More than 700 A-10s were introduced from 1976 and, despite regular threats of retirement, the type remains one of the air force’s most effective close-air support platforms.
I remember seeing A-10’s returning from runs in Laos when I was stationed in Thailand in ‘69.
Don’t think so. You may be thinking of the A-7, the A-4 or most likely the A-1 Sandy.
-—I remember seeing A-10’s returning from runs in Laos when I was stationed in Thailand in ‘69.-—
The first production A-10A was delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., in October 1975.
Date Deployed: March 1976
A-10/OA-10 THUNDERBOLT II
http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=70
All the info I am finding online for the A-10 shows an introduction year of 1972, and a first production year of 1975.
Sure you don’t have your years crossed? It HAS been a long time...
BS. You must have been, or still are, high on Thai Stick if you remember seeing A-10s in '69.