSE AIR SUPPORT WAS NEGLECTED.

Narrator: THE AIR FORCE BELIEVES THAT CLOSE AIR SUPPORT

IS A THING OF THE PAST.

FUTURE WARS WILL BE WON BY AIR POWER ALONE.

Grant: THE AIR FORCE THOUGHT THAT THE NEXT WAR

WOULD BE ALL ABOUT NUCLEAR DETERRENTS AND NUCLEAR STRIKE,

INVOLVING MASSES OF BOMBERS AND ALSO INTERCEPT FIGHTERS,

BUT WITH VERY LITTLE ROLE FOR GROUND FORCES.

Narrator: TO FIGHT THIS NEW WAR,

THE AIR FORCE PUTS ALL THEIR MONEY INTO FAST BOMBERS,

DESIGNED TO COUNTER THE NUCLEAR THREAT.

Grant: THE NEW FIGHTERS WERE DESIGNED EITHER AS INTERCEPTORS

OR TO DELIVER NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

THAT MEANT THAT THERE REALLY WEREN'T

ANY AIRCRAFT IN THE 1950s

DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CLOSE AIR SUPPORT MISSION.

Narrator: THE AIR FORCE DOCTRINE LOOKS GOOD IN THEORY.

BUT THE REALITY OF VIETNAM CATCHES THEM OFF-GUARD.

IN THE JUNGLES OF SOUTHEAST ASIA,

GROUND TROOPS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE WAR.

HIGH-FLYING AIR FORCE FIGHTERS STRUGGLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT.

Grant: AS MORE U.S. TROOPS ENDED UP IN VIETNAM,

THE AIR FORCE REALIZED

THAT THEY'D REALLY LET THEIR ABILITIES IN CLOSE AIR SUPPORT

SLIP.

Narrator: AS THE CASUALTIES PILE UP,

THE ARMY FEELS THAT IT'S BEEN LEFT OUT TO DRY.

SO IT COMES UP WITH A BOLD PLAN:

TO MAKE THE CLOSE AIR SUPPORT MISSION ITS OWN.

JUNE 1966.

THE U.S. ARMY REVEALS ITS PLAN FOR AN ATTACK HELICOPTER.

THEY CALL IT THE CHEYENNE.

IT'S A CLOSE AIR SUPPORT PLATFORM

DESIGNED TO PUT AIR FORCE BOMBERS TO SHAME.

Grant: WITH THE CHEYENNE PROGRAM,

THIS WAS THE ARMY'S INITIATIVE

TO DO CLOSE AIR SUPPORT THEIR WAY, ON THEIR OWN.

Narrator: THE CHEYENNE IS FAST,

IT'S HEAVILY ARMED,

AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.

THE AIR FORCE LOOKS ON WITH ALARM.

IF THE CHEYENNE PROGRAM GOES THROUGH,

THEY COULD LOSE THE CLOSE AIR SUPPORT MISSION ALTOGETHER

AND THE BUDGET THAT GOES WITH IT.

Grant: SO, THE AIR FORCE REACTED TO THE CHEYENNE PROGRAM

BY STARTING A NEW PROGRAM OF ITS OWN.

Narrator: SEPTEMBER 1966.

THE PENTAGON.

GENERAL JOHN P. McCONNELL STARTS A NEW AIR FORCE INITIATIVE:

THE ATTACK EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM.

Pierre Sprey: McCONNELL WAS A HUNDRED-PERCENT BOMBER GUY.

HE HAD NO INTEREST IN CLOSE SUPPORT,

BUT HE SURE DIDN'T WANT TO GO DOWN IN HISTORY

AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF

WHO LOST A MAJOR MISSION FOR THE AIR FORCE.

Narrator: PIERRE SPREY IS A DEFENSE ANALYST AND ENGINEER.

HE WROTE THE INITIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE A-10.

Sprey: THE OBJECTIVE WE WERE GIVEN

WAS TO DEVELOP A REALLY EFFECTIVE COMBAT MACHINE

AT VERY LOW COST,

LOWER COST THAN THE CHEYENNE, AND MORE EFFECTIVE.

Narrator: VIETNAM ISN'T THE ONLY WAR

THAT HAS THE PENTAGON WORRIED.

SOVIET TANKS LINE UP ALONG EUROPE'S COLD WAR BATTLEFIELD,

WAITING TO STRIKE.

THE NEW AIRCRAFT WILL HAVE TO DO DOUBLE DUTY:

PROTECT SOLDIERS AND DESTROY THE SOVIET THREAT.

Grant: FOR THE U.S. AIR FORCE,

HAVING A DEDICATED, TANK-KILLING,

CLOSE AIR SUPPORT, GROUND-ATTACK PLANE

WAS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

Narrator: STANDARD AIR FORCE DOCTRINE

GETS TURNED ON ITS HEAD.

FORGET HIGH AND FAST;

THIS NEW PLANE HAS TO HOLD ENOUGH FUEL

TO HANG OVER THE BATTLEFIELD AS LONG AS TROOPS NEED.

Sprey: FIRST AND FOREMOST,

YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO GET IN CLOSE ENOUGH

TO FIND THE TARGETS,

SO WE DEMANDED AN AIRPLANE WITH A LOT OF LOITER TIME.

