Air Force Major Rox Kirkendall, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot assigned to the 303rd Fighter Squadron, climbs into his aircraft prior to a local flying mission at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., Feb. 14, 2017. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. They are simple, effective and survivable twin-engine jet aircraft that can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles.

---

Size: 1731px × 1155px
Photo credit: © Conner Flecks / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -10, 442, 509bw, air, archive, armed, base, defence, force, forces, fw, ii, military, mo, reportage, servicemen, thunderbolt, usa, warthogs, whiteman