First established throughout World Warfare Two, the 924th Fighter Group was deactivated as a part of the continued A-10 divestment.
The 924th Fighter Group (FG) at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, closed a storied chapter when it was deactivated on Sep. 6, 2025, amid the A-10C Thunderbolt II’s (also referred to as Warthog) broader divestment by the U.S. Air Pressure. The 924th FG oversees the forty seventh Fighter Squadron, which was the Air Pressure Reserve Command’s (AFRC) Formal Coaching Unit for the A-10C, and is now slated to obtain the F-35A Lightning II.
The ceremony, held at Davis-Monthan AFB within the presence of Airmen, households, retired personnel and senior officers, honored the “enduring heritage, from the squadron’s first fight missions over Oahu in 1941, to its fashionable deployments, Hawgsmoke competitors triumphs, and remaining A-10 flights.” The forty seventh FS is also referred to as the “Dogpatch”, and its A-10Cs characteristic the nostril artwork representing its nickname, “Horrible Termites.”
The personalized livery on every of its A-10s’ noses characterize its service from the Pacific battlefields throughout World Warfare Two, to the desert ranges of Arizona.
Deactivation Ceremony
Within the press launch, retired Maj. Gen. Bruce “Lite” Miller, former tenth Air Pressure commander, had an upbeat message. “That is speculated to be a celebration. At this time we’re doing an inactivation, which has a way of permanence – the lack of the A-10. It’s simply the tip of an period,” mentioned Miller.
Lt. Col. Meredith “Xena” Morris, commander of the 924th Upkeep Squadron (924th MS) – one other unit underneath the 924th FG, known as the unit’s members an “elite household” which saved the unit “in its prime.” Col. Russell “Runz” Fette, 924th Operations Assist Flight and forty seventh Fighter Squadron commander, carried the story again to the group’s World Warfare II roots.
He recalled the forty seventh’s battle throughout the assault on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Concerning the unit’s distinct plane livery, Fette mentioned they’re “the one unit nonetheless allowed this distinctive particular person plane artwork.” Col. Aaron “Nacho” Weedman, 924th Fighter Group commander, praised the unit’s resilience “by way of each chapter of its lineage.”
“I wished to retire the A-10 and honor your legacy,” Weedman mentioned. Col. Todd “Riddler” Riddle, 944th Fighter Wing commander and former A-10 pilot, acknowledged the challenges of closing a fighter group.
With plans underway to activate the forty seventh Fighter Squadron within the F-35 neighborhood, leaders inspired Airmen to hold ahead the traditions that outline the unit’s spirit. The ceremony noticed an F-35A from Eglin AFB’s sixtieth FS and an A-10C from the forty seventh FS parked nose-to-nose in entrance of the hangar the place the ceremony was held. 4 A-10s from the unit additionally carried out a “remaining flyover” to mark the occasion.
🇺🇸 An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the forty seventh Fighter Squadron sits on the flightline at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, July 30, 2024, throughout the unit’s participation in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024.
(📸/U.S. Air Pressure Picture by MSgt Courtney Richardson) pic.twitter.com/qKu6dmYnm2
— Man Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) December 7, 2024
924th FG and forty seventh FS historical past
The 924th FG was established in 1962 because the 924th Troop Provider Group underneath Continental Air Command, flying C-119 Flying Boxcars at Ellington AFB, Texas. Between 1962 and current, the unit modified missions and plane a number of instances. It flew experimental drop missions for NASA; flew the C-130 Hercules to Vietnam; operated the F-4D Phantom II; transformed to the F-16A Combating Falcon in 1991, adopted by the F-16C in 1994 whereas turning into the 924th Fighter Wing.
The 924th FW was deactivated in September 1996 and was reactivated on Jan. 1, 2011 because the 924th Fighter Group at Davis-Monthan AFB underneath the Air Pressure Reserve Command. Between October 2013 and March 2014, the 924th FG gained 28 A-10s plane from Barksdale Air Pressure Base, Louisiana.
A 47FS A-10C over Barry’s Vary (ssgt Noah D. Coger) pic.twitter.com/f3LLeMczKx
— J.J. (@kadonkey) August 10, 2025
The forty seventh FS was established on Dec. 1, 1940, because the forty seventh Pursuit Squadron, assigned to the fifteenth Pursuit Group at Wheeler Area, Hawaii. Till 1945, the forty seventh flew the P-26, P-36 Hawk, P-47 Thunderbolt, and P-51 Mustang plane, capturing down eight Japanese plane on Dec. 7, 1941, and 100 extra by the tip of the battle. It then returned to Hawaii and was inactivated on Oct. 15, 1946.
From Dec. 1, 1952, to Oct. 1, 2013, the forty seventh was re-activated and deactivated a number of instances, flying the North American F-86L Sabre, F-102 Delta Daggers, F-84F Thunderstreak, F-4 Phantom II, A-37 Dragonfly and at last the A-10. On Oct. 1, 2013, the 917 FG and the forty seventh as soon as once more deactivated. On Mar. 1, 2014, the forty seventh stood up once more as an Air Pressure Reserve A-10 formal coaching unit underneath the 924th FG at Davis-Monthan AFB.
#47の日47th Fighter Squadron “Dogpatchers”機首のホッグティースがカッコいい予備役部隊🐗長らくルイジアナ州Barksdale AFBに所在しており写真のA-10もBD所属(2003年９月撮影)親部隊の917WGは2011年に解散し47FSはアリゾナ州DavisMonthanAFBに移動しています。#パッチセラピー pic.twitter.com/V5Oi1l95wF
— Luke GETSNO (@lukegetsno) April 7, 2024
A-10 retirements within the USAF
The 924th Fighter Group is inside the administrative management of the 944th Fighter Wing, however is operationally related to the 355th FW. The forty seventh Fighter Squadron and the 924th Upkeep Squadron are two of the most important models overseen by the 924th FG. From the start of 2025 to August, the USAF has divested 41 A-10Cs to the 309th AMARG (Aerospace Upkeep and Regeneration Squadron) at Davis-Monthan AFB, as per the newest data.
Particularly, the forty seventh FS has transferred 4 A-10Cs to the “boneyard” since 2013, with the newest two being divested on Mar. 6, 2024 and Jun. 14, 2024, and the 2 others on Apr. 9 and Jun. 26, 2013. On Could 27, 2025, the 124th FW of the Idaho Air Nationwide Guard additionally began formally decommissioning its A-10C Thunderbolt IIs, with the primary jet departing the bottom on that day for the 309th AMARG.
The unit can be receiving Thunderbolts from different models to keep up an entire fleet throughout the transition, and retain its concentrate on projecting international airpower whereas making ready for contingencies. The plane can be nonetheless operational over the CENTCOM (Central Command) AOR (Space of Duty), given the normal US dedication to the area for the final twenty years and a number of recurring flashpoints.
On Aug. 2, 2025 the twenty fifth FS, primarily based at South Korea’s Osan Air Base, additionally retired one in every of its A-10Cs by putting in the divested airframe (81-0979), on a visitors circle at Camp Humphreys. A part of the 51st FW, the unit participated in its final “Buddy Squadron” coaching train with the RoKAF (Republic of Korea Air Pressure) late in January 2025, earlier than the sort began withdrawal from the nation.
Protection One additionally reported on Jun. 30 that the U.S. Air Pressure needs to “get rid” of its remaining A-10s by 2026 “moderately than regularly section them out” to open up “funding for brand spanking new weapons.” The service’s FY26 finances requests goals to divert funds to the F-47 NGAD, by additionally halving its F-35 purchase to 24 models, and searching for Congress’s approval to divest 162 A-10s.