TWO HOURS OR MORE WAS ESSENTIAL.

Narrator: TO HOVER LOW AND SLOW

THE NEW PLANE WILL HAVE TO BE TOUGH.

Sprey: THE SECOND THING IS YOU HAD TO HAVE AN AIRPLANE

THAT COULD REALLY WITHSTAND HITS FROM MACHINE GUNS,

SMALL CANNONS, AND EVEN SHOULDER-FIRED MISSILES.

YOU NEED AN AIRPLANE THAT COULD TAKE THOSE HITS

AND GET THE PILOT BACK.

Narrator: FINALLY, YOU NEED FIREPOWER.

LOTS OF IT.

Sprey: YOU NEED FIREPOWER THAT'S PRECISE.

THIS HAS TO BE FIREPOWER THAT WILL SUPPRESS THE BAD GUYS,

GET RID OF THEM, AND NOT HURT YOUR GUYS.

AND IT HAS TO BE ABLE TO PUNCH THROUGH TANKS

OR ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS.

Narrator: A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

GOES OUT IN MAY 1970.

THIS AIRCRAFT WILL BE FAR DIFFERENT

FROM ANYTHING THE AIR FORCE HAS EVER PRODUCED.

Sprey: ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF HOW WE PUT THE A-10 TOGETHER

WAS LIKE A RADICAL INNOVATION.

Narrator: FOUR MONTHS AFTER ITS REQUEST GOES OUT,

THE AIR FORCE CHOOSES TWO FINALISTS:

GRUMMAN'S A-9

AND FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC'S A-10.

EACH SUBMITS A PROTOTYPE FOR A FLY-OFF COMPETITION.

Sprey: THE AIR FORCE HAD BUILT

MANY, MANY PROTOTYPES OVER THE YEARS,

BUT HAD NEVER HAD A HEAD-TO-HEAD SHOOTING FLY-OFF

WHERE THE AIRPLANES WOULD DIRECTLY COMPETE

ON THE SAME GROUND, AGAINST THE SAME TARGETS.

THAT WAS TOTALLY NEW.

Narrator: DECEMBER 1972.

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA.

FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC'S A-10

FACES DOWN NORTHUP GRUMMAN'S A-9

IN MANEUVERABILITY,

LOITER TIME,

AND WEAPONS TESTS.

THE STAKES ARE WINNER TAKES ALL.

Sprey: THE A-10 WAS CLEARLY MORE ACCURATE THAN THE A-9

IN STRAFING AND IN BOMBING,

BUT NOT BY TWO TO ONE, BUT BY ENOUGH THAT WE CARED.

IT WAS ALSO MUCH BETTER IN LOITER TIME

BECAUSE THE A-9 GRUMMAN

HAD LOST CONTROL OF THE WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE.

AND THEN ON THE SURVIVABILITY SIDE,

THE A-10 PRETTY MUCH HAD IT.

SO I WOULD SAY IT WASN'T HARD TO PICK A WINNER.

IT WAS REAL CLEAR.

Narrator: MARCH 30, 1976.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE.

THE U.S. AIR FORCE ANNOUNCES THE WINNER:

FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC'S A-10.

IT'S THE ONLY AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT

DESIGNED SOLELY FOR CLOSE AIR SUPPORT.

THE A-10'S BODY MAKES AN INSTANT IMPRESSION.

Grant: THE A-10 SEEMED TO VIOLATE

EVERY PRECEPT OF STREAMLINED, HIGH-SPEED DESIGN.

Sprey: THEY IMMEDIATELY DUBBED IT THE WARTHOG

BECAUSE IT HAD WARTS AND BUMPS ALL OVER IT.

IT WAS UGLY... UGLY AS SIN.

Narrator: MANY IN THE AIR FORCE

ARE SKEPTICAL RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO.

Sprey: GENERALS ALMOST UNIFORMLY HATED IT.

THEY THOUGHT THE A-10 WEAKENS

THE REAL MISSION OF THE AIR FORCE,

WHICH IS BOMBING AND MULTI-MISSION FIGHTERS.

Narrator: THE POWERS THAT BE ARE SKEPTICAL.

BUT THE A-10 PILOTS LOVE IT RIGHT FROM THE START.

Doran: THE A-10 IS A WONDERFUL AIRPLANE TO FLY.

IT'S EASY TO FLY, IT'S STABLE.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD GET IN THERE,

GET THE JOB DONE, GET OUT,

SO THOSE YOUNG AMERICANS CAN COME HOME SAFELY

AT THE END OF THE DAY.

Narrator: PROTECTING TROOPS IS ITS MISSION.

BUT THE WARTHOG WAS DESIGNED

TO GET PILOTS OUT OF ANY SITUATION, TOO.

Doran: ITS HIGH-MOUNTED STRAIGHT WINGS

GIVE IT EXCELLENT LOW-ALTITUDE MANEUVERABILITY,

EXCELLENT SLOW-SPEED MANEUVERABILITY,

AND THE ABILITY TO TAKE OFF AND LAND

ON RELATIVELY SHORT AIR FIELDS.

Narrator: ITS MANEUVERABILITY MAKES THE A-10 TOUGH TO HIT.

