{"id":2377,"date":"2026-06-12T21:16:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/2026\/06\/12\/a-10s-return-from-operation-epic-fury-with-nose-art-bomb-markings-and-iranian-vessel-kill-markings\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T21:16:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:16:58","slug":"a-10s-return-from-operation-epic-fury-with-nose-art-bomb-markings-and-iranian-vessel-kill-markings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/2026\/06\/12\/a-10s-return-from-operation-epic-fury-with-nose-art-bomb-markings-and-iranian-vessel-kill-markings\/","title":{"rendered":"A-10s Return From Operation Epic Fury With Nose Art, Bomb Markings And Iranian Vessel Kill Markings"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A-10<\/p>\n

The bomb markings on the returning A-10 Thunderbolt II jets hint at the variety of weapons the Warthogs used against Iran, while the kill marks offer clues about some of the targets they hit.<\/h2>\n

On Jun. 12, 2026, 11 A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft, belonging to the 75th Fighter Squadron of the 23rd Wing, from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, arrived at RAF Lakenheath, UK, from Aviano Air Base, Italy, on their way back to the U.S. following their deployment to the CENTCOM AOR (Area Of Responsibility). During the deployment, they took part in Operation Epic Fury<\/a> and also carried out missions over Iraq and Syria.<\/p>\n

The Warthogs (as the A-10s are nicknamed) arrived in the UK split into four cells:<\/p>\n

TABOR 11-13:<\/strong><\/p>\n

80-0175\/FT \u201cKing Dedede\u201d<\/p>\n

79-0157\/FT \u201cFox\u201d<\/p>\n

78-0649\/FT \u201cReaper\u201d<\/p>\n

TABOR 14-16:<\/strong><\/p>\n

78-0613\/FT \u201cDiddy Kong\u201d<\/p>\n

80-0243\/FT \u201cSamus\u201d<\/p>\n

78-0583\/FT \u201cSephiroth\u201d<\/p>\n

Tabor 21-23<\/strong><\/p>\n

80-0188\/FT \u201cMacho Man\u201d<\/p>\n

79-0095\/FT \u201cLil Mac\u201d<\/p>\n

80-0273\/FT \u201cKirby\u201d<\/p>\n

Tabor 24-25<\/strong><\/p>\n

81-0988\/FT \u201cRidley\u201d<\/p>\n

78-0586\/FT \u201cDoc Holiday\u201d<\/p>\n

As per tradition, during their stay at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, the Warthogs received nose art along with bomb markings. For what deals the nicknames, based on the photos taken by our contributor and friend Stewart Jack<\/a>, most appear to follow a Nintendo\/Super Smash Bros. theme we had already identified from photos released by CENTCOM<\/a>, with references including King Dedede, Fox, Diddy Kong, Samus, Sephiroth, Little Mac, Kirby and Ridley. Macho Man, Reaper\u201d and Doc Holiday seem to be possible outliers from the video-games theme.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
King Dedede | Source: Stewart Jack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Doc Holliday (All images, credit: Stewart Jack, unless otherwise stated) | Source: Stewart Jack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Macho Man | Source: Stewart Jack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lil Mac | Source: Stewart Jack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sephiroth | Source: Stewart Jack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Fox | Source: Stewart Jack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Reaper | Source: Stewart Jack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One notable missing A-10C is the one nicknamed \u201cToad\u201d (#78-0614), that was depicted in the official Operation Epic Fury imagery in March. Its fate is currently unknown so we can\u2019t rule out it is the Thunderbolt II aircraft lost<\/a> during the air war in Iran..<\/p>\n

