USAF 52nd FW, 81st FS, Spangdahlem AFB, Germany, 2006

According to the Iraqi POWs, the single most recognizable and feared aircraft at low altitude was the Thunderbolt II. This jet was seen as being deadly accurate — rarely missing its target. Seen conducting bombing raids three or four times a day, the A-10 was a seemingly ubiquitous threat. Although the actual bomb run was terrifying, the aircraft loitering around the target prior to target acquisition caused as much, if not more, anxiety, since the Iraqi soldiers were unsure of the chosen target.

Designed as a counter-insurgency aircraft for the Vietnam conflict, the A-10 was first flown in 1972. Nicknamed "Warthog," the A-10 was the first Air Force aircraft designed for close air support of ground forces. With 30mm Gatling guns that can fire 3,900 rounds a minute, the Warthog can defeat an array of ground targets, including armored vehicles. It can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time, maneuver at low air speeds and operate under 1,000-foot ceilings. The Warthog’s low wing and tail and turbo-fan engines—each with a static thrust rating of 9000 pounds—make it suitable for deployment at advanced bases.