Air Force Reserve Command's Dogpatchers inactivated
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On 8 September 2025, as expected, DP coded A-10C Thunderbolt IIs flew their final operational mission with the 47th Fighter Squadron "Dogpatchers", part of the 924th Fighter Group, which was inactivated during a ceremony at Davis-Monthan AFB (AZ).
For now, 47th Fighter Squadron/924th Fighter Group, which was realigned under the 944th Fighter Wing, is still under debate if they eventually will receive the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II. The 47th Fighter Squadron, also known as the "Termites", were flown to Davis-Monthan from Barksdale AFB (LA) between October 2013 and March 2014 to become the A-10 Formal Training Unit (FTU). By then, the Dogpatchers flew with the regular Air Force’s 355th Fighter Wing and functionally integrated with the 355th Operations Group and 355th Maintenance Group to conduct A-10 pilot training.
During the "Hawgsmoke 2024" exercise, Air Force Reserve Command’s 47th Fighter Squadron emerged victorious and reaffirming their position referred to as the finest attack professionals the USAF had to offer. The "Dogpatchers/Termites” were the top overall team, top conventional bombing team, top conventional strafe team, and top tactical team regarding Close Air Support (CAS) and Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR).
The DP code on the Thunderbolt II's tail highlighted the squadron’s unique cultural identity, known as “Dogpatch” which was a nickname drawn from Al Capp’s Li’l Abner comic strip.
Credit photos: USAF