104th Fighter Squadron (104 FS)
- Parent Unit of the 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard (MD ANG) based out of Warfield Air National Guard Base, located at Martin State Airport (KMTN), Middle River, Maryland.
- Primary mission is Close Air Support (CAS) for ground troops. Secondary missions include Forward Air Control (Airborne) (FAC-A), Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) escort, and homeland security/defense.
- History & Significance:
- Activated during World War II (1943) and has a long, distinguished service history.
- Transitioned to the A-10A in 1979, becoming one of the first ANG units to fly the Warthog. Upgraded to the A-10C configuration later.
- Highly experienced and combat-proven unit, with multiple deployments supporting operations including:
- Operation Southern Watch (Iraq)
- Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)
- Operation Iraqi Freedom
- Operation Inherent Resolve (Iraq/Syria)
- Provides critical CAS training for US Army units, especially those based at nearby Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Indiantown Gap.
- Plays a vital role in homeland defense, participating in Air Sovereignty Alert (ASA) and Capital Region Air Defense missions protecting Washington D.C.
- Responded to domestic events like the 2021 Capitol unrest and supported the Afghanistan withdrawal.
- Motto: “The Fighting Oysters” – A unique nickname reflecting its Maryland heritage and the Chesapeake Bay oyster.
Moving forward, The U.S. Air Force announced in March 2024 a plan for the Maryland Air National Guard to divest all its A-10s this year and convert to a cyber wing. The 175th Wing is a dual-mission wing operating the A-10C Thunderbolt II and home to the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group, which executes offensive and defensive cyber operations and includes an intelligence squadron. Divesting the A-10C will close the chapter for the 104th FS in the flying role.
This A-10C came in for gas and was heading back to her home base,
Ground and Hotramp shots
Launching sequence on KAFW runway 16L
