On March 30, 2007, four pilots from the 104th Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard got together at Barnes ANGB for a special flight! Two records were about to be broken that day by this select group of pilots. Lead by Colonel Jon "Motley" Mott, 104th Operations Group Commander, this group was about to break the record for the most combined flying-hours in a four-ship formation, achieving a total of combined 15,584 flight hours. Flying alongside Colonel Motley were Colonel Marcel "Jake" Kerdavid jr., 104th FW Commander, Lt Col. Ken "Torch" Stiles and Lt Col. Ed "Sped" Sommers. During that same flight, Colonel Mott broke another record for the most hours flown in an A-10 "Thunderbolt II" which was previously set in 1999 by Maj. Gen. James Skiff (Ret.) at 4,550 hours. "Motley" achieved a total of 4,572 hours when he landed at Barnes that day. After earning his wings in 1983, Col. Mott has flown the A-10, logging both peace-time and combat-hours in the aircraft. "I am excited about the transition, but not looking forward to leaving the Hog," said Col. Mott. "It will be a sad day when I make my final landing. I have so many good memories behind the stick!" The 104th Fighter Wing has begun a transition to the F-15C and a new mission following the 2005 BRAC recommendations. The wing will soon receive F-15C from the 102nd Fighter Wing at Cape Cod, Mass. to replace its A-10s already on their way to the 175th Wing/MD ANG and 184th FW/AR ANG.
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Special thanks to Mary, Matt, Jon and the crew of Topcat 02!
All photos by author except where noted. |
Click here to see a 12 month calendar featuring Hogs from the 104th FW!
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On June 13, 2008, the 47th Fighter Squadron from Barskdale AFB, LA, launched an historic flight of four A-10s to set new records. LtCols Brady Glick, James Macauley, Dave Deaton and Marc Olson totaled 17,742 flying hours and over 10,000 sorties in the A-10. Leading the flight was Lt Col Brady Glick who set a single all-time flying hours record in the A-10 with 4,666 flying hours and 2,495 sorties. Lt Col Macauley accumulated a career total of 4,551 flying hours and 2,560 sorties. Lt Col Deaton accumulated a total of 4,430 flying hours and 2,720 sorties and Lt Col Olson, 4,093 flying hours in 2,239 sorties.
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