08/28/2026
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II took severe battle damage during Operation Iraqi Freedom and lost both hydraulic systems. With normal flight controls gone, the pilot switched to the aircraft’s manual backup system and fought to keep the damaged Warthog in the air.
Despite a badly damaged tail and rear fuselage, the A-10 made it back to base and landed safely—a remarkable example of pilot skill and the rugged engineering behind one of America’s most recognizable military aircraft.