THE POSITION OF ITS ENGINES MAKES THE A-10 TOUGH TO FIND.

Doran: THE REASON THEY PUT THEM UP HIGH LIKE THIS

IS THAT THE EXHAUST FROM THE ENGINES

IS ABOVE THE TAIL AND BETWEEN THE TWO VERTICAL STABILIZERS.

WHAT THAT DOES IS HIDE SOME OF THAT INFRARED ENERGY SIGNATURE,

MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE ENEMY TO TARGET US

WITH SOME INFRARED SHOULDER-FIRED MISSILE SYSTEMS.

Narrator: IF THEY DO GET HIT,

THE WARTHOG WAS DESIGNED TO ABSORB ENEMY FIRE,

NOT RUN FROM IT.

Doran: UNDERNEATH THE COCKPIT

AND JUST BEHIND THE COCKPIT, UNDERNEATH,

ARE PROTECTED BY TITANIUM ARMOR,

WHICH PROTECTS AGAINST ARTILLERY ROUNDS FIRED FROM THE GROUND.

IT'S DESIGNED TO STOP

UP TO 23-MILLIMETER ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE,

WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE.

Narrator: PILOTS LIKE THE DESIGN,

AND THE A-10 DOES LOOK GOOD...

ON PAPER.

BUT HOW WILL SUCH A STRANGE-LOOKING PLANE

HOLD UP IN FLIGHT?

JUNE 3, 1977.

LE BOURGET AIR FIELD IN PARIS.

FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC GETS READY TO ROLL OUT ITS FANCY NEW PLANE

ON THE WORLD STAGE.

Grant: THE PARIS AIR SHOW WAS STARTED IN 1909,

AND IT'S THE WORLD'S PREMIERE SHOWCASE FOR NEW AIRCRAFT

AND THE MOST SOPHISTICATED DESIGNS.

Narrator: TO SHOW OFF ITS NEW BABY,

FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC SELECTS TEST PILOT SAM NELSON.

HE'S LOGGED OVER 500 HOURS IN THE AIRCRAFT.

Grant: SAM NELSON GOT IN THE PLANE,

TAXIED DOWN THE RUNWAY,

TOOK OFF UNEVENTFULLY.

HIS PLAN WAS TO COME BACK AROUND,

DO A LOW-ALTITUDE LOOP,

AND WOW THE CROWD.

Narrator: BUT AS NELSON COMES OUT OF HIS LOOP,

IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THE A-10 IS FLYING MUCH TOO LOW.

AND THEN...

THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS.

THE AIR FORCE HOPES THAT ITS NEW CLOSE AIR SUPPORT PLATFORM

WILL WOW THE WORLD.

BUT THE A-10'S DEBUT QUICKLY TURNS INTO DISASTER.

Barbara Walters: THE PARIS INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW

OPENED TODAY WITH TRAGEDY.

Grant: THE A-10 SINKS TOO LOW,

IT STRIKES THE GROUND,

DIRTY BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES SHOOT OUT EVERYWHERE.

IT'S A FATAL CRASH.

Narrator: PILOT SAM NELSON DIES ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL.

Grant: SAM NELSON WAS A VERY EXPERIENCED PILOT,

A GOOD TEST PILOT, AND KNEW THE A-10 VERY WELL,

BUT HE GOT OVERCONFIDENT.

HE PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT TOO FAR,

AND IT RESULTED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT.

Narrator: JUNE 1978.

AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE,

ONE YEAR AFTER THE PARIS AIR SHOW,

A WARTHOG PILOT TESTS A NEW KIND OF BULLET

FOR THE A-10'S GATLING GUN.

SUDDENLY, THE GUN CATCHES FIRE.

2,000 FEET ABOVE THE EARTH,

THE PLANE GOES INTO EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN MODE.

THE PILOT IS FORCED TO EJECT.

HE SUFFERS SEVERE INJURIES,

INCLUDING A BROKEN NECK.

HIS A-10 EXPLODES ON THE GROUND.

IT'S MORE BAD PUBLICITY FOR THE A-10

AND AN EXCUSE FOR THE AIR FORCE

TO PUT DISTANCE BETWEEN ITSELF AND THE UNPROVEN PLANE.

Sprey: THERE WASN'T A WEEK THAT WENT BY

THAT SOME AIR FORCE GENERAL DIDN'T COME UP WITH A SCHEME

TO JUST GET THEM OUT OF THE AIR FORCE.

Narrator: THE A-10 IS STARTING TO LOOK

LIKE A FAILED EXPERIMENT.

BUT IT'S STILL THE COLD WAR,

AND SOVIET TANKS ARE STILL A THREAT.

THE ARMY PUTS PRESSURE ON THE AIR FORCE

TO KEEP THE PLANE FLYING.

Grant: THEY KNEW FOR THE U.S. TO BE A SUPERPOWER

WITH A SUPERPOWER ARMY,

IT NEEDED THE A-10

FOR THAT DEDICATED CLOSE AIR SUPPORT ROLE.

Narrator: FOR TWELVE LONG YEARS,

A-10 SUPPORTERS WAIT TO SHOW HOW THEIR PLANE CAN PERFORM.

FINALLY, THE WARTHOG GETS PUT TO THE TEST.

