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Pope says goodbye to last of A-10s

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Cassandra Locke
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  It was a bittersweet day at Pope as the last three of the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft left for Moody AFB, Ga. after a ceremony commending the 23rd Wing's time at Pope. 

The reorganization of aircraft is designed to mitigate Air Force hardship from the shrinking budget. 

"The Flying Tigers have a rich heritage and the mission in Georgia will be the same," said Staff Sgt. Derrick Dodd, 23rd Wing. Sergeant Dodd is expecting to go to Moody in January. 

Formerly the 23rd Fighter Group, the 23rd Wing's heritage started when the American Volunteer Group was recruited in 1941 to help China defeat Japan. At that time, war was anticipated and American pilots were recruited to stop the advance of the Japanese in Asia. 

The AVG's Chinese supporters referred to this group as the Flying Tigers, and these tigers evolved into the 23rd Fighter Group in 1942 and now the 23rd Wing in 2006.
After America entered World War II and the Flying Tigers were deactivated, AVG pilot, retired Brig. Gen. Tex Hill (at the time a major) remained in China to activate the 75th Fighter Squadron and later the 28-year-old lieutenant colonel commanded the 23rd FG. General Hill passed away Oct. 11, 2007. 

"The 23rd FG has been carrying on our tradition, and has done an excellent job at it," said General Hill in a previous interview with the Carolina Flyer in 2004. He said they have done a great job in Iraq and Afghanistan, and have the perfect weapon system for that environment. 

The 23rd FG carries the name and heritage of the renowned Flying Tigers, which fought against the Japanese in World War II. The unit earned fame by advancing tactically against Japan's multiple successes early in the war. 

To preserve the heritage of the Flying Tigers, the Moody's previous 347th Rescue Wing deactivated and the 23rd Wing activated in its place. Moody is now the host base of the 23rd Wing, adopting the banner of the Flying Tigers. 

The Flying Tigers flew a number of different aircraft at different bases around the country until they moved here in 1992. As the 23rd Wing at Pope, they originally flew the C-130E, F-16C/D and A/OA-10A as the Air Force's first air-land composite wing. The F-16s left in 1997 and the 23rd converted from a wing to a fighter group and became a Pope war fighting partner.