MIDDLE RIVER, Md. — Gov. Wes Moore led a ceremony Tuesday to mark the end of the Maryland Air National Guard’s A-10 Thunderbolt II flying operations at Warfield Air National Guard Base in Middle River. The event inactivated the 175th Operations Group, 175th Maintenance Group and related units as the final two aircraft transferred to the Michigan Air National Guard, fulfilling a U.S. Air Force plan to divest the fleet by the end of fiscal year 2025. The transition shifts the 104th Fighter Squadron, one of the nation’s oldest Air Guard flying units dating to 1921, toward a cybersecurity mission focused on defending state and national networks.
The gathering inside a base hangar drew about 200 attendees, including Guard members, veterans, families and officials such as Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, Maryland’s adjutant general, and Brig. Gen. Drew Dougherty, assistant adjutant general for air. Col. Chris Palmer, commander of the 175th Operations Group, and Col. Jason Burns, commander of the 175th Maintenance Group, furled the units’ guidons in a traditional casing ritual symbolizing the close of their flying heritage. The aircraft, known as Warthogs for their rugged design, departed later that day.
“This is a moment of anger and frustration, but it’s also a moment of deep pride,” Moore said during remarks. “No matter the darkness, no matter the danger, the Maryland Air National Guard was always ready and always there.” The governor highlighted the wing’s adherence to Air Force core values: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.
The 175th Wing’s A-10 operations supported nine combat deployments over 25 years, including recent missions in Operations Inherent Resolve, Spartan Shield and Poseidon Archer in 2024. Since 2013, the groups mobilized five times for A-10 support, deploying to Estonia under the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program and other NATO allies in Europe to counter Russian advances. The aircraft provided close air support, using its 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger cannon and munitions to protect ground forces in conflicts from the Middle East to the Balkans and Afghanistan.
Lt. Gov. Aruna K. Miller addressed the squadron’s century-long role. “For more than a century, the 104th Fighter Squadron has carried the colors of Baltimore and the spirit of our state into the skies,” she said. “As their flying mission retires, we honor their legacy of service and look ahead with pride as the 175th Wing leads Maryland into a new era of cyber defense.”
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen praised the unit’s contributions. “The 175th Wing of Maryland’s Air National Guard has had a proud history of protecting our national security,” he said. “Throughout their years of flying the Maryland-built A-10 Warthog, the dedicated citizen-soldiers of the 175th wing have always answered the call to keep Americans safe at home and support combat operations abroad. We are grateful that they have always had our backs, and we will continue to have theirs as we look to the future.”
U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks emphasized ongoing support. “I am so proud to honor and congratulate the Airmen of the 175th Operations Group, the 175th Maintenance Group, and all subordinate units as the final A-10s depart from Maryland today,” she said. “These Airmen have given so much in service to our country, and we have an obligation to do more than just thank and celebrate them. I will always fight to protect our veterans and service members. It’s as much a duty as it is a privilege.”
Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, noted the wing’s nickname, the Fightin’ O’s. “Since 1921, the Maryland Air National Guard has served our state and country with grit, honor, and dedication,” she said. “Fondly referred to as the Fightin’ O’s, the 175th Wing was no exception — with the 104th Fighter Squadron completing nine combat deployments in the past 20 years. Thank you to the Airmen and women who answered the call to serve our nation at home and abroad. I look forward to continuing to support the critical work of the Maryland National Guard on the House Armed Services Committee.”
Congressman Johnny Olszewski focused on the personnel. “Today we honor not an aircraft, but the dedicated and incredibly skilled men and women who have flown and maintained the A-10C for more than a century at Martin State,” he said. “We are grateful for their service, which has consistently been ranked among the best in the nation. I am looking forward to supporting all future missions that will continue the 175th Wing’s legacy of service and patriotism.”
Brig. Gen. Dougherty thanked the contributors. “Thank you to every Airman who has worn these patches, turned wrenches on these jets, flown these missions, and given so much of themselves to this noble calling,” he said. “You will always be part of the proud history of the Maryland Air National Guard, these two outstanding groups, and you will always carry on our proud and distinguished legacy.”
Maj. Gen. Birckhead credited the people behind the success. “When we walk away today, I want you to remember just one critical idea,” she said. “Those words about mission readiness, combat reputation, contributions in war and peace; those words do not describe the machine that is the A-10. They describe the Airmen and women, the pilots, the comm techs, the fuel handlers, the maintainers. You created the 175th Wing’s reputation. You are the heart of the A-10 legacy.” She described the A-10 as “an extraordinary piece of iron, and it’s one of a kind. For our ground troops in combat with the enemy, [there] is nothing like hearing the approach of an A-10.”
The 175th Maintenance Group posted a 71.3 percent mission-capable rate in fiscal year 2023, surpassing the Air Force average for fighter aircraft. Last month, the National Guard Association of the United States awarded the wing the Spaatz Trophy as the top flying unit in the Air National Guard at its annual conference.
The Air Force announced the divestment in March 2024, ending Maryland’s fixed-wing operations after 46 years with the A-10 since 1979. The base, at Martin State Airport, traces its roots to 1929 when aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin established the airfield, which produced B-26 Marauder bombers during World War II. The Maryland Air National Guard has operated there since the 1950s.
The shift to cyber operations, part of a broader Air Force realignment, requires retraining for many of the wing’s 1,200 personnel. Some may retire or relocate, while others adapt to network defense roles. State Sen. J.B. Jennings, a Guard member since 2008, raised concerns about the base’s future viability for a non-flying unit. “You could put a cyber wing anywhere,” he said. “There’s always that fear that the military will say, ‘Hey, why are we paying that lease there?'” A spokesperson for Van Hollen said the senator would press for a potential follow-on flying mission while aiding the cyber transition.
Retired Col. Tim Smith, who served 30 years in the Guard, attended to “give the A-10 a hug,” reflecting the aircraft’s enduring appeal among those who worked with it. The A-10, designed in the 1970s for tank-busting, featured a titanium cockpit armor tub and seven hardpoints for bombs and missiles, making it a staple for ground support.
This change leaves Maryland without deployable aircraft for emergencies, a shift that underscores evolving defense priorities toward digital threats. The 175th Wing, nicknamed the Fightin’ O’s for its Baltimore ties, maintains its state mission of search and rescue, disaster response and civil support. The ceremony concluded with a flyover by other Guard aircraft, signaling continuity amid transformation.
The Maryland Air National Guard’s history began June 29, 1921, with federal recognition of the 104th Observation Squadron. Over decades, it evolved from biplanes to jets, contributing to every major U.S. conflict. The A-10’s departure caps a chapter but opens one aligned with modern warfare, where cyber units counter threats from state actors and hackers.
