Flying the A-10 Warthog | Steve Ladd (Part 2 In-Person) 

Thanks, Brady Great to hear from you!

@@warthog01 Steve, hope you and Elaine are both doing well. If my last name looks familiar i'm Maverick/Irish's youngest son. You're one of the few people still around that knew him with his original callsign before he changed it when he took over the 511th. Cheers man.

Small world man. My father was the squadron commander for the 511th at RAF Alconbury from 89-91 and had known Steve for years since their F-4 days. Previous assignment for my old man before Alconbury was HQ 2ATAF at Rheindahlen with Steve.

@@HalfUnder Thanks for getting in touch! I remember your Dad very well-some great times at Bentwaters in those days. Cheers

@Steve Ladd Anytime Steve, lord knows I've heard lots of stories over the years. The old folks may be in touch soon. They're talking about taking a trip across the pond to go see the museum over there and I know they want to see the two of you and catch up. Cheers.

If you enjoy this kind of recital, check out some of the interviews that C.W. Lemoine (Mover) has done. Very cool stuff from one fighter pilot to another (Mover, not me).

@@JF-lt5zc I came here to say the same

That's how my Marine big brother felt about B-52s based on his 1969 tour in Vietnam, during which he had a front row seat to what they can do. He came back a big fan of BUFFs and the USAF in general. I remember him describing not only seeing and hearing their effect, but many times feeling the "rolling thunder" of Arc Light raids in the distance. As you said, it was quite a morale builder knowing they were on the same side. Somewhat by coincidence but no doubt partially by design after hearing his stories, later in the '70s I ended up in the USAF on those same B-52Ds that carried the bulk of the workload in SEA. At one point I sent him a B-52 t-shirt which he wore until it was ragged. It was kind of funny to think of a Marine wearing a USAF shirt rather than a USMC version, but as a combat Marine, that's how he felt. In general, there was never any of the silly inter-service rivalries and put-downs between me and my brothers (two Marine and one Army). We always respected each other's service.

@@RMBB4202 my dad was navy and I've got lots of uncles and cousins and friends who were in various branches and we absolutely rag and tease each other with the interservice rivalry stuff. I've even been given a cupcake with a crayon stuck in it for my birthday before. Nobody gets asshurt about it though, it's all understood to just be in good fun.

Cheers!

Ugly is an ugly word, lol. I think they both have their own brand of 'sexy'

Mean and meaner look and very well justified .

Funny he mentioned coming from the F-4 and thinking the A-10 was ugly. One of the more common nicknames for the F-4 in the '60s and '70s USAF was "Double Ugly". The Phantom looks like each part of the aircraft was designed by separate committees that never communicated with each other. Some things drooped, some things stuck up, some angled down, with seemingly incongruent bulges, curves, and angles in between. It doesn't look like it should work as well as it does. As another common joke in the USAF said "The F-4 proves that given enough thrust, even a brick can fly supersonic". Like the A-10, however, the F-4 manages to be "ugly" and aggressively beautiful at the same time.

Wish the USAF brass would get their heads out of their asses, and continue keeping the A-10 over the shoulders of your brothers. I can only imagine the hellish situations that you faced. The brass appears not to even try to imagine it or to give a shit about it...

Reading this statement means a lot to me. It was our privilege in the A10 community to provide you with reliable CAS. I believed...I earned the right to go home once you did. Glad you made it home safely.

None of you realize A-10 wouldn’t survive a war with actual SAMs and MANPADS. The Iraqis during Gulf War 1 had no problems downing several A-10s with Strelas. The A-10s is only good against guys with AKs.

@@zeitgeistx5239You're making the argument the F35 proponents like to use. They point to...the A10 wouldn't survive in an airspace where modern ground to air systems exist. Doubtful the hog would be sent into such a high threat environment until it is cleared to do so. Anyway, until something better comes along we are going to continue to roll with her.

Hi Nige Thanks for your comment. I'm glad we could be of service-I never got credit for entertaining the kids before 🥳😉😁

Thanks very much.

Thanks, Mike. Hope you enjoy it!

The Book is a Great Read! Thank You for writing !!

Thanks Larry.

Cheers mate.

Cheers.

Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed it.

Glad you’re enjoying it, John.

He is indeed.

Nope, filmed at Boscombe Downs. Glad you liked it!

