Eleven A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft of the United States Air Force arrived at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom after participating in Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East.
What drew attention, however, was not only the aircraft’s return but also the numerous mission markings, destroyed-target symbols, and nose art painted on the aircraft, offering clues about their activities during the campaign against Iran, as highlighted by The War Zone.
The aircraft belong to the 75th Fighter Squadron, based at Moody Air Force Base in the state of Georgia. During the deployment, the A-10s operated from Jordan and took part in missions over Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
The visible markings on the aircraft include symbols representing destroyed Iranian vessels, as well as icons indicating the use of various types of weaponry during combat operations.
The tradition of applying customized nose art and combat markings to aircraft deployed to the Middle East is common among U.S. Air Force units.
During Operation Epic Fury, the A-10s played an important role in close air support missions and in combat operations against Iranian fast attack craft in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. military officials previously stated that the Warthogs helped destroy dozens of vessels used by Iranian forces and allied groups, contributing to the protection of maritime routes in the region.
The aircraft arrived in the United Kingdom last Friday (12) on their journey back to the United States. The attention given to the combat markings comes at a symbolic moment for the A-10, as the U.S. Air Force continues moving forward with plans to gradually retire the aircraft type over the coming years.
For many observers, participation in Operation Epic Fury may represent one of the last major combat campaigns for the iconic aircraft known as the “Warthog.”
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Photo: Andrew McKelvey. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