AUGUST 1990.

SADDAM HUSSEIN SENDS HALF A MILLION IRAQI TROOPS

INTO NEIGHBORING KUWAIT.

THE REST OF THE WORLD IS PANICKED.

MOST OF THE EARTH'S OIL IS NOW IN HUSSEIN'S HANDS.

IN NOVEMBER, A 39-MEMBER COALITION

DEMANDS THAT HUSSEIN REMOVE HIS TROOPS.

President Bush: MR. SADDAM HUSSEIN, YOU MUST SIMPLY DO

WHAT THE WORLD IS CALLING UPON YOU TO DO:

GET OUT.

Narrator: BUT HUSSEIN REFUSES.

THE CLOCK BEGINS TO COUNT DOWN TO WAR.

AIR FORCE GENERAL CHARLES HORNER

LAYS OUT THE STRATEGY FOR THE UPCOMING WAR.

Charles Horner: WE'VE WORKED HARD

TO BRING TOGETHER THIS VERY COMPLEX

AND VERY LARGE CAMPAIGN PLAN.

Narrator: HIS LIST IS HEAVY WITH STEALTH PLANES AND BOMBERS.

A-10s ARE NOT IN THE PLAN.

Tom Norris: GENERAL HORNER DIDN'T WANT THE AIRPLANE THERE,

HATED THE AIRPLANE, DID NOT WANT IT THERE.

Narrator: LIEUTENANT COLONEL TOM NORRIS

WAS AN A-10 PILOT DURING THE FIRST GULF WAR.

Norris: THE AIR FORCE HAD NO INTENTION

OF DEPLOYING THE AIRPLANE.

GENERAL HORNER BELIEVED THAT THE F-15E AND THE F-16

COULD HANDLE CLOSE AIR SUPPORT.

Narrator: BUT ALLIED COMMANDER NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF

HAS OTHER IDEAS.

SCHWARZKOPF IS AN ARMY GENERAL.

THE CLOSE AIR SUPPORT MISSION IS NEAR AND DEAR TO HIS HEART.

Norris: GENERAL SCHWARZKOPF MANDATED THAT THE A-10

BE BROUGHT OVER TO THE THEATRE.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS LUDICROUS

THAT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE THOUGHT THAT YOU COULD TAKE

AN AIR INTERDICTION DESIGNED AIRCRAFT

AND APPLY IT TOWARDS A CLOSE AIR SUPPORT ROLE.

General Schwarzkopf: WE HAVE A CAMPAIGN PLAN.

WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THAT CAMPAIGN PLAN

UNTIL WE ACCOMPLISH THE OBJECTIVES

SET OUT BY THE UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION

AND AS ANNOUNCED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Narrator: SCHWARZKOPF'S ENDORSEMENT

IS A HUGE BOOST FOR THE UNPROVEN PILOTS.

Norris: WE WERE THRILLED THAT WE WERE GETTING TO GO.

AND WE WERE CHARGED UP BECAUSE GENERAL SCHWARZKOPF WANTED US,

AND HE REPRESENTED THOSE MEN AND WOMEN ON THE GROUND.

Narrator: FEBRUARY 1991.

THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF IRAQ.

NORRIS IS ON A NIGHT PATROL WITH OTHER A-10s.

SUDDENLY, HIS RADIO BEGINS TO BUZZ.

Norris: IT WAS AN EMERGENCY CAST CALL,

MEANING THAT THIS WAS AN ARMY TEAM,

AND THEY WERE INDICATING THAT THEY WERE TRAPPED.

THE ENEMY HAD ENCIRCLED THEM,

AND THEY HAD NO WAY TO ESCAPE.

Soldier: WE HAVE ENEMY QRF APPROACHING

3-0-0 METERS FROM THE EAST.

Norris: YOU COULD TELL FROM THEIR VOICES

THAT THEY WERE IN TROUBLE AND THEY NEEDED HELP.

Narrator: NORRIS AND HIS WINGMAN

PUT THEIR A-10s INTO FULL THROTTLE.

MINUTES LATER, THEY LOOK DOWN AT A CHAOTIC SCENE.

Norris: WHEN I LOOKED OUT THE HUGE BUBBLE CANOPY ON THE A-10,

I SAW PROJECTILES.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IS LITTLE RED, ORANGE BBs, IF YOU WILL,

FLYING EVERY WHICH DIRECTION AROUND THIS TEAM.

THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY SET PATTERN TO IT.

Narrator: PILOTS CAN SEE THAT THEIR TROOPS ARE IN TROUBLE.

BUT IN THE DARK, THEY CAN'T TELL FRIEND FROM FOE.

Norris: WE HAD NO SENSORS IN THE AIRPLANE

TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE INFRARED ENERGY

TO SEE DIFFERENT OBJECTS AND USE THOSE THINGS FOR TARGETING.

Narrator: TRAINING WITH GROUND TROOPS

HAS ITS ADVANTAGES.

THE WARTHOGS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE SOLDIERS CAN USE

TO PINPOINT THEIR LOCATION.

Norris: THE FLIGHT LEAD, YOU KNOW, HE KNEW WHAT THEY HAD WITH THEM,

YOU KNOW, SO WHEN HE SAID, "DO YOU HAVE A STROBE LIGHT?

