Jim, you say that no A-10s were shot down in the Iraq war, which I assume to mean the 2003 invasion, but 6 were lost to ir SAMs in the 1991 war, and 14 damaged by SAMs or AA. IIRC there was a decision made quite early on to limit their use against units with good air defences (ie Republican Guard). Possibly the same strictures might explain the lack of losses in 2003 and in Afghanistan?
They would doubtless have been vital if the Fulda Gap battle had ever happened, but in its absence, effective as they are, I find it hard to share the affection for them. There is undoubtedly a use for air to ground platforms that can operate against comparatively "soft" tagets, and I am under no illusions that engagements in war should be fair. I don't wish their pilots ill. But—perhaps because I have never served—I find the idea of a weapon system that can only be used against targets which cannot respond hard to celebrate, however effective it may be.
As always, an incredibly valuable and informative piece. I loved the Fly with the Eagles piece. You spared yourself and the subject nothing and both came out looking pretty good despite some dings. This is one subscription I am never canceling! And I am just amazed at the longevity of your career. As someone who was sort of forced by circumstances to leave my profession earlier than I wanted to and before I felt “done,” you are an inspiration!
Joining you in your F-15 flight was a delight—albeit one best experienced vicariously!
The unit that hosted you, the 94th Fighter Squadron, caught my eye because an early member of the unit was my great uncle Captain Hamilton Coolidge. An ace fighter pilot, he was shot down in October 1918 and buried where he fell, in a pasture at a bend in the River Aire. When the meandering river’s ongoing erosion threatened to wash the gravesite away, reburial in September 2024 in the nearby village of Chevières was organized by the village, the Coolidge family, and a large contingent of the 94th, paying respect to their fallen brother. The USAF has provided a brief summary <https://drive.google.com/open?id=1FSFdPsLnynd5Av7vWNhH79SRKhO2ixFJ> of Captain Coolidge’s service, death in combat, and reburial in Chevières, with an explanation of the need for relocation of his remains. For a somewhat longer account, including the century-long relationship between the village of Chevières and the Coolidge family, see this article <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l81sTb8A30gBuXLr1EWLeSFEMa7FeWxy/view?usp=share_link>.
By the way, the 94th has moved on from the F-15 to the F-22.
Thank you. And wow,I know about the career of Captain Hamilton Coolidge, from history of WWI and the early days of 'air power.' This was obviously without knowing of your connection, but being aware of some of his other connections in that era
I hadn't read these extra articles about this. Thanks, and a source of ongoing family pride.
James, thank you for this update. I would like to hear your thoughts on Donald's new $1.5 trillion military budget in relation to Ukraine's approach to war-fighting vs the USA approach. It seems to me that today, the 'military-industrial complex' has a couple of champions at the point of the spear, plus plenty of REMFs in Congress, Project 2025, et al, who will keep us on a perpetual war-footing, thus requiring the decimation of domestic spending for the daily good of Americans. Donald pretty much said this week that is the plan.
Why don't we just call this show what it is: The Permanent War Economy.
Oceania was at war with Eurasia; therefore Oceania had always been at war with Eurasia.
This long-anticipated production, with the working title "1947," has finally been greenlit by Trump Studios and given a budget of $1.5 trillion per year.
Donald Trump to star, as himself.
"I've ready for the role of a lifetime," he announced simultaneously on Fox News, Truth Social, X, and other subsidiaries of The Trump White House. "And why not? When you're a celebrity, they let you do it."
"Also, I am in charge now, and I just fired Bondi and Noem. Who's next? Wait and see! 'Et tu, Brute,' as we say in Queens. Hegseth? Kennedy? The next cabinet meeting will be interesting."
Casting by Mr. Beast. By invitation only at the "Epstein" island.
Fascinating. Thanks for sharing your expertise with us. I’m astounded and disturbed by how much money we pour into these aircraft instead of lifting up more Americans in need. I realize that’s not a logical either/or, but it is a clear indicator of this country’s priorities.
