Getting a water cannon salute after its final flight on September 22, 2025 is this Republic-Fairchild A-10C Thunderbolt II “Warthog” numbered 79-0087, which made its first taxi on this same tarmac 46 years ago. This aircraft, piloted by Major Taylor “SNARF” Price and manufactured by the Fairchild faithful here in Hagerstown back in 1979 will now permanently call its home the Hagerstown Aviation Museum which ironically is in the same hangers and offices the jet was assembled in.The 104th Fighter Squadron “Fightin’ O’s” of the 175th Air Wing in the Maryland National Guard have been the proud custodian of the A-10 since 1979 and has seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The squadron had divested the remaining A-10s to other units or retirement thus leaving 087 the last. The 104th and support ops was decommissioned the foillowing day.

Published September 27, 2025 at 1600 × 1067 in AIRCRAFT