Eielson A-10 goes down; pilot missing

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner ^ | February 26, 2004 | By CHRIS TALBOTT, Staff Writer

[Jet Jaguar]

An Eielson Air Force Base airplane crashed shortly after takeoff Wednesday night, military officials said.

The condition of the Air Force A-10's pilot was unknown in the hours after the crash, which occurred around 8:30 p.m. The pilot was the only person aboard the 355th Fighter Squadron jet when it went down.

The crash happened near the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project, just south of North Pole. Witnesses said they saw a bright flash after the crash and heard the concussion.

Air Force officials were uncertain exactly where the crash of the twin-engine jet happened or whether anyone on the ground was involved. Both Eielson and North Pole emergency personnel responded and staging areas had been set up to coordinate efforts. More details likely will be available today, Master Sgt. John Norgren said.

[Jet Jaguar]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- An A-10 jet aircraft crashed after taking off from Eielson Air Force Base for a night training mission, killing the pilot, military officials said.

The pilot was identified as Capt. Jonathan Scheer, who was assigned to the 354th Operations Support Squadron, but was flying for the 355th Fighter Squadron. The Air Force would not release Scheer's age or hometown, saying only that he originally was from Michigan and had been at Eielson since February 2003, Lt. Teresa Sullivan said Thursday.

The jet crashed at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, said Eielson spokesman Master Sgt. John Norgren.

Rescue workers were at the crash scene in the Chena River flood plain about three miles from the base, which is 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Norgren said.

The 355th Fighter Squadron provides "mission ready" A-10s and has search-and-rescue capability. Night vision goggles give the squadron day and night flying capability.

[leadpenny]

Sorry to hear this.

Why do we have A-10s in Alaska?

[boxerblues]

This unit is getting ready to deploy to Iraq.

[leadpenny]

Thanks. Is Alaska their base or did they just need the Cold Weather Training? :)

[boxerblues]

Alaska is their home base. One of the Blue Star Mothers posted on another board yesterday as this was her sons old plane and had his name on it but was not flying it.

[leadpenny]

Thanks again. I guess they gotta be somewhere, but I've always thought of the A-10 as a tank killer. Now I'm guessing they have a contingency mission to augment our forces in South Korea should the need arise.

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

I'm sure one of you good folks has a pic of an A-10 that you could post for us civilians?

[leadpenny]

I'm HTML deprived but it is the Warthog. It has stubby looking wings, a split tail with two big fan jets on the rear of the fuselage. Single pilot. Basically, it's a platform for a 20mm Gatling Gun fired from under the nose of the aircraft.

[leadpenny]

Here are some specs and thumbs. Officially, it's the Thunderbolt. It's been referred to as "Go Ugly Early!"

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/a-10.htm

[duk]

The A-10 squadron has been stationed there since at least "83". Where this one went down, it sounds very close to where I trained. Very deep snow, lots of scruffy pines and no roads! Hard terrain.

[thedilg]

[Single pilot. Basically, it's a platform for a 20mm Gatling Gun fired from under the nose of the aircraft.]

Good description except it is a 30mm gun. It is at least 4 times bigger than the 20mm. Puts about 10 times the energy on the target compared to the 20mm. It can destroy any tank in the world minus frontal attack.

Godspeed, Thew Dilg

[leadpenny]

30mm. No wonder they put big engines on her. Keep 'em from stalling when they are firing.


Although, I understand they fire in short bursts.

[leadpenny]

Sounds cold. I'm still curious why they are in Alaska. Probably none of my business.

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

Thanks. As soon as you said "Warthog" I knew which one they were talking about. Ugly little jet that packs a big wallop, if I'm not mistaken? Good thoughts going out the the pilots family.

[duk]

I believe we (Alaska infantry) were on call for any Korean conflict. The A-10 flew CAS for us in almost all our training missions, including parachute jumps. The fast movers were all down in Elmondorf (Anchorage). The A-10 might have a better cold weather performance/maintence then other fixed wing Close Air Support.

If Russia were to invade Fairbanks, tanks would be a liability!! Come winter, they would make good refrigerators.

[leadpenny]

Makes sense. Then they probably do have a Korea mission, especially if the Army units were called.

Tanks as refrigerators! Reminds me of Graf and Hoenfels in the winter time in an Armor unit. Been there, done that!

[OXENinFLA]

Why do we have A-10s in Alaska?

[leadpenny]

That too. :)

BTW, Tammy Bruce is coming up on C-SPAN. I'll ping you.

[Jonah Hex]

And this.