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A-10 Thunderbolt II Anniversary I Photos

Considering the amount of support the A-10 Thunderbolt II has provided ground troops over the course of its 40 years, it’s hard to believe that at one point in the 1980s even the U.S. Army didn’t want them. This sentiment would be hard to find today, as the A-10 continues to be at war even as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. First flying on May 10, 1972, and with a total of 715 built, the A-10 shows no sign of slowing down, despite impending budget restrictions. The “ugly duckling” has come into its own.

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Steven Hoarn is the Editor/Photo Editor for Defense Media Network. He is a graduate of...