Spot on describing the A-10 and Air Force resistance to it. The A-10 is a near perfect aircraft for the CAS mission by itself and working in coordinated missions with attack and scout helicopters. Love the A-10.
Yes, thanks. This really seems to be the consistent message — over the years and across the combat theaters — about the A-10. And a consistent USAF line is that it's outlived its time. Mike Lofgren's piece is very good on this endless battle.
Another post chock full of information this civilian would not have encountered elsewhere! I thank you, and look forward to reading your Atlantic article.
The Chair Farce was dragged kicking and screaming and fighting every inch to accept the A-10 back in the 70s and has spent every one of the past 50 years saying that F-16s and now F-35s will easily replace it. Hah! And then HAH!! But one has to remember that it is illegal for anyone in the Chair Farce to do anything that helps another service, and most particularly that darned Army they managed to escape from back when they proved to the world that mass war crimes (excuse me, "strategic bombing") and A-bombs were the way you won wars, despite the fact that has never happened, but it is an article of faith in the Chair Farce and ye of little faith should go join the Navy. They conveniently don't want you to remember that His Mighty Highness Giulio Douhet was an Italian Fascist who practiced his strategic bombing against Ethiopian tribesmen and Bedouin Arabs whose villages his "strategic bombers" strategically bombed. (They did prove their usefulness when they were dragged kicking and screaming from bombing ball bearing and airplane factories and were turned loose on the German synthetic fuels industry. After seven raids in the summer/early fall of 1944, the Wehrmacht ground to a halt by the Battle of the Bulge.)
Yes. The "limits of air power" is not the most popular course at many AF schools. (Which is why, as you know and have pointed out, it is all the more to the credit of USAF General Alexus Grynkewich to say out in public, at Congressional hearing last month, that bombing attacks were more likely to *unify* Iranians than to fragment or defeat them. Went into that here https://fallows.substack.com/p/the-folly-of-war-grows-worse )
Nice review. It makes me wonder how procurement worked in the last century of the Roman Empire. I used to wonder how the Ukrainians could take out so many Russian aerial assets sitting in rows at air bases. Now I see AWACs and KC135s destroyed by the same arrogance and backward thinking. I seriously don't know how the US gets out of this while Trump is in office. If things go completely south, he and Hegseth will do some truly awful if they can.
BTW, I saw an interesting interview today of Gary Sick (now 91), an old Iranian hand in the State Dept., by Christiane Amanpour. Of the Presidents starting with Carter, he thinks Obama was the one who was the most effective, and he explains why.
I’ve watched the Gary Sick interview on your recommendation; it’s easily found on CNN. Thanks. Very informative, and at a minimum it makes one sanguine about approaching one’s nineties :)
Yep. The O-window seems to be moving inexorably in the direction of ‘truly awful’, doesn’t it?
I’ve wondered for a couple weeks how much of the apparent ‘drama and dithering’ is being driven by threats - or, perhaps, assurances - of resignations by senior (and junior?) officers. May is approaching … but maybe the ‘seven days’ will come in April? Trump thinks he wants ‘Hitler’s generals’ … hmmm
History repeating itself, per Marx. This must be the "farce cycle," if that can co-exist with the "tragedy cycle," which it apparently can.
However Trump stands alone in the "tackiness" competition. He's also up there in "nonchalant cruelty," and in the running for "no 'there' there," "believes his own press releases," and "If he thinks it happened, it did." He wants his trophies!
I have always been fascinated by military aircraft ever since I had a pair of F-4’s on full afterburner pass overhead at treetop level while hiking in the Sierras in Northern California. I was 14 at the time, and had it happen several times after while hiking. By the time you heard them they were gone, and wow, they were loud! I’ve also had a bias against the F-15 due to expense and its original single purpose, having speed with the ability to target aircraft beyond visible range. I realized that bias came from your article, I have followed your commentaries for a long time. I look forward to your next piece on the war and aviation.
