The End of an Era: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Says Goodbye to the A-10 Warthog

By Aircraft Expeditions

On July 29, 2026, the skies over southern Arizona witnessed one of the most emotional moments in modern military aviation history. After nearly five decades of flying from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the legendary A-10 Thunderbolt II, better known around the world as the Warthog, made its final landing as an operational aircraft at the base that had become synonymous with its legacy.

For generations of Airmen, maintainers, military families, and aviation enthusiasts, this wasn't simply another aircraft retirement. It marked the closing chapter of one of the most respected close air support aircraft ever built.

The Final Landing

As the last operational A-10 assigned to the 357th Fighter Squadron "Dragons" returned home, spectators lined every available viewing location around Davis-Monthan. Cameras clicked continuously as the familiar roar of the TF34 engines echoed across Tucson one final time.

The aircraft performed a ceremonial arrival before touching down on Runway 12. After rolling to a stop, it taxied slowly toward the flight line where firefighters greeted the aircraft with a traditional water salute, a ceremony reserved for historic retirements and milestone events. Pilots, crew chiefs, maintainers, and veterans gathered to witness history unfold as the aircraft shut down for the final time at Davis-Monthan.

The silence that followed was almost surreal.

For decades, that unmistakable sound had become part of everyday life in Tucson. On this day, everyone knew they had heard it for the last time.

The retirement also symbolized the end of the 357th Fighter Squadron's role as America's final operational A-10 training squadron, closing a mission that had produced generations of Warthog pilots for the U.S. Air Force.

More Than Just an Airplane

The A-10 has never been the fastest fighter.

It has never been the most technologically advanced.

It has never been the most expensive.

Yet few military aircraft have earned the level of respect that the Warthog commands.

Designed during the Cold War specifically to destroy enemy armor while protecting troops on the ground, the A-10 became the world's premier Close Air Support (CAS) aircraft.

Everything about the airplane was built around one mission:

Protect the men and women fighting below.

Its enormous GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm cannon, capable of firing nearly 4,000 rounds per minute, became one of the most recognizable weapons in military aviation. The unforgettable "BRRRT" became a sound that friendly troops welcomed and enemy forces feared.

Unlike many high-performance fighters, the A-10 could remain over the battlefield for hours, fly slowly enough to identify friendly forces accurately, absorb tremendous battle damage, and still bring its pilot safely home.

Many aircraft have impressive specifications.

The A-10 built an unmatched reputation.

A Lifesaver on the Battlefield

Throughout Operations Desert Storm, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and countless other deployments, the A-10 repeatedly demonstrated why it remained indispensable.

Ground troops consistently praised the aircraft because it could:

• Fly low enough to positively identify targets.
• Stay overhead when troops needed immediate support.
• Carry an incredible variety of bombs, rockets, missiles, and ammunition.
• Operate from austere forward locations.
• Continue flying even after sustaining heavy combat damage.

Numerous pilots returned safely after losing hydraulic systems, suffering engine damage, or taking direct hits from enemy fire. The aircraft's titanium "bathtub" armor surrounding the cockpit became legendary for protecting pilots under some of the harshest combat conditions.

Perhaps more importantly, countless American and coalition service members returned home because an A-10 arrived exactly when it was needed.

Why Davis-Monthan Was the Perfect Home

For decades, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base wasn't simply another A-10 base.

It became the home of the Warthog.

The 355th Wing trained virtually every new active-duty A-10 pilot in the Air Force while continually refining close air support tactics and preparing Airmen for combat deployments around the globe.

The 357th Fighter Squadron "Dragons" became one of the most recognizable attack squadrons in the Air Force, carrying on a proud tradition of excellence while training future generations of attack pilots.

The relationship between Davis-Monthan and the A-10 was unlike almost any other aircraft-base partnership in modern Air Force history.

Why Many Believe the Warthog Still Matters

The retirement of the A-10 has generated debate for years.

Supporters of retirement point to advances in fifth-generation fighters, long-range precision weapons, unmanned aircraft, and changing battlefield requirements.

Others argue that no aircraft has truly replaced the unique combination of persistence, survivability, firepower, and close coordination with troops on the ground that made the A-10 exceptional.

While future conflicts will undoubtedly rely on newer technology, the Warthog established a standard for close air support that every future aircraft will inevitably be measured against.

Its legacy isn't simply measured in sorties flown or targets destroyed.

It's measured in lives saved.

A Personal Reflection

As aviation enthusiasts, we often become fascinated by speed, stealth, and cutting-edge technology.

The A-10 reminded us that sometimes the most important aircraft isn't the most glamorous one.

It is the one that shows up when someone's life depends on it.

For decades, the Warthog answered that call.

It protected American soldiers, Marines, Special Operations Forces, and allied troops across multiple generations of conflict.

It earned respect not because of flashy airshows or impressive headlines, but because of what it accomplished on the battlefield.

That is a legacy very few aircraft will ever equal.

The Legacy Lives On

Although the final operational A-10 has now departed Davis-Monthan, its story is far from over.

The aircraft will forever remain one of the most iconic close air support platforms in military history.

Museums will preserve them.

Veterans will tell their stories.

Future pilots will study their tactics.

And aviation enthusiasts will always stop and smile whenever they hear someone imitate that unforgettable "BRRRT."

Today marks the end of an extraordinary chapter for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

But legends are never truly retired.

The A-10 Warthog has earned its place among the greatest military aircraft ever built, and its legacy of protecting those on the ground will continue to inspire generations of Airmen and aviation enthusiasts for decades to come.