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Home team wins 'Hawgsmoke' crown

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kent Kagarise
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 357th Fighter Squadron won the Al "Mud" Moore top overall A-10 unit trophy during Hawgsmoke 2012, an international A-10 Thunderbolt II biennial gunnery competition held here Aug. 15-17.

About 60 sorties were scored based on pilot accuracy in bombing, strafing and first-run attacks. The trophy was presented by Col. Kevin Blanchard, 355th Fighter Wing and Davis-Monthan base commander.

"It's awesome for the Dragons to be able to keep the trophy and display their training efforts," Blanchard said.

Air Force Reserve Command's 303rd FS, part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo., won the trophy in 2006, and the 47th FS, now part of the 917th Fighter Group, Barksdale AFB, La., took the top prize in 2002.

Blanchard said the geographical location of Davis-Monthan is conducive to what has become a winning tradition. D-M hosted the event in 2006. Other competitions were held in Michigan, New York, Louisiana, Kansas and Idaho.

"We have the best weather and training air space in the United States," he said. "We can squeeze in more quality hog training here than any other base."

Capt. Dave Nagle, 357th FS weapons officer and flight lead, said the team's success revolved around solid mission preparation and diligent preparation.

"We are the first active-duty fighter squadron to ever win Hawgsmoke and to do it here as the home team, in our house for a second time is special," Nagle said. "Look at the plaques and trophies we are taking home tonight and it's clear we've formed a culture of domination when it comes to Hawgsmoke."

Maj. Matt Lackey, 357th flight commander, attributed the victory to his eight years of disciplined A-10 flying.

"You know you're doing something right when you get to experience something like this," Lackey said. "It's a culmination of training, a little bit of luck and most importantly we had the right flight leadership."

Capt. Eric Hart, 357th FS A-10 attack pilot, won the top attack pilot trophy and said the key to his success was the team that surrounded him.

"I can't say enough about the outstanding flight leadership provided by Capt. Nagle," Hart said. "He put us in a position to succeed."

Hart has been in the military 17 years and said flying the A-10 never gets old.

"There are always new challenges and when we all get together every other year it's good to have a showing from active duty, Guard and Reserve where we can discuss how those challenges are overcome."