Conversion countdown: Tail No. 649 departs 188th
Master Sgt. Michael Wilmoth, a crew chief with the 188th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, communicates with Lt. Col. John Gonzales, 23rd Operations Support Squadron commander, during preflight inspections Feb. 11, 2014. Gonzales delivered Tail No. 649, one of the 188th Fighter Wing’s A-10C Thunderbolt II “Warthogs,” from Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Ark., to Moody Air Force Base, Ga., as part of the 188th’s conversion from an A-10 mission to a remotely piloted aircraft, intelligence and targeting mission. The 188th now has seven A-10s remaining on station. The last two Warthogs are slated to depart in June 2014. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Hillier/released)