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The interesting photo in this post features a lone A-10 Warthog circling low over Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, Iran, supporting the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission for the downed F-15E crew. Posted by Air Power on Facebook, the A-10 in this picture does not have any heavy ordnance, no ECM pods, just the GAU-8 Avenger 30 mike-mike cannon, 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder air to air missile and a pilot hugging the deck – guarding the survivors.
We can assume that the glorious A-10 in this photo is one of the Warthogs providing top cover for the US C-130 Hercules and HH-60 Pavehawk helicopters involved in the CSAR mission for the F-15E crew featured in a video filmed in Iran, amid fresh Iranian speculation that the plane crew may have ejected and survived.
As we have explained, the F-15E shooting down was confirmed off the record by US officials familiar with the situation who stated that the Pentagon was scrambling to find the crew before the Iranians.
According to The Guardian, one of the crew members was reported as having been rescued in what is likely to have been a high-risk operation with rescue aircraft probably exposed to fire from the ground. It was not immediately clear if the jet had a full crew of two.
The F-15E belonged to the 494th Fighter Squadron of the 48th Fighter Wing based at RAF Lakenheath, UK, as the red coloring visible on the wreckage aligns with tail markings on F-15s from the same squadron.
As reported, more A-10s will likely join Operation Epic Fury. On Mar. 30, 2026, in fact 12 Warthogs (as the A-10 is dubbed by her aircrews) were spotted landing at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, UK.
The A-10s arrived in pairs of 6 with one arriving just after sunset and the other much later into the evening.
TABOR71-76, the first cell of six, arrived after sunset. The following six arrived approximately half an hour later.
Another contingent was expected to arrive in the night of Mar. 31 amid speculation they were heading towards the Middle East to participate in Operation Epic Fury over Iran.
As already explained, beside the Sandy role for the ongoing CSAR mission aimed at finding the other crew member of the downed F-15E, the USAF A-10 attack aircraft have been used to strike Iranian naval vessels during Operation Epic Fury.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Mar. 19 that the US Air Force (USAF) A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support (CAS) aircraft are now engaged in maritime interdiction operations along the southern flank of Operation Epic Fury, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fast-attack watercraft in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The A-10 Warthog is now engaged across the southern flank, targeting fast-attack watercraft in the Strait of Hormuz,” USAF Gen. Dan Caine said during a Pentagon briefing on the operation.
The Warthog role in Operation Epic Fury saw an expansion with this announcement. On Mar. 15, US Central Command (CENTCOM) released imagery of A-10C Thunderbolt IIs receiving fuel in flight while supporting the operation, the first official visuals of the aircraft in the campaign.
“The A-10 Thunderbolt II can loiter for hours, standing by and ready to execute a mission whenever needed,” CENTCOM said in the accompanying post on X.
Additionally, the A-10 is supporting Operation Epic Fury by conducting strafing runs over Iranian-backed PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces) positions at Mosul.
Noteworthy, the Congress has moved to save the mighty Warthog from the USAF divestment efforts. In fact, the service’s plan to retire the remaining fleet has been blocked by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 that mandated a minimum inventory of 103 A-10s through Sep. 30, 2026, and requiring detailed transition planning.
Dario Leone: All articles
