Hobby Master 1/72 HA1325 A-10C Warthog Hairless Joe 79-0145, 47th FS, 917th FG, Barksdale AFB, 2012

The A-10C is an updated version of the 30-year old A-10A. The cockpit has two-F-16 style 5.5 inch color displays, a moving map display and other electronic upgrades while keeping the A-10 ability to function as a CAS aircraft/tank killer. They have taken the best of the new and matched it with the best of the old and come up with one mean machine. The A-10C has already seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The A-10 motto, Go Ugly Early.
A-10C Warthog 79-0145 was manufactured in 1979 c/n A10-0409. The character painted on the aircraft is Hairless Joe, a character from the Li'l Abner comic strip by Al Capp. Inside the ladder door there is an inscription, We fight in search of Truth. We fight for Freedom, With LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. In 1996 the 47th switched from a combat role to training and since the 47th had some of the best A-10 pilots it was deployed to Bagram AB in support of Operation Enduring Freedom In February 2012.