DO YOU HAVE YOUR STROBE LIGHT WITH YOU?"

HE KNEW IT WAS KIND OF IN THEIR BASIC EQUIPMENT LIST.

Narrator: WARTHOG PILOTS ARE KNOWN FOR BEING RESOURCEFUL.

EVEN SO, IT'S AN INGENIOUS PLAN.

Norris: HE SAID, "OKAY, SO HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO.

I WANT YOU TO DIG A HOLE.

I WANT YOU TO TURN THAT STROBE LIGHT ON

AND DROP IT IN THE HOLE."

ONCE THEY DID THAT,

WE COULD DETERMINE EXACTLY WHERE THE FRIENDLIES WERE

AND THAT THERE WAS FIRE ALL AROUND THEM.

AND THAT, THEREFORE, WAS THE ENEMY.

Narrator: GROUND TROOPS GIVE THE GO-AHEAD.

Norris: AT THAT POINT WE BEGAN EMPLOYING

THE 30-MILLIMETER GUN...

AND THEN WE JUST LAID WASTE TO THEM.

AND BECAUSE OUR RE-ATTACK TIME IS VERY QUICK,

WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE ENEMY.

Narrator: ITS LONG LOITER TIME

MEANS THE A-10 CAN STICK AROUND TO SEE THE FIGHT THROUGH.

THE FINAL SCORE?

A-10s: SIXTY.

IRAQI SOLDIERS: ZERO.

Norris: THERE WAS AN ALL-SAFE CALL

45 MINUTES AFTER WE HAD SHOWN UP.

Narrator: CLOSE AIR SUPPORT IS JUST ONE OF THE A-10'S TRIUMPHS.

THE WARTHOG PROVES TO BE A FORCE IN THE AIR WAR, TOO.

A-10s DESTROY MORE SCUD LAUNCHERS

THAN ANY OTHER AIRCRAFT.

Norris: SCUDS WERE THE BALLISTIC WEAPON

THAT COULD CARRY CHEMICALS, ET CETERA,

THAT COULD VERY EASILY BE LAUNCHED FROM IRAQ TO ISRAEL.

AND THE A-10s HAD GREAT SUCCESS AT KILLING SCUDS.

Narrator: TAKING OUT AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS

PROVES TO BE EASY, TOO.

[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]

Norris: THAT MISSION IS SUPPOSED TO BE

FOR AIR INTERDICTION AIRPLANES LIKE THE F-16 AND F-15E.

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY THE DAY BEFORE,

F-16s HAD BEEN TASKED AGAINST IT, AND MISSED.

SO, A-10s THE FOLLOWING DAY WERE TASKED TO GO IN,

AND THEY SHACKED IT.

THAT ASSET WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

Narrator: ALTOGETHER, THE A-10 FLIES OVER 8,000 MISSIONS.

IT DESTROYS MORE THAN 900 IRAQI TANKS,

AND IT TAKES OUT OVER 300 ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS

AND ARTILLERY SITES.

Norris: WE PUT THE HURT ON THEM PRETTY GOOD.

Narrator: THE WARTHOG IS THE LOW-TECH STAR

OF A HIGH-TECH WAR.

EVEN GENERAL HORNER IS IMPRESSED.

Norris: THE THIRD DAY OF THE WAR,

HE WROTE, "I TAKE BACK ALL THE BAD THINGS

I EVER SAID ABOUT THE A-10.

THEY'RE SAVING OUR ASSES.

GENERAL HORNER."

Narrator: BUT THE A-10s HAVE LITTLE TIME

TO SAVOR THEIR SUCCESS.

NO SOONER ARE THEY BACK IN THE STATES,

THAN THEY GET SOME DISAPPOINTING NEWS.

Norris: WE HAD BEEN BACK JUST A FEW MONTHS.

IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE A-10s,

THE BULK OF THEM WERE ALL GOING IN THE BONEYARD.

SO, IT WAS A HUGE SLAP IN THE FACE,

GIVEN HOW WELL THE AIRPLANE HAD PERFORMED.

Narrator: TO MANY WARTHOG PILOTS,

IT FEELS LIKE THE SAME OLD SONG.

Norris: THEY DID NOT CUT, YOU KNOW, PERCENTAGE-WISE

NEAR THE NUMBER OF F-16s AS THEY CUT A-10s.

AGAIN, THEY DID NOT WANT THE AIRPLANE.

Narrator: BUT IF THE A-10

HAS POWERFUL OPPONENTS IN THE AIR FORCE,

IT HAS FRIENDS IN THE ARMY.

THANKS TO ITS STREET FIGHTER IMAGE,

THE A-10 MANAGES TO HANG ON.

AND IN JUST A FEW YEARS, IT GETS A CHANCE TO UNDERTAKE

THE ULTIMATE CLOSE AIR SUPPORT MISSION:

PROTECTING A DOWNED PILOT.

MARCH 24, 1999.

SERBIA.

NATO ANNOUNCES A BOMBING CAMPAIGN

AGAINST PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.

THE GOAL:

TO STOP HIS VICIOUS ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN

OF ALBANIAN MUSLIMS.

