Pipe Creek Township in Grissom Air Force Base in Miami County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Fairchild Republic A-10A

77-0228

— Grissom Air Museum —

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

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026

1. Fairchild Republic A-10A Marker

Inscription. Specifications:
Manufacture: Fairchild Republic
Designation: A-10A
Serial Number: 77-0228
Official name: Thunderbolt II
Nicknames: Warthog, Hog. The saying Go Ugly Early has been associated with the aircraft in reference to calling in the A-10 early to support troops in ground combat.
Function: Tank Killer, Close Air Support, Ground Attack
Cost: $18.8 million
Crew: One
Wingspan: 57ft, 6in
Length: 53ft, 4in
Height: 14ft, 8in
Power plant: 2 x General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofans.
Thrust: 9,065lbs each.
Empty weight: 24,959lbs
Max T/O weight: 50,000lbs
Service ceiling: 45,000ft
Range: 2,580 miles with a Combat Radius of 288 mi, at 1.88 hour loiter at 5,000ft, 10 min combat
Armament: 1x 30 mm (1.18 in) GAU-8/A Avenger rotary cannon with 1,174 rounds (capacity 1,350 rounds)
Hardpoints: 11 (8x under-wing and 3x under-fuselage pylon stations) with a capacity of 16,000lb and provisions to carry combinations of: Rockets: *** 4x LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19x/7x Hydra 70 mm/APKWS rockets, respectively) 4× LAU-5003 rocket pods (each with 19x CRV7 70 mm rockets) 6x LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4x 127

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mm (5.0 in) Zuni rockets) Missiles: *** 2x AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for self-defense 6x AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles Bombs: *** Mark 80 series of unguided Iron bombs or Mk 77 incendiary bombs or BLU-1, BLU-27/B Rockeye II, Mk20, BL755[192] and CBU-52/58/71/87/89/97 cluster bombs or Paveway series of Laser-guided bombs or Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) (A-10C)[193] or Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (A-10C) Other: *** SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys and chaff dispenser pod or AN/ALQ-131 or AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods or Lockheed Martin Sniper XR or LITENING targeting pods (A-10C) or 2x 600 US gal (2,300 L) Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for Increased range/loitering time.
Number Built: 715
Year built: Our A-10A, 1977
Year retired: Currently projected to serve through 2040.

Mission:
There is more to be told about the A-10 than this space allows. Literally built around its 30mm "Gatling" Gun, the A-10 was designed to kill fleets of Soviet tanks during the Cold War. Part of its survivability is the fact it can absorb heavy damage, and bring its Pilot home. Redundancy was built into its control systems, engines,

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026

2. Fairchild Republic A-10A Marker

and flying surfaces. (Look closely, and you will see the engines, and tails are able to be mounted on the left or right.) The Pilot and vital systems are situated in an armored "Bathtub" of titanium. The 30mm cannon spits out depleted uranium shells able to melt their way through six inches of armor. The full wrath of the A-10 was unleashed during the Gulf War, and all the following conflicts thereafter. Their unique mission, and record of getting the job done have ensured their service into 2040.

Our A-10A:
77-0228 is a true Hoosier. Taken on strength circa 1978, she spent her whole career with the 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 434th Tactical Fighter Wing, USAFR, at Grissom AFB. Known as the "Hoosier Hogs, the pilots of the 45th flew their missions up until September 1994. The squadron was inactivated on 1 October 1994. Our "Hog" was retired and put on display in 1990. She is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

This exhibit is the property of the US Air Force and maintained through your participation in the Grissom Air Museum donor program.

Erected by Grissom Air Museum.

Topics. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1994.

Location. 40° 40.165′ N, 86° 7.766′ W. Marker is in Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana, in Miami County. It is in Pipe Creek Township. It is at the intersection of West Hoosier Boulevard and U.S. 31, on the right when traveling west on West Hoosier Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 W Hoosier Boulevard, Peru IN 46970, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Convair TF-102A (a few steps from this marker); North American Aviation B-25J (within shouting distance of this marker); North American Aviation F-100C (within shouting distance of this marker); Douglas Aircraft C-47D and C-47B (within shouting distance of this marker); Lockheed D-21 (within shouting distance of this marker); Fairchild C-119G (within shouting distance of this marker); The Convair B-58 "Texas Hustler" Rocket Sled (within shouting distance of this marker); Grumman F-14B (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grissom Air Force Base.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 16, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.