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Flying Tigers change stripes by flying A-10 fighter aircraft

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bill Huntington
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The Air Force's historic Flying Tigers officially came to the Air Force Reserve Command when the 476th Fighter Group stood up here July 11.

The activation is historic for another reason. It brings Total Force Integration to Moody AFB with Air Force reservists flying and maintaining A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 23rd Wing. Subordinate units of the first A-10 fighter classic associate group are the 76th Fighter Squadron, the 476th Maintenance Squadron and the 476th Aerospace Medicine Flight.

During the ceremony, Col. Greg Eckfeld, 476th FG commander, said the group has come a long way since its start in 2008 as a detachment of the 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.

When the colonel arrived at Moody a year ago, he wondered how he and four others would be able to integrate Citizen Airmen from the Air Force Reserve with their counterparts in the Regular Air Force.

"I can say without question, we have been successful," he said.

Colonel Eckfeld thanked his people for their hard work in establishing the group. He said their accomplishment was especially significant because they did it while supporting real-world, combat operations in Afghanistan.

He also praised Moody's host unit for helping to make TFI a reality.

"My future challenge and primary goals are, first, recruiting and then integrating traditional reservists and air reserve technicians into the busy operations tempo of the 23rd Wing," Colonel Eckfeld said. "Our challenge is building integrated organizations that operate seamlessly with both active-duty personnel and reservists working side by side in this busy environment."

Col. Mark Clemons, 442nd FW commander, presided over the activation ceremony.

The event followed the time-honored tradition of unfurling each unit's guidon flags and introducing the new commanders. It included a special salute to the 476th FG and 76th FS commanders by their respective aircraft crew chiefs as commanders' names were revealed painted on the sides of two A-10s.

Underscoring the group's pioneering role in the Air Force, Colonel Clemons spoke about the 76th Fighter Squadron's heritage from its start in China as the American volunteer group and subsequent organization as an official Army Air Forces squadron during World War II.

"Once again, the 76th is pioneering new ways of applying combat aerospace power," Colonel Clemons said. "With its reincarnation as the 76th Fighter Squadron, this proud and storied unit will be the first-ever A-10 associate unit, flying a unique combat aircraft, which has been modified for the digital age - the A-10C." (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)