President Clinton: WE ALL AGREE

THAT WE CANNOT ALLOW PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC

TO CONTINUE THE AGGRESSION WITH IMPUNITY.

Narrator: THE COALITION BEGINS WITH A MASSIVE AIR WAR

TO DESTROY THE SERBIAN INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE U.S. BRINGS DOZENS OF CHOPPERS AND FIGHTERS

TO THE FIGHT.

JUST HOURS INTO THE WAR,

THE A-10 SQUADRONS GET AN URGENT CALL.

THE SERBS HAVE SHOT DOWN ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST VALUABLE ASSETS,

A STEALTH F-117.

Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE YUGOSLAV ARMY,

THE STEALTH FIGHTER WAS SHOT DOWN

BY A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE.

Narrator: THE PILOT HAS BEEN FORCED TO EJECT

DEEP INSIDE ENEMY TERRITORY.

John Cherrey: THE FIRST THING

THAT COMBAT SEARCH AND RESCUE CREWS CARE ABOUT IS THE PERSON.

WE WANT TO GET HIM OUT.

Narrator: BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN CHERREY

WAS AN A-10 COMMANDER DURING THE BALKAN WARS.

Cherrey: THE SECOND THING

WE MIGHT HAVE IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND

IS THE STRATEGIC VALUE OF THAT PERSON TO THE ENEMY,

AND WE KNEW THAT IF THEY COULD CATCH A 117 PILOT,

THAT IT WOULD BE A HUGE STRATEGIC LOSS

FOR THE NATO COALITION AT THE TIME.

Narrator: COALITION AIR FORCES

QUICKLY ASSEMBLE A SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION.

CHERREY AND FIVE OTHER A-10s TAKE THE LEAD.

Cherrey: WE TOOK OFF ABOUT 9:45 IN THE EVENING,

WHICH IS ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER

THE F-117 HAD BEEN REPORTED SHOT DOWN.

Narrator: THE ONLY TROUBLE IS,

THEY AREN'T SURE WHERE THEY'RE HEADING.

Cherrey: WE HAD FIVE SETS OF COORDINATES

AS TO WHERE THE SURVIVOR POTENTIALLY COULD BE.

THOSE COORDINATES SPANNED OVER 76 MILES.

Narrator: 76 MILES ISN'T A LOT OF TERRITORY

FOR THE A-10s TO COVER.

BUT IT IS DANGEROUS.

SERB RADAR ARE ON HIGH ALERT.

Cherrey: WITHIN THE SURVIVOR'S SMALL RADIUS,

THERE WERE NUMEROUS SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES,

AND WE KNEW THAT THE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES

WERE TRACKING US.

Narrator: CHERREY MANEUVERS HIS A-10 ABOVE THE MISSILES,

TRYING TO LOCK ON TO THE PILOT'S LOCATION.

Cherrey: THE A-10 IS UNIQUE

IN THAT IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC DIRECTION FINDER

IN THE UHF RANGES OF THE RADIO,

AND SO IF A PILOT IS USING A RADIO,

THE AIRCRAFT ITSELF CAN DETECT THAT SIGNAL

AND GIVE ME BEARING TO THE PILOT.

Narrator: AS HE CIRCLES,

CHERREY HEARS A VOICE COME THROUGH HIS RADIO.

IT'S THE PILOT.

THE A-10 HOMES IN ON HIS SIGNAL.

Cherrey: AT THAT POINT,

I'M FOCUSED COMPLETELY ON MAKING SURE THAT HE IS SECURE

AND THAT HE'S READY TO BE PICKED UP.

Narrator: BUT CHERREY ISN'T THE ONLY ONE TRACKING THE SIGNAL.

Cherrey: THE SERBIANS WERE ON THE RADIOS AS WELL,

AND SO THE MORE THE PILOT TALKED ON THE RADIO,

THE MORE THAT THE ENEMY WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO USE

THAT CAPABILITY AGAINST HIM.

Narrator: FINDING THE PILOT WON'T COUNT FOR MUCH

IF THE SERBS GET TO HIM FIRST.

Cherrey: FOR THE LAST THREE NIGHTS,

WE HAD BEEN HITTING TARGETS ALL AROUND THOSE AREAS,

AND WE KNEW THAT THE PEOPLE IN THOSE AREAS

WERE NOT GOING TO BE NICE TO ANYONE THAT THEY FOUND

THAT WAS AN AMERICAN PILOT.

Narrator: AS THE A-10s CIRCLE OVERHEAD,

THEY KNOW THAT THE PILOT'S FATE IS RESTING IN THEIR HANDS.

Cherrey: THE ONLY THING I COULD PICTURE

WAS HIM KNEELING ON THE GROUND

WITH A GUN TO HIS HEAD.

WE WERE GOING TO STAY THERE UNTIL WE GOT HIM OUT.

Narrator: THE A-10s HAVE THE PILOT'S LOCATION.

BUT THE SERBS ARE CLOSING IN ON THE GROUND.

NOW IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME.

ENEMY FORCES IN SERBIA

ARE CLOSING IN ON A DOWNED AMERICAN AIRMAN.

A-10 PILOT JOHN CHERREY

KNOWS THAT IF HE CAN'T GET THE PILOT OUT SOON,

IT MAY BE TOO LATE.

