A-10A JAWS Schemes
Part Two
A-10A 75-258 & 75-260

by Dana Bell

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This part of our look at the A-10 JAWS schemes deals with aircraft 75-258 and 75-260, the two JAWS-scheme aircraft which actually didn't participate in Exercise JAWS II. Aircraft 258 was delivered from Fairchild's Farmingdale plant to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, in November 1975. It was considered the first production aircraft, though it was built to preproduction standards. 260 was accepted on the last day of the year, the second-to-last A-10 delivered from Farmingdale.

Both aircraft were delivered from in an overall ghost gray, though there is some dispute over which gray was used. Air Force records insist that they were painted 36375 Light Ghost Gray, while Fairchild factory drawings assert they were 36320 Dark Ghost Gray. Perhaps it's a minor point, but modelers will note that the original camouflage shows through in several places (particularly the leading edges of the ailerons) on 75-258.

In their JAWS camouflage schemes, 75-258 wore a base coat of tan 30227, and 75-260 wore gray 36213. Both were then spotted with dark green 34092, olive green 34102, and brown 30118. Both aircraft later showed touch-ups of a darker, unidentified olive green.

European photographers may also remember 75-258 as one of the two spotted A-10s seen the UK and Germany in the spring of 1978. Although I ended up with about three dozen detail shots of this aircraft, there were nowhere near enough photos to attempt a "spot-by-spot" drawing of the scheme. The photos shown here will give a feel for the general layout. 75-260 was even more elusive, being "unavailable" for detail photography (allegedly wrecked).

The last article in this series will have drawings and photos of 75-259.

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	The left side of 258's nose - note the pilot's name (MAJ STALLARD), crew chief's name (A1C SPIESS), and Dark (or Light) Ghost Gray paint showing through the scratches.
	258's dorsal formation light was replaced with a formation/rearward flood light, placed aft of the UHF/TACAN antenna. The light (standard on all A-10s after 76-512, and retrofitted to most earlier aircraft) illuminated the engine nacelles for night refueling.
	Left fin
	Left wing
	This is the upper surface of the left wingA new leading edge section was originally gray. Again note the original camouflage showing through scratches under the wing
	By the time the Air Force photographer moved to the upper surfaces, the gray panel had been repainted with a fresh dark olive green
	The nose of 258 shows the original radar-warning antenna forward of the open nose gear bay.
	Note the X-band radar antenna mounted atop the right vertical fin.
	Right engine pod
	Right wing root and mid-fuselage
	Right wing
	Uneven fading gives the false impression that the national insignia has been over-sprayed; in fact, it was all black. A black-stenciled 57th FWW insignia can be seen above the star. Note also that the spots bleed over the edges nose gear door, but would not match the lower fuselage with the gear retracted.
	Beneath the right wing, the upturned aileron (deceleron) shows its original camouflage along the leading edge.
	Scratches along the leading edge and other panels show the original camouflage and yellow primer
	The only decent photo I have of 75-260 shows the gray base to its camouflage scheme. Note the original formation light between the two dorsal antennas. 75-258 is parked to the left.

Artwork and Text Copyright © 2001 by Dana Bell
Photographs Copyright © United States Air Force
Page Created 03 June, 2001
Last updated 17 September, 2002

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