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Hawgsmoke traces its lineage to 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, hosted by the Michigan ANG’s 172nd Fighter Squadron. Colonel Cliff Latta is credited with initiating Hawgsmoke; which is now a biennial worldwide A-10 bombing, missile, and tactical gunnery competition.
This tournament is a unique and intense challenge for Hawg Drivers as each squadron pits its best pilots against the same tactical situation in order to find out who is truly the best. It is also an opportunity for the pilots and support crews to share in the camaraderie and legacy of the world’s premier close air support fighter.
The “last” Hawgsmoke was in 2024 in the great state of Arizona, at the Termites.
HAWGSMOKE 2022 PROMO VIDEO
Video courtesy of the 124th Wing Public Affairs.
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