Thanks, Vikko--If you've got the time, I'd appreciate an Amazon review!

Cheers!

Nice one Chris.

No, the interview took place at Boscombe Downs Aviation Collection--not Duxford but highly recommended

I do have a fair few now :)

@@Aircrewinterview shared the video to one of the Phantom groups on Facebook see if we can’t get a few more subscribers 👍

You never know 😉👍

Yes, I did, Wade from '83 to, '85.If I remember correctly, you were in the 'Incredible shrinking class' . It's all in the book😉😂

@@warthog01 I just stumbled across this interview. I'll definitely be buying the book. That was an incredible bunch of guys you had working for you. You and they certainly changed my life. Great interview and nice to see you doing well my friend!

Thanks, Wade. If you've got time, I'd be grateful for an Amazon review when you finish it. Hope you enjoy the read.

No, never heard that one. If have preferred Brad Pitt, though🤔😉😁

Air to Air Refuelling?

Gotta know for sure.

We flew them from Myrtle Beach South Carolina to RAF Bentwaters UK. Numerous Air refuelings and an overnight stay in the Azores. There's a whole chapter in the book about the trip. 😉

@@warthog01 Thanks. I love that plane, the way it soared over my head, amazing, l guess the big straight wings, low altitude, amazing the way it floated.

@@warthog01 How do I go about getting a signed copy of your book, Sir? I was a flight line crew chief at the Beach from 83-86. 353rd. I sure do miss the old bird and could "pre or thru-flight" her to this day. My Dad worked with the RF-4C while he was in. I got some great Super 8 movies of "rolls" over the runway, and "after" 100 missions getting tossed in the bunny pool. Good times. Have a great day.

Nope. Comparative lightweight😊😉

@@warthog01 wow l am honoured that you replied to me sir! GOD BLESS AMERICA! I am Canadian l believe we owe EVERYTHING to the 🇺🇸

Hi Cara Three rounds--TP (Target practice), HEI (High explosive incendiary) and API (Armor piercing incendiary

Cheers Harold.

True. Apaches would have likely killed their share of armor in that scenario, too.

Occupational trait, Doug😉😂

@@warthog01 good occupation . I am retired also just sitting around on SS watching great pilot stories . i find military pilots attitudes and stories are a good way to spend the day . O i love the cattle prod thing lol my wife owns a few also OucH

@@dougstitt1652 Another occupational trait--for wives!🙄😂

@@warthog01 now i know why dad always has stayed in shape 84 and can still out run mom

@@warthog01 some said you guys about got bird strikes from behind in the A - 10 . . . ?

Smokey 😉😁

I have seen an interesting article somewhere, can’t remember where, about in the future possibly using new designs of prop aircraft to do the cas role against insurgents. The idea being they would be more manoeuvrable than jets with similar performance speed wise in the cas role and be able to carry a heavy load of munitions. Personally I can’t see this happening as the industrial sector wouldn’t make as much money from it as a jet with high tech electronics and people tend to want their airforce to have the latest fastest coolest looking futuristic jet and a prop wouldn’t be that.

@@nigeh5326 I thought Steve or the interviewer would mention the A-1 Skyraider. From a mission perspective, I saw it doing similar work as the A-10 in Vietnam. Doing so quite honorably as well. I suppose you could say the A-10 replaced the A-1, but the A-1 didn't have the GUN.

Thank you for the kind words. Hopefully we will get to 100k subs one day.

@@Aircrewinterview Hopefully a million :)

and shoot too

Not really. Several A-10s were downed by Iraqi Strela MANPADS when got their wing blown off. You 12 year olds love your internet memes.

Keyboard warrior,jog on,

Ok wisguy. We get your point. Now go and play om your keyboard

Great to hear you enjoyed it.

@@Aircrewinterview definitely, the talk you had with the Fb111 was very interesting! I didn't know how spooked by that Aircraft Surprised me about the Russians insisting that Aircraft be on t he e peace talks!!; I liked it very much camouflage paint skeam was looked like it could put a hurting in some place even Nukes too!

Camouflage paint skeam & the speed low & fast was incredible! They should keep a squadron around in several places that may see trouble in the near future. Thank you.

Thank YOU, Gerald!

@@warthog01 Your welcome & thanks for all the training to become a fighter pilot.