Cherrey: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE TO DO

AS THE ON-SCENE COMMANDER

IS FIGURE OUT, IS HE READY TO BE PICKED UP?

I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOOD TO GO AT THAT POINT

AND DECIDED TO BRING THE HELICOPTERS IN.

Narrator: WITH SERB MISSILES ON HIGH ALERT,

A-10 PILOTS KNOW THAT THE HELICOPTERS

WILL BE SITTING DUCKS.

SO THE WARTHOGS DECIDE TO CREATE A DECOY.

Cherrey: WHILE THE HELICOPTERS WERE COMING IN LOW

TO PICK UP THE SURVIVOR,

MY WINGMAN AND I TRIED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE AREA.

Narrator: THE A-10s TURN AWAY FROM THE DOWNED PILOT.

AND THE SERBS TAKE AIM

WITH THE VERY SAME SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES

THAT SHOT DOWN THE F-117.

Cherrey: HERE IS THE MOST STEALTHY AIRCRAFT

THAT WAS JUST SHOT DOWN BY SOMETHING,

AND I WAS IN THE LEAST STEALTHY AIRCRAFT

IN THE AIR FORCE INVENTORY.

Narrator: CHERREY'S DECOY WORKS.

TWO CHOPPERS TOUCH DOWN FOR THE RESCUE.

AND THE A-10s

FINALLY GET THE WORD THAT THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

Cherrey: WHEN WE FINALLY GOT WORD THAT HE WAS ON BOARD

AND HAD EGRESSED OUT OF SERBIAN AIRSPACE,

IT WAS JUST SUCH A TREMENDOUS RELIEF.

IT WAS EXTREMELY REWARDING IN THAT WE GOT HIM OUT.

Narrator: PROTECTING THE DOWNED PILOT

IS YET ANOTHER FEATHER IN THE A-10'S CAP.

Grant: AS A SLOWER-FLYING PLATFORM

AND A PLATFORM DESIGNED TO WORK WITH GROUND FORCES

AND TO SEARCH OUT PIECES OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT,

THE A-10 TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT PLATFORM

FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE AS WELL.

Narrator: BY NOW, THE A-10 ISN'T JUST A FAVORITE OF PILOTS;

IT'S A FAVORITE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAINTAIN IT, TOO.

Matthew Newson: THE A-10 IS A COOL AND UNIQUE AIRCRAFT

TO WORK ON BECAUSE IT IS AN EASY AIRPLANE TO MAINTAIN.

Narrator: IT'S NOT JUST EASY;

IT'S CHEAP.

THE A-10 COSTS JUST OVER $19,000 PER FLYING HOUR TO MAINTAIN.

THAT'S THE LOWEST IN THE AIR FORCE INVENTORY.

Newson: THE A-10 IS RESILIENT.

IT'S RESILIENT TO WEATHER,

IT'S RESILIENT TO THE SMALL ARMS FIRE,

IT'S RESILIENT IN ALMOST EVERY WAY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR PROS TO MAINTAINING THIS AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: IT'S A LOT OF BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.

AND JUST HOW MUCH

WAS GETTING READY TO BE PROVEN AGAIN IN IRAQ.

APRIL 7, 2003, IRAQ.

FIGHTING RAGES ACROSS BAGHDAD.

AMERICAN AND ALLIED SOLDIERS STORM THROUGH THE STREETS,

UNDER HEAVY FIRE

FROM PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN'S REPUBLICAN GUARD.

Kim Campbell: THAT DAY WE GOT A CALL

SAYING THAT TROOPS WERE IN CONTACT

AND THEY NEEDED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

Narrator: LIEUTENANT COLONEL KIM CAMPBELL

WAS AN A-10 PILOT IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.

HER CALL SIGN: KILLER CHICK.

[SOLDIERS SHOUTING]

Campbell: THEY SAID THEY WERE TAKING FIRE

AND THEY NEEDED IMMEDIATE SUPPORT

FROM OUR AIRCRAFT OVERHEAD THEIR LOCATION.

Narrator: MOMENTS LATER, THE WARTHOGS FIND THEMSELVES

LOOKING DOWN AT AN EPIC GUN BATTLE,

WITH AMERICAN TROOPS ON THE LOSING SIDE.

Campbell: THEY WERE TAKING FIRE

FROM MEMBERS OF THE IRAQI REPUBLICAN GUARD.

THE FRIENDLIES WERE LOW ON AMMUNITION, LOW ON SUPPLIES,

AND SO WE KNEW THAT THIS SITUATION WAS SERIOUS

AND THAT WE NEEDED TO GET IN THERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

Narrator: THE A-10s DON'T WASTE A MINUTE.

THEY DIVE DOWN AND GET RIGHT TO WORK.

Campbell: WE MADE SEVERAL PASSES,

BOTH WITH OUR GATLING GUN

AND HIGH-EXPLOSIVE ROCKETS ON THE ENEMY LOCATION.

Soldier: GO, GO, GO...

Narrator: AMERICAN TROOPS SCRAMBLE TO SAFETY.

BUT THE IRAQI FIGHTERS DON'T GIVE UP EASILY.

