Chuck Norris joins fight to save A-10 aircraft

Chuck Norris, the martial arts guru and action movie star with a penchant for Republican politics, has joined the fight to save the A-10 attack jet.

The A-10 Thunderbolts, like those stationed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, have proven their worth yet again in the fight against ISIS. But the Air Force continues to push for the retirement of the aircraft, affectionately known as the "Warthog." That could be a devastating blow for Selfridge, the last major military installation in Michigan.

Apparently the A-10, which flies low and slow over the battle field destroying tanks and other armored vehicles, has also been referred to as the "Chuck Norris of airplanes." Norris found out about the moniker and decided to take a closer look, watching the plane in action at an Air National Guard base.

2006 Marine Corps photo
 during troops visit by Norris in Iraq

In an Op-Ed column published earlier this week, Norris writes: "Friends and fellow Americans, send a message to the White House and your representatives: 'Save our troops! Save the A-10 Thunderbolt!' "

According to The Hill, Norris' support could bolster efforts in Congress by lawmakers who have repeatedly pleadged to save the A-10s from the Air Force boneyard. The A-10 was used extensively to support ground troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Warthog is conducting about 11 percent of airstrikes in the air war against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. 

"Its firepower capability, speed and accuracy, frequent war use, and the oft-painted teeth on its nose cone have made it one of the military’s most popular aircraft," Norris wrote on the WorldNetDaily website. 

Norris, who focused his criticism on the Obama administration, not the Air Force, said he and his wife, Gena, have partnered with the "Save the A-10" campaign. He wrote that his support is personal, as a member of a military family and an Air Force veteran. 

The Washington Times points out that the Air Force came under fire in February over charges it cherry-picked data for a USA Today article questioning the aircraft’s safety. The Project on Government Oversight released a report that said Air Force officials used “cooked statistics” to skew the debate in favor of ending the A-10’s run.

In reality, “the A-10 produces nearly five times fewer civilian casualties per firing sortie than the B-1 bomber,” the watchdog’s report concluded.
Air Force officials denied the charge that underhanded tactics were being used to frame the debate.