Aviation News – The Maryland Air National Guard has retired its A-10 Thunderbolt flying mission, closing a chapter in the storied history of one of the nation’s oldest Air Guard units.
On Tuesday, the 175th Operations Group, 175th Maintenance Group and subordinate units were inactivated as part of a wider U.S. Air Force divestment plan. The move shifts the 104th Fighter Squadron toward a new focus on cyber operations. The Maryland Air National Guard, federally recognized in 1921, has been central to the state’s aviation presence for more than 100 years.
The Air Force began phasing out the Maryland A-10 fleet in March as part of its gradual retirement of the aircraft nationwide. Over the past two decades, the squadron deployed nine times to combat zones, including missions deterring Russian aggression. In 2024 alone, the unit supported three separate operations before its final transition.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, nicknamed the “Warthog,” is renowned for its durability and close air support capability. Its retirement marks not only a change for Maryland but also a broader operational shift within the Air Force toward modernization and cyber-focused defense.
“Nobody understands the importance of these aircraft better than the men and women of the 175th Wing,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. “While I never had the honor of deploying our A-10s as governor, I am very proud to be the governor who is able to say: job well done.”
The last two A-10s will leave Martin State Airport for long-term storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. Maryland’s flying mission, however, continues. In December 2024, Moore announced that the Air Force’s 121st Fighter Squadron would relocate from Washington, D.C. to Maryland, ensuring the state remains an active aviation hub.
Adding to the legacy, one of Maryland’s A-10s, tail number 79-0087, has been donated to the Hagerstown Aviation Museum. Built in 1979 at the Fairchild Republic plant in the same city and flown in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the aircraft was welcomed by hundreds of spectators before joining the museum’s historic collection.
The retirement of the A-10 Thunderbolt mission closes a significant chapter for Maryland but sets the stage for a future centered on advanced defense capabilities. The transition underscores a shift in U.S. military priorities while preserving Maryland’s proud aviation tradition.
Photo Rob Vogelaar
