This week marked a profound change in Maryland’s military landscape as the last A-10C Thunderbolt II warplanes were removed from service, leaving the Maryland Air National Guard without any aircraft and, therefore, no flying mission.

This change, which had been planned for years, makes Maryland the only state in the country whose Air National Guard does not have airplanes.

The process culminated on Tuesday at Martin State Airport with the departure of the final two A-10s, which are affectionately known as “Warthogs.”

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At the same time, the deactivation ceremony became an occasion for reflection and recognition of the Maryland Air National Guard’s storied past.

“Today, we honor over a century of airmen who raised their hands to wear the uniform, and pay tribute to an incredible aircraft that has helped to write our nation’s history,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stated in a release.

His words captured the significance of the moment for the community and the generations of airmen who served with the Warthog.

Because the Air Force mandated that the divestment be completed by September 30, Maryland’s A-10s are being transferred to the Michigan Air National Guard, and the last of the Maryland-based guardsmen flying these aircraft are set to finish the handover this Thursday.

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This not only marks the end of the Warthog era in Maryland, but it also comes with sweeping organizational changes.

The divestment triggered the deactivation of the Air Guard’s 175th Operations Group, the 175th Maintenance Group, and all their subordinate units, representing a significant restructuring for the state’s military.

Therefore, hundreds of service members who were previously assigned to the 104th Fighter Squadron will be transitioned to cyber operations, reflecting a broader trend in military priorities.

While the Maryland Army National Guard still retains helicopters such as the Chinook, Lakota, and Black Hawk for their missions, the absence of airplanes for the Air National Guard represents a significant cultural and operational shift for the state.

The decision to retire the A-10 fleet was highly controversial because the aircraft, which first flew in the 1970s, has a legendary status among both pilots and ground troops.

The A-10 was the first aircraft designed specifically to provide close air support, and its signature Gatling gun made it an indispensable asset in supporting troops on the ground.

However, the Air Force has maintained that newer aerial technologies and modern munitions have rendered the Warthog obsolete.

This assessment drove years of debate, with members of Congress frequently blocking efforts to retire the aircraft. It was not until 2022 that Congress finally agreed to begin the process of removing large numbers of A-10s from service.

At the same time, the March 2024 announcement that Maryland’s Air National Guard would lose all its A-10s made the impact personal and immediate for many.

The retirement process began earlier this year, with several aircraft being sent to the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona.

As the fleet dwindled, the community felt the loss more acutely, especially because the 104th Fighter Squadron is one of the oldest Air National Guard units in the United States.

Because of the aircraft’s popularity and the legacy of the unit, efforts were made to reverse or soften the impact of the decision.

One attempt by state lawmakers included a complex proposal to import new aircraft to the Air Guard, a plan that was also tied to negotiations to bring a new NFL stadium to Washington, D.C. However, this attempt did not succeed, and the path was set for the dissolution of the Air Guard’s flying mission.

This transition highlights how the future of the Maryland Air National Guard will now rely on non-flying missions, such as cyber operations, which have become increasingly critical to national defense.

At the same time, the legacy of the Warthog and the 104th Fighter Squadron will remain a source of pride and reflection for Marylanders who witnessed the chapter come to a close.

As the last A-10s leave the state, Maryland’s airmen and community members are left to remember an era that helped shape both local and national military history.

Gov. Wes Moore’s words resonate even more as the state looks to the future: honoring the past while adapting to new missions and evolving roles within the armed forces.

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