An A-10 has been given a new ‘tribute’ livery in the US

The USAF has unveiled Fairchild A-10C Thunderbolt II 78-0651 in a striking ‘retro’ Vietnam War-era scheme. On strength with the Davis-Monthan Arizona-based 355th Fighter Wing’s 357th Fighter Squadron, the 1979-built jet is one of three examples of the ‘Hawg’ currently assigned to the USAF’s A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team.

The jet also honours Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress 41-24485 Memphis Belle – often celebrated as the first USAAF ‘heavy’ to complete 25 World War Two missions. It isn’t the first time the 357th FS has paid tribute to the famous bomber. One of its Republic F-105D Thunderchiefs, 60-0504, was christened Memphis Belle II in 1967, and went on to claim two air-to-air kills in the Vietnam War.