A-10 Thunderbolt II - Thundrbolt sortie

1990’s—BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan—An A-10 Thunderbolt II assigned to the 104th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron banks to the right after take off. Coalition forces in Afghanistan launched another offensive, dubbed Operation Valiant Strike, on March 20, aimed at villages and cave complexes east of Kandahar in the Sami Ghar mountains, defense officials said. A-10 pilots provide close air support for Army forces here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Adam Johnston)