Juan Ciscomani, AZ
Linked statement
“I am marking the final A-10 plane flight at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. This ends 50 years of A-10 flying and training at the base. I want to thank the base leaders and the squadron for their service.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the last official A-10 flight at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. On July 29, the 357th Fighter Squadron commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ryan ``Clutch’’ Rutter, and the 355th Operations Group commander, Lieutenant Colonel Rodney Dwyer, will mark the end of a phenomenal 50- year chapter of A-10 operations in Tucson. This spring, Davis-Monthan also celebrated the graduation of the final class of the A-10C Thunderbolt II student pilots from the 357th Training Squadron, marking the end of A-10 training at the base. These milestones bear historical significance and represent a longtime connection between the A-10, Davis-Monthan, and the Tucson community. The A-10 Thunderbolt II, nicknamed the Warthog, has great military significance not just in Tucson but across the Nation. Designed during the Cold War to combat Soviet tanks in Europe, this aircraft is the Air Force’s only one built exclusively for close air support, or CAS. The A-10 has served the U.S. military for decades. While it will no longer be in use at Davis-Monthan, this aircraft will continue to be an essential asset of our Nation’s military. I thank Lieutenant Colonels Rutter and Dwyer, for their outstanding leadership at Davis-Monthan. I congratulate both lieutenant colonels, the 357th Fighter Squadron, and everyone at Davis-Monthan on an extraordinary 50 years of A-10 operations. The last official A-10 flight on July 29 will be remembered as a significant milestone at Davis-Monthan, and our community will proudly remember this incredible 50-year chapter in our city’s history.”
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the last official A-10 flight at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. On July 29, the 357th Fighter Squadron commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ryan ``Clutch’’ Rutter, and the 355th Operations Group commander, Lieutenant Colonel Rodney Dwyer, will mark the end of a phenomenal 50- year chapter of A-10 operations in Tucson. This spring, Davis-Monthan also celebrated the graduation of the final class of the A-10C Thunderbolt II student pilots from the 357th Training Squadron, marking the end of A-10 training at the base. These milestones bear historical significance and represent a longtime connection between the A-10, Davis-Monthan, and the Tucson community. The A-10 Thunderbolt II, nicknamed the Warthog, has great military significance not just in Tucson but across the Nation. Designed during the Cold War to combat Soviet tanks in Europe, this aircraft is the Air Force’s only one built exclusively for close air support, or CAS. The A-10 has served the U.S. military for decades. While it will no longer be in use at Davis-Monthan, this aircraft will continue to be an essential asset of our Nation’s military. I thank Lieutenant Colonels Rutter and Dwyer, for their outstanding leadership at Davis-Monthan. I congratulate both lieutenant colonels, the 357th Fighter Squadron, and everyone at Davis-Monthan on an extraordinary 50 years of A-10 operations. The last official A-10 flight on July 29 will be remembered as a significant milestone at Davis-Monthan, and our community will proudly remember this incredible 50-year chapter in our city’s history.