Capt Lindsay “MAD” Johnson will fly at airshows throughout the US aboard the brand new demo plane specifically painted to pay homage to the “Memphis Belle”.
Because the annual Heritage Flight Coaching Course at Davis-Monthan Air Power Base drew to an in depth final week, the U.S. Air Power A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Staff introduced the brand new commander and pilot for the 2023 Airshow season. Capt Lindsay “MAD” Johnson took the reins of the crew from Maj Haden “Gator” Fullam, who led it for the 2021 and 2022 airshow seasons. Capt Johnson can also be the third feminine Air Power demonstration pilot this yr, following Capt Aimee “Rebel” Fiedler of the F-16 Viper Demo Team and Thunderbird #4 Maj Lauren Schlichting.
Earlier than being named the crew commander, Capt Johnson was an Teacher Pilot and Flight Commander assigned to the 357th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona and beforehand served additionally in Texas and Korea. As a veteran teacher pilot, she has amassed over 1,250 flight hours, together with 431 fight flight hours in assist of each Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and the Resolute Assist Mission.
The brand new A-10 Demonstration Staff pilot has been introduced! Did anybody get it proper?🤙 pic.twitter.com/L2LxKms5Fc
— A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Staff (@A10DemoTeam) March 3, 2023
Capt Johnson will participate, along with the 10-person crew, to over 20 airshows throughout the US and internationally, beginning this week, performing aerial maneuvers and showcasing the fight capabilities of the A-10 and the Airmen who keep it. The A-10 Demo Team may even carry out heritage fights with Air Power plane from previous generations, paying tribute to those that paved the way in which for Airmen that serve at present.
It’s nice to be again @DMAFB this weekend for 2023 HFTC. I licensed our new @A10DemoTeam pilot – Capt Lindsay “MAD” Johnson, 357FS, & will meet our 4 ACC Demo Groups & civilian pilots from @afhflight. Chief & I additionally loved our visits w/ 355W & 55ECG. Actually nice journey up to now! pic.twitter.com/ieP5IR8q7T
— Gen Mark Kelly (@ACC_Commander) March 4, 2023
And talking about tributes to the previous, one of many three A-10Cs assigned to the demonstration crew obtained a brand new heritage paint scheme. Because the crew defined on Facebook, in an effort to pay homage to the work the B-17F “Memphis Belle” did during WW2, the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing nicknamed one among their F-105s the “Memphis Belle II.”
The “Memphis Belle II” was assigned to the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron and is credited with two air-to-air kills in 1967. For the reason that crew’s plane are assigned to the 357th Fighter Squadron, it was determined to nickname tail quantity 78-0651 “Memphis Belle III”. Because the “Memphis Belle II”, the A-10 has been painted in the Vietnam-era SouthEast Asia (SEA) camouflage.
The upper surfaces of the A-10C have thus been painted with medium inexperienced, darkish inexperienced and darkish tan patches, whereas the decrease surfaces have been painted with camouflage grey, in step with the identical colours utilized by the US Air Power plane throughout the Vietnam battle. To honor the Prisoners of Battle, Lacking in Motion and Veterans, the starboard facet of the A-10’s nostril options the names of all of the unit’s members who misplaced their lives or had been captured throughout the battle, accompanied by the Nationwide League of Households POW/MIA flag.
The A-10 Demo Staff just isn’t new to those tributes to the heritage of their unit, as in 2021 one other A-10, tail 81-0962, was repainted in the SEA camo impressed by the F-105 Thunderchiefs that the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing (former designation of the present 355th Fighter Wing primarily based at Davis-Monthan) flew throughout the Vietnam Battle. Like “Memphis Belle III”, the A-10 featured the names of the unit’s PoWs and KIAs and was nonetheless flying with these colours throughout the current Heritage Flight Coaching Course.
Stefano D’Urso is a contract journalist and contributor to TheAviationist primarily based in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he is additionally finding out to attain a Grasp Diploma in Aerospace Engineering. Digital Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT strategies utilized to the world of navy operations and present conflicts are amongst his areas of experience.
