United States Air Force Academy in El Paso County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Fairchild-Republic A-10A

Thunderbolt II

— S/N 77-0205 "Chopper Popper" —

Fairchild-Republic A-10A Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker

1. Fairchild-Republic A-10A Marker

Inscription.
On 6 February, 1991, while assigned to the 706th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 926th Tactical Fighter Group, Capt. Robert R. Swain, USAFA ‘79, scored the first ever air-to-air victory in an A-10 aircraft. Capt. Swain shot down an Iraqi Bo 105C helicopter during combat operations over Iraq.

This display was made possible with the financial assistance of the USAFA class of 1979 and the USAF Academy Association of Graduates.

This aircraft is on loan from the USAF Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, 1st Iraq & Desert Storm. A significant historical date for this entry is February 6, 1991.

Location. 38° 58.214′ N, 104° 49.696′ W. Marker is in United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, in El Paso County. It is on South Gate Boulevard 1.4 miles north of the South Gate, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: S Gate Blvd, USAF Academy CO 80840, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Front Range

and in Pikes Peak Region.

It is also

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in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Comanchería.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Northrop T-38A (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); United States Air Force Academy (approx. 1.1 miles away); Falcon Stadium (approx. 2 miles away); The USAFA Falcon (approx. 2 miles away); Memorial Pavilion Roll Call Record Locator Room (approx. 3.4 miles away); USAF Academy Cemetery Carillon (approx. 3.4 miles away); 20^th Air Force (approx. 3.4 miles away); 18th Fighter Group • 318th Fighter Group (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in United States Air Force Academy.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The United States Air Force Academy (was approx. 1.1 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Regarding Fairchild-Republic A-10A. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, straight-wing, subsonic attack aircraft, commonly referred to as the "Warthog".

Fairchild-Republic A-10A and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 23, 2024

2. Fairchild-Republic A-10A and Marker

The A-10 was designed to provide close air support to ground troops by attacking enemy armored vehicles, tanks, and other ground forces. (It was not designed to attack enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat)

Additional keywords. A-10, Warthog

Fairchild-Republic A-10A image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 23, 2024

3. Fairchild-Republic A-10A

Airfield control tower in the distance.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 23, 2024

4. Fairchild-Republic A-10A

Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 267 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 25, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.