Hawgsmoke 2024: The Last Gunfight?
Report and photos by Steven Valinski
Video by Bill Osmun
Video Editing by Joel Thomas
September 20, 2024
Gila Bend, AZ – In the 102-degree hot, sunny Arizona weather, a crowd full of media, association members, veterans and others gathered to witness several on-range events for Hawgsmoke 2024. The distinct sound of the A-10’s gun and the smoke-filled air energized the crowd in a way that only the Hog and its drivers can.
For Hawgsmoke 2024, 13 teams from various A-10 units from across the country competed in the biennial A-10 competition which took place September 11-15.
“Hawgsmoke is a fantastic tradition that the A-10 has continued-on from an Air Force Gunsmoke competition that was born in the 1940’s, really, just trying to keep the tactics and comradery up in the Air Force. It kind of fell off, and in the early 2000’s, Colonel Cliff Latta was able to start that in the A-10 community, renamed it from Gunsmoke to Hawgsmoke, and it has continued-on every two years. Whatever squadron wins the overall event will then host it the following year.” Major Sky “Comet” Lesh told Aviation Photography Digest.
Hawgsmoke 2024 was hosted by the 47th Fighter Squadron and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. While several of the events took place at Davis-Monthan, the gunnery and bombing events took place in Gila Bend, Arizona at the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range-East.
The beloved Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the “Warthog” or simply “Hawg/Hog,” has been in service since 1977. Its main function is to provide close air support (CAS) to ground forces. While the A-10 can operate in a few other roles, today’s USAF prefers more multi-role aircraft such as the F-35. For this reason, the USAF plans to retire all the A-10 aircraft by 2029. A process that has already begun.
To kick-off the event a ceremony takes place with a roll call to all the fallen A-10 pilots followed by a flyover with a missing man formation. For the competition, teams completed a low-altitude-tactical-navigation (LATN) course, a “Longest Stick” challenge (AGM-65 Maverick distance shot,) high-altitude bomb delivery, manual bombing from various angles, high-angle and low angle strafing runs using the A-10’s 30mm GAU-8 Avenger cannon, GBU-39 delivery and CSAR events. Ground crews also competed in events such as the Weapons Load Competition.
The winner of Hawgsmoke 2024 was the host squadron, the 47th Fighter Squadron. The Termites not only won Top Overall Team they won Top Conventional Bombing Team, Top Conventional Strafe Team and Top Tactical Team.
Hawgsmoke 2024 was a bittersweet event. “It is a little bit more somber because we are closing down the 354th “Bulldogs” this evening and it will be the last Hawgsmoke for the 47th Fighter Squadron as well as the 357th Fighter Squadron. All of Tucson (Davis-Monthan AFB,) within the next two years will be losing the A-10. We call it “The Last Gunfight” for a reason, just because of the closing of those three very memorable squadrons,” Maj Lesh added.
There are questions that remain. Prior to Hawgsmoke 2024 there was talk that this would be the last Hawgsmoke competition due to the approaching sunset of the A-10. When discussing this with sources close to the situation, the consensus seems to be: “never bet against the hog,” which is appropriate considering the Hawgsmoke 2024 motto, “The Last Gunfight…Until the Next One!”
Steven’s interest in photography began when he was 16 years old when he received his first SLR camera, a Minolta XGA. It makes sense that eventually his passion for aviation and photography would merge into a love for aviation photography.
In addition to being the web designer, webmaster and chief editor of Aviation Photography Digest, Steven has been published in numerous magazines worldwide.
Steven has an M.S. from Boston University and uses Nikon photographic equipment.
Steven is a Nikon NPS member.
Steven can be reached at: [email protected]