Hawgsmoke 2014

Hawgsmoke is a biennial worldwide A-10 bombing, missile, and tactical gunnery competition. Hawgsmoke is an intense competition and an opportunity to share in the camaraderie and fellowship of the world’s premier Close Air Support fighter, as well as legacy of its pilots and support crews.Hawgsmoke traces its heritage of the now discontinued "Gunsmoke" event. Gunsmoke was the USAF's air-to-ground gunnery and bombing competition with multiple airframes held at Nellis AFB. The last Gunsmoke event was held in 1995.

The inaugural Hawgsmoke was in 2000 at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan. It was hosted by the Michigan ANG's 172nd Fighter Squardron from Battle Creek. Four-ship teams of airplanes and pilots from A-10 units around the world flew and competed for the honor of being the 'Best of the Best' in ground attack and target destruction.
Traditionally, the winning team is honored by hosting the next competition. Since the 357th FS here finished in first place in 2012, Davis-Monthan AFB was selected to host the 2014 Hawgsmoke competition

The 357th Fighter Aquadron hosted 14 A-10 Thunderbolt II teams from around the world for Hawgsmoke, July 9-12 on Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. Before the competition started, pre-positioned cameras and acoustic panels were set up to accurately calculate each pilots score. Each pilot was given the same amount of ammunition and was scored on their execution of A-10 maneuvers, as well as their accuracy with the high, medium and low-angle strafes.

The winner of the 2014 Hawgsmoke competition was the 47th Fighter Squadron, an Air Force Reserve Command unit based at Davis-Monthan and under the operational control of the 924th Fighter Group.