AS THE A-10s HEAD OUT,

ANTI-ARTILLERY FIRE AND RPGs STREAK BY.

Campbell: I HAD COME DOWN LOW TO DO THE ROCKET PASS

AND WAS CLIMBING BACK UP,

AND THAT'S WHEN I JUST FELT AND HEARD A VERY LARGE IMPACT

AT THE BACK OF THE JET.

I KNEW IMMEDIATELY I HAD BEEN HIT BY ENEMY FIRE.

Narrator: THE IMPACT DUMPS THE WARTHOG'S NOSE FORWARD.

SUDDENLY, LIEUTENANT COLONEL CAMPBELL

FINDS HERSELF LOOKING STRAIGHT DOWN

AT A CITY OF 11 MILLION PEOPLE...

MANY OF THEM HOSTILE.

Campbell: SO I'M STARING AT BAGHDAD THINKING THAT

THIS IS NOT THE LOCATION THAT I WANT TO EJECT IN.

AND SO I JUST FOCUSED ON THE TASK AT HAND

OF GETTING THE AIRCRAFT UNDER CONTROL.

Narrator: CAMPBELL HAS JUST SECONDS

TO SIZE UP HER SITUATION.

SHE CAN SEE RIGHT AWAY THAT IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

Campbell: I HAD SEVERAL CAUTION LIGHTS,

LOTS OF THINGS FLASHING, LOTS OF NOISES,

THE AIRPLANE IS NOT RESPONDING TO MY INPUT.

THE BIGGEST THING TO ME WAS THE HYDRAULIC GAUGES READ ZERO,

AND I HAD COMPLETELY LOST HYDRAULICS

WHEN THE AIRCRAFT GOT HIT.

Narrator: HYDRAULICS PROVIDE THE POWER

TO MOVE AN AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT CONTROLS AND LANDING GEAR.

FOR MOST AIRCRAFT,

LOSING HYDRAULIC POWER WOULD MEAN SURE DISASTER.

BUT NOT FOR THE STURDY A-10.

Campbell: IF YOU LOSE ONE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM,

THEN OUR AIRCRAFT IS BUILT SO THE OTHER SYSTEM WILL TAKE OVER.

IF YOU LOSE BOTH HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS,

THEN WE HAVE THIS SYSTEM CALLED MANUAL REVERSION.

Narrator: THE A-10 IS THE ONLY AIR FORCE FIGHTER

WITH THE MANUAL REVERSION OPTION.

TO ACTIVATE IT, THE PILOT SIMPLY FLIPS A SWITCH.

THIS DEACTIVATES THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM

AND ALLOWS THE PILOT TO STEER THE PLANE

USING A SERIES OF CABLES AND PULLEYS.

SHE CONTROLS THESE THROUGH SHEER MUSCLE POWER.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE DRIVING A 25,000-POUND CAR

WITHOUT POWER STEERING AT 400 MILES AN HOUR.

Campbell: IT'S JUST A MANUAL WAY

OF CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT,

KIND OF BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS OF FLYING.

Narrator: CAMPBELL RADIOS BACK TO BASE TO TELL THEM SHE'S COMING IN.

ONLY TWO A-10 PILOTS HAVE EVER ATTEMPTED A MANUAL LANDING,

AND ONLY ONE OF THEM SURVIVED.

Campbell: MY GUT FEELING WAS

THAT I WAS GOING TO TRY TO LAND THE AIRPLANE.

THE A-10 HAD, IT HAD SERVED ME WELL UP THIS POINT,

AND I WASN'T READY TO EJECT OUT OF IT.

Narrator: THE RUNWAY IS LINED WITH EMERGENCY PERSONNEL.

CAMPBELL IS SO FOCUSED ON LANDING

THAT SHE DOESN'T EVEN NOTICE.

ONCE SHE'S ON THE GROUND,

CAMPBELL CAN FINALLY SEE HOW BADLY SHE'S BEEN HIT.

Campbell: I HAD HUNDREDS OF HOLES IN THE FUSELAGE

AND TAIL SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT

AND A GIANT FOOTBALL-SIZED HOLE

IN THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AT THE BACK OF THE AIRCRAFT.

I REALLY FELT LIKE

IF I HAD BEEN FLYING ANY OTHER AIRCRAFT THAT DAY

THAT MAYBE MY SITUATION WOULDN'T HAVE TURNED OUT IN THE SAME WAY.

Narrator: LIEUTENANT COLONEL CAMPBELL'S MISSION

SHOULD HAVE CEMENTED THE A-10'S REPUTATION.

BUT NOT A MONTH AFTER,

THE NEW YORK TIMES GETS HOLD OF A CONFIDENTIAL MEMO

PLOTTING THE WARTHOG'S DEMISE.

Dave Deptula: SOME OF THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE TODAY

YOU PUT IN A HIGH-THREAT ENVIRONMENT

AND THEY'LL START FALLING FROM THE SKY LIKE RAIN.

Sprey: MAJOR GENERAL DAVE DEPTULA

PROPOSED THAT THE A-10 FLEET BE WIPED OUT

WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE THE A-10

HAS ITS HEAD ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK YET AGAIN.

AND THIS TIME, THE AIR FORCE IS DETERMINED TO SUCCEED.

MAY 27, 2003.