My comparable early-years introduction to military aircraft came from growing up under the flight path for B-52s taking off or landing at then- Norton Air Force Base, in San Bernardino. This was during the Cold War and early Vietnam years. The B-52s themselves were very noisy, and cast a large shadow as they passed over our junior high school. But of course they didn't make sonic booms. The ones we heard must have been from F-4s or something similar — or other planes from March AFB, not far away.
Norton is now 'San Bernardino International Airport.' We landed our little Cirrus there many times, on the endless B-52-scale runway.
Thanks for the response. We must be about the same age (born 1951) and had similar childhoods. We were near Travis, Beale and Mather AFBs. When I was a Cub Scout we got to go inside a B-52 and ‘fly’ an F-4 sim, something I still do today on my VR setup. We saw a spy plane from a distance but I think it was before the SR-71. You went to Harvard, I went to Berkeley and eventually got my PhD in economics. In any case, you have been my favorite commentator since your early Atlantic days.
Jim, you say that no A-10s were shot down in the Iraq war, which I assume to mean the 2003 invasion, but 6 were lost to ir SAMs in the 1991 war, and 14 damaged by SAMs or AA. IIRC there was a decision made quite early on to limit their use against units with good air defences (ie Republican Guard). Possibly the same strictures might explain the lack of losses in 2003 and in Afghanistan?
They would doubtless have been vital if the Fulda Gap battle had ever happened, but in its absence, effective as they are, I find it hard to share the affection for them. There is undoubtedly a use for air to ground platforms that can operate against comparatively "soft" tagets, and I am under no illusions that engagements in war should be fair. I don't wish their pilots ill. But—perhaps because I have never served—I find the idea of a weapon system that can only be used against targets which cannot respond hard to celebrate, however effective it may be.
Meant to include source https://www.gao.gov/assets/nsiad-97-134.pdf
I can't open a pdf. The Atlantic wants me to subscribe (I once did but had to purge) to it not you.
Can I read it through you?
The E-7 Wedgetail is based on the 737 airframe, not the 727. A rare slip.
As always, an incredibly valuable and informative piece. I loved the Fly with the Eagles piece. You spared yourself and the subject nothing and both came out looking pretty good despite some dings. This is one subscription I am never canceling! And I am just amazed at the longevity of your career. As someone who was sort of forced by circumstances to leave my profession earlier than I wanted to and before I felt “done,” you are an inspiration!
Thank you! I appreciate it, on all fronts.
Joining you in your F-15 flight was a delight—albeit one best experienced vicariously!
The unit that hosted you, the 94th Fighter Squadron, caught my eye because an early member of the unit was my great uncle Captain Hamilton Coolidge. An ace fighter pilot, he was shot down in October 1918 and buried where he fell, in a pasture at a bend in the River Aire. When the meandering river’s ongoing erosion threatened to wash the gravesite away, reburial in September 2024 in the nearby village of Chevières was organized by the village, the Coolidge family, and a large contingent of the 94th, paying respect to their fallen brother. The USAF has provided a brief summary <https://drive.google.com/open?id=1FSFdPsLnynd5Av7vWNhH79SRKhO2ixFJ> of Captain Coolidge’s service, death in combat, and reburial in Chevières, with an explanation of the need for relocation of his remains. For a somewhat longer account, including the century-long relationship between the village of Chevières and the Coolidge family, see this article <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l81sTb8A30gBuXLr1EWLeSFEMa7FeWxy/view?usp=share_link>.
By the way, the 94th has moved on from the F-15 to the F-22.
Thank you. And wow,I know about the career of Captain Hamilton Coolidge, from history of WWI and the early days of 'air power.' This was obviously without knowing of your connection, but being aware of some of his other connections in that era
I hadn't read these extra articles about this. Thanks, and a source of ongoing family pride.
Fingers crossed this does not escalate to a degree where we need an actual scorecard. I fear the worst, though.
This appears to be spiraling out of control almost by the minute.
Amazed that B-52s are still in service. They seem like fat targets. What’s their edge?
