Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA1336A-10A Thunderbolt II "Arctic Scheme" 80-0221, 18th TFS, 343rd Composite Wing, Alaska, March 1982
General Background
October 1975 saw delivery of the first USAF A-10A and deployment in March 1976. Built specifically for close ground support the pilot is protected by titanium armor while being covered by a bubble canopy giving a commanding view. The Warthog has everything needed to survive, dual engines; self-sealing fuel cells; redundant flight control systems protected by titanium armor; a 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun; a wide array of bombs and missiles. This plane packs a heavy punch and can stay on scene a long time to deliver its payload.
The Aircraft
December 18, 1981 saw the arrival of the first two A-10s, 80-221 and 80-222 assigned to Eielson AFB. Soon after their arrival 80-221 received an Arctic white paint scheme that differed from the usual all grey or green. This was an experimental scheme for the upcoming exercise “Cool Snow Hog '82-1” that was the first test for the A-10 operating at a forward base in Alaska. The exercise took place from March 8 to 16, 1982 in the area of Kotzebue, Alaska. The Snow Hog operating in Alaska never panned out.