\"A-10<\/a>
A-10C \u201cToad\u201d (Image credit: USAF) | Source: U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The bomb silhouettes offer a glimpse at the wide variety of weapons the A-10s expended in theater. Although some markings are not completely identifiable, overall, the aircraft show what appear to be 2,000-lb GBU-31(V)1\/B bombs, mid-sized GBU-38\/54 JDAMs (Joint Direct Attack Munitions) or Laser-JDAMs, \u00a0AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface guided missiles<\/a>, Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) guidance kit-equipped\u00a0Hydra 70 rockets<\/a>, along with plenty of 30-mm rounds fired by the A-10\u2019s trademark GAU-8 Avenger<\/a>\u00a0hydraulically driven seven-barrel Gatling-type gun.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Diddy Kong with several SDBs and MALD markings | Source: Stewart Jack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Interestingly, there are several marking that appear to depict MALDs (Miniature Air Launched Decoys). \u201cMALDs are designed to mimic other aircraft, making them invaluable assets in diverting enemy fire away from pilots,\u201d says Moody AFB website in an article dating back to 2024, when training with MALDs was being incorporated. \u201cWhen MALDs are fired they deceive defense systems and enemy cruise missiles giving the illusion the decoy is an aircraft. MALDs can mimic the signal of various aircraft such as F-16s, B-52s, and F-35s\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Kyler Stenke, 74th Fighter Generation Squadron load crew member, tightens bolts to secure a Miniature Air-Launched Decoy onto an A-10C Thunderbolt II at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Feb. 14, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sir Wyrick) | Source: U.S. Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But, probably, the most interesting things are the two kills markings of two Iranian vessels sported by \u201cSamus\u201d. In fact, along with the traditional CAS (Close Air Support) role, the A-10s have flown the maritime strike mission in support of Operation Epic Fury.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Samus | Source: Stewart Jack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is an excerpt of what we wrote in a previous story that you can find\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

The shift to the maritime domain, whether from Jordan or another forward operating base in the region, makes a lot of sense, considering the type has regularly taken part in U.S. submarine escort and live-fire exercises in recent years. Moreover, the U.S. Air Force had released images of its A-10s deployed to the region escorting U.S. warships in the 5th Fleet Area of Operations last month.<\/p>\n

In 2024,\u00a0we reported<\/a>\u00a0about Warthogs practicing overwatch of a U.S. nuclear submarine during one of the most vulnerable phases of its navigation through the Strait of San Juan de Fuca, on the Pacific Northwest coast, between the state of Washington and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.<\/p>\n

Few months later, a formation of six\u00a0A-10Cs<\/a>, assigned to\u00a0Moody Air Force Base<\/a>, escorted an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, the USS Wyoming (SSBN 742).\u00a0\u00a0The aircraft,\u00a0were also involved in a live fire exercise with their GAU-8 30 mm gun and 70 mm rockets.<\/p>\n

Born as a pure Close Air Support and anti-tank platform, the A-10 has rarely been employed in the maritime domain until roughly 15 years ago. In 2011, during\u00a0Operation Unified Protector<\/a>, when an A-10 and a P-3C Orion engaged together a patrol boat and several small attack craft in the port of Misrata, Libya.<\/p>\n

More recently, following the renewed attention towards these types of asymmetric threats caused by the\u00a0attacks in the Red Sea<\/a>\u00a0or the skirmishes between the Ukrainian USVs (Unmanned Surface Vehicles) and the Russian Navy in the Black Sea, the type has been used to target swarms of boats and strike small vessels in several training scenarios.<\/p>\n

In the 2020s, the Warthog took part in multiple Maritime Surface Warfare exercises and conducted unit defense training. One of the exercises saw, in Sept. 2023, two A-10s engage simulated surface threats in the\u00a0Gulf of Oman<\/a>\u00a0with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem.<\/p>\n

High Value Targets, like U.S. warships and civilian ships and tankers could be attacked and\u00a0overwhelmed by coordinated swarms of USVs<\/a>, challenging the traditional naval defense strategies. The A-10\u2019s maneuverability at low airspeeds and altitude, flexible armament,\u00a0highly accurate weapons-delivery capabilities<\/a>, and extended loiter time are all key attributes that make it highly effective at against fast naval targets in the Persian Gulf and beyond.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Another interesting marking is the F-15E tail with the text \u201cSo others may live\u201d painted on \u201cRidley,\u201d that might suggest the aircraft was involved in the recovery operation of DUDE 44, the Strike Eagle shot down over Iran.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Ridley | Source: Stewart Jack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another marking that might be worth investigating is the one sported by \u201cKirby\u201d: a pickup truck, possibly a \u201ctechnical,\u201d with an explosion or mushroom cloud rising from it\u2026.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kirby | Source: Stewart Jack<\/figcaption><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The bomb markings on the returning A-10 Thunderbolt II jets hint at the variety of weapons the Warthogs used against Iran, while the kill marks offer clues about some of the targets they hit. On Jun. 12, 2026, 11 A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft, belonging to the 75th Fighter Squadron of the 23rd Wing, from Moody […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2377"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2377\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}