They have enormous payload; they are very rugged; they only go in when the airspace is (relatively) secure.
James, thank you for this update. I would like to hear your thoughts on Donald's new $1.5 trillion military budget in relation to Ukraine's approach to war-fighting vs the USA approach. It seems to me that today, the 'military-industrial complex' has a couple of champions at the point of the spear, plus plenty of REMFs in Congress, Project 2025, et al, who will keep us on a perpetual war-footing, thus requiring the decimation of domestic spending for the daily good of Americans. Donald pretty much said this week that is the plan.
Why don't we just call this show what it is: The Permanent War Economy.
Oceania was at war with Eurasia; therefore Oceania had always been at war with Eurasia.
This long-anticipated production, with the working title "1947," has finally been greenlit by Trump Studios and given a budget of $1.5 trillion per year.
Donald Trump to star, as himself.
"I've ready for the role of a lifetime," he announced simultaneously on Fox News, Truth Social, X, and other subsidiaries of The Trump White House. "And why not? When you're a celebrity, they let you do it."
"Also, I am in charge now, and I just fired Bondi and Noem. Who's next? Wait and see! 'Et tu, Brute,' as we say in Queens. Hegseth? Kennedy? The next cabinet meeting will be interesting."
Casting by Mr. Beast. By invitation only at the "Epstein" island.
I haven't looked in detail into this absolutely enormous budget request. But your suppositions sound correct to me.
Fascinating. Thanks for sharing your expertise with us. I’m astounded and disturbed by how much money we pour into these aircraft instead of lifting up more Americans in need. I realize that’s not a logical either/or, but it is a clear indicator of this country’s priorities.
Thank you. And I agree.
Spot on describing the A-10 and Air Force resistance to it. The A-10 is a near perfect aircraft for the CAS mission by itself and working in coordinated missions with attack and scout helicopters. Love the A-10.
Yes, thanks. This really seems to be the consistent message — over the years and across the combat theaters — about the A-10. And a consistent USAF line is that it's outlived its time. Mike Lofgren's piece is very good on this endless battle.
Too bad it isn't glamorous. 47 likes glamorous. Maybe they could paint it gold and rename it "Trump's Vicious Fighting Machine"?
Or paint his snarling face on the front like the old Flying Tigers P-40s.
That would teach the Iranians a lesson.
Never mess with Mr. Retribution.
One of the things we dreamt of, but never went through with, was putting tiger teeth on the nose of our Cirrus.
It's not too late. AI can adjust the photos for you. What is a photo, anyway?
Outta my way, you 747! Don't you know who this is?
Another post chock full of information this civilian would not have encountered elsewhere! I thank you, and look forward to reading your Atlantic article.
Thank you! And I just put the Atlantic article up, this morning.
The Chair Farce was dragged kicking and screaming and fighting every inch to accept the A-10 back in the 70s and has spent every one of the past 50 years saying that F-16s and now F-35s will easily replace it. Hah! And then HAH!! But one has to remember that it is illegal for anyone in the Chair Farce to do anything that helps another service, and most particularly that darned Army they managed to escape from back when they proved to the world that mass war crimes (excuse me, "strategic bombing") and A-bombs were the way you won wars, despite the fact that has never happened, but it is an article of faith in the Chair Farce and ye of little faith should go join the Navy. They conveniently don't want you to remember that His Mighty Highness Giulio Douhet was an Italian Fascist who practiced his strategic bombing against Ethiopian tribesmen and Bedouin Arabs whose villages his "strategic bombers" strategically bombed. (They did prove their usefulness when they were dragged kicking and screaming from bombing ball bearing and airplane factories and were turned loose on the German synthetic fuels industry. After seven raids in the summer/early fall of 1944, the Wehrmacht ground to a halt by the Battle of the Bulge.)
