April 7, 2003 over Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom. An A-10 Thunderbolt II was on a close air support mission for troops in heavy contact. The pilot rolled in low, delivered rockets and cannon fire, then pulled off target. That’s when the Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery opened up. No one expected what happened next. 🧵1/4
Capt. Kim “Killer Chick” Campbell didn’t panic. Her A-10 was suddenly hit hard, one engine damaged and the entire hydraulic system destroyed. Primary flight controls went dead. The jet started rolling and diving out of control. She immediately switched to manual reversion mode... basically flying the Warthog the old-school way with cables and cranks. The plane was still full of holes and losing systems fast.
For nearly an hour she fought the damaged aircraft across enemy territory. No hydraulics. No normal controls. Just raw skill, and strength. The Warthog’s legendary toughness, and sheer determination to bring it home. She nursed it all the way back to a base in southern Iraq. The jet was riddled with over 100 holes.
(Photos from: theaviationgeekclub.com)
Capt. Kim Campbell had just pulled off one of the most impressive emergency landings in A-10 history. She was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism. The “Killer Chick” and her Warthog proved once again why the A-10 is called the most survivable close air support aircraft ever built. Absolute legend, and those of you on X know her as KC! #OIF #A10Warthog #KillerChick #USAF #AviationLegend
Flying one using the push pull cables without hydraulic assist had to be exhausting! Props to KC for bringing it back home!
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