Yes. The "limits of air power" is not the most popular course at many AF schools. (Which is why, as you know and have pointed out, it is all the more to the credit of USAF General Alexus Grynkewich to say out in public, at Congressional hearing last month, that bombing attacks were more likely to *unify* Iranians than to fragment or defeat them. Went into that here https://fallows.substack.com/p/the-folly-of-war-grows-worse )
Nice review. It makes me wonder how procurement worked in the last century of the Roman Empire. I used to wonder how the Ukrainians could take out so many Russian aerial assets sitting in rows at air bases. Now I see AWACs and KC135s destroyed by the same arrogance and backward thinking. I seriously don't know how the US gets out of this while Trump is in office. If things go completely south, he and Hegseth will do some truly awful if they can.
BTW, I saw an interesting interview today of Gary Sick (now 91), an old Iranian hand in the State Dept., by Christiane Amanpour. Of the Presidents starting with Carter, he thinks Obama was the one who was the most effective, and he explains why.
I know (and respect) Gary Sick and worked with him in the Carter days. Haven't seen that interview about Obama but will check it out.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/03/tv/video/amanpour-gary-sick
I’ve watched the Gary Sick interview on your recommendation; it’s easily found on CNN. Thanks. Very informative, and at a minimum it makes one sanguine about approaching one’s nineties :)
Yep. The O-window seems to be moving inexorably in the direction of ‘truly awful’, doesn’t it?
I’ve wondered for a couple weeks how much of the apparent ‘drama and dithering’ is being driven by threats - or, perhaps, assurances - of resignations by senior (and junior?) officers. May is approaching … but maybe the ‘seven days’ will come in April? Trump thinks he wants ‘Hitler’s generals’ … hmmm
Trump also wants Hitler’s bunker, his absurdly grandiose architecture, and God knows whatever else.
History repeating itself, per Marx. This must be the "farce cycle," if that can co-exist with the "tragedy cycle," which it apparently can.
However Trump stands alone in the "tackiness" competition. He's also up there in "nonchalant cruelty," and in the running for "no 'there' there," "believes his own press releases," and "If he thinks it happened, it did." He wants his trophies!
I was in the Army in the mid-80’s and when I was at Ft Polk there was a wing of A-10s at England AFB in Alexandria La. That gun is impressive.
Everyone I know who deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq loves the A-10.
That's my impression from meeting and interviewing Afgh/Iraq veterans as well.
Thank you, as always, for the education and enlightenment. Blue skies and fair weather to you.
I appreciate it. Right now in DC we are enjoying beautiful blue skies and fair weather. (Speaking strictly in weather terms.)
I have always been fascinated by military aircraft ever since I had a pair of F-4’s on full afterburner pass overhead at treetop level while hiking in the Sierras in Northern California. I was 14 at the time, and had it happen several times after while hiking. By the time you heard them they were gone, and wow, they were loud! I’ve also had a bias against the F-15 due to expense and its original single purpose, having speed with the ability to target aircraft beyond visible range. I realized that bias came from your article, I have followed your commentaries for a long time. I look forward to your next piece on the war and aviation.
Thank you.
My comparable early-years introduction to military aircraft came from growing up under the flight path for B-52s taking off or landing at then- Norton Air Force Base, in San Bernardino. This was during the Cold War and early Vietnam years. The B-52s themselves were very noisy, and cast a large shadow as they passed over our junior high school. But of course they didn't make sonic booms. The ones we heard must have been from F-4s or something similar — or other planes from March AFB, not far away.
Norton is now 'San Bernardino International Airport.' We landed our little Cirrus there many times, on the endless B-52-scale runway.
Thanks for the response. We must be about the same age (born 1951) and had similar childhoods. We were near Travis, Beale and Mather AFBs. When I was a Cub Scout we got to go inside a B-52 and ‘fly’ an F-4 sim, something I still do today on my VR setup. We saw a spy plane from a distance but I think it was before the SR-71. You went to Harvard, I went to Berkeley and eventually got my PhD in economics. In any case, you have been my favorite commentator since your early Atlantic days.
Thanks! And fixed a typo in my reply above. (*Grew up* under Norton B52 flight path, as opposed to "go up." But you got the point.)