Combat Story (Ep 10): Vince "Snapper" Sherer Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" Fighter Pilot
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
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Vince “Snapper” Sherer is a retired Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt “Warthog” fighter pilot. Over a 20 year career, he flew 300 combat missions and logged 1,300 combat flight hours in the A-10 and MC-12 across four deployments to Afghanistan.
Vince supported troops in contact at danger close range, at times without a wingman, over a decade of evolving combat and technological change. He’s the personification of the A-10 pilot and gives an inside look at what combat felt like from the cockpit.
0:00 Intro.
1:57 - Call sign “Snapper” comes from the Sensitive New Age Pilot moniker (Urban Dictionary link).
4:57 - The inspiration to fly came from time with a sibling and watching Top Gun.
7:02 - A key tragic and defining moment with a significant accident in the family.
10:32 - Flying for the Navy or Air Force?
12:22 - Competition and path to get from college into the aircraft you want.
22:17 - Stereotype of the “Hawg” (A-10) pilots, F-16s, F-15s, etc.
24:20 - Hardest part of his Air Force career at Sheppard AFB.
27:22 - First flight in the A-10. “The better your preparation, the less your anxiety.”
31:50 - T-38 second hardest aircraft to land in the Air Force (hardest is the U-2).
33:24 - How to do a checkride in a single-seat aircraft?
36:52 - First combat flight was September 2005 in Afghanistan in a Squadron led by now Senator Martha McSally.
40:40 - Normal weapons load in combat on an A-10.
42:49 - A standard engagement planning and execution.
51:22 - First engagement while supporting a convoy that hit an IED in southern Afghanistan in Winter 2005.
57:01 - Engagement in 2014 on fourth deployment supporting Wing Staff at Bagram AFB and flying with 303rd Fighter Squadron from Kansas City.
1:01:01 - Near fratricide incident in combat until something didn’t feel right.
1:07:11 - Carrying an American flag on each flight.
1:09:34 - Being in a unit with the first female A-10 Fighter Squadron Commander who flew in combat (Martha McSally).
1:13:32 - Advice on when to start flying in your life.
1:15:21 - Would you do it again?
1:16:39 - A great story about an A-10, a photograph, and the “south end of an unneutered bulldog.”
1:19:51 - “I was so fired up that I got to go fly a jet again one more time.”
Great interview. And yes, we in internet land always click on A-10 vids. Thank you for your service gentlemen.....
Much appreciated!
Wanna thank you guys.. I was one of those grunts on the ground.. always loved to see you both!
Fantastic! Why is it that A10 pilots always have the most down to earth attitude and the best stories? It seems like their community is full of great characters. Great interview , especially loving the Charles Bronson look!
Their behavior matches their plane.
They're down to earth because gun runs are low altitude!
Seriously, I'm guessing it's because they operate in the middle of the fray directly supporting troops on the ground.
I imagine being able to see your people right below you imparts a sense of responsibility to do whatever you can to bring them home.
...And you know those troops on the ground will do anything to save your ass if your plane goes down.
It's comraderie in arms at it's finest.
Bless both of you guys. Air assets for a grunt on the ground is like having the hand of god on standby. We really felt naked without air. Thank you guys for what you did🇺🇸
Robert O'Neill quote about call a A-10 for support during Operation Red Wings.... "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, EXCEPT a A-10 because a A-10 WILL JUST FUCKING KILL YOU!!!
That comparison of the A-10 to a square body and the trainer to a viper was so legit. Definitely could feel the different sensations in my mind.
Thanks for keeping my 6 safe. Had a MI
tank company in Iraq . 3rd ACR IstSgt.
Your team helped getting all my men home.
Go HAWG! Just the sound of that old bird sends goosebumps all over. When Vince off hand says " a show of force" he's breezing right over a spectacle of a higher power. They'd cruise over the battlefield ( village or whatever), bank or roll in , really low with throttle open fly over and then abruptly pull up and bank. That engine noise is unreal! That worked many times, I'd run away too. I can't imagine trying to take cover from that gun. God bless the pilots and all our Veterans.
A 10. My favorite plane. Awesome interview. Love this A 10 guy. I flew on Alaska airlines with a pilot that flew them. Felt safe. He said she was an awesome bird.
So true. We loved seeing those beasts flying in Afghanistan.
This guy still sounds nervous and uneasy while telling his stories. Thanks again guys, I enjoy these a ton! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
A-10 pilot who references the Contra code.....salute to you sir
Ground forces (of which I was one) L O V E the A10 and their pilots!
Great interview. Love the "Col Robin Olds" style 'stache. I was stationed at RAF Alconbury UK in 1990 and we had two squadrons of A-10s up until the first Gulf War. Both squadrons left for the war and never returned being relegated to Stateside Guard and/or Reserve units post Desert Storm.
Cool to hear stories from a pilot, even better when you know the pilot. Great interview!
Glad you enjoyed it! And so true!
You mentioned the a10 drivers out of Whiteman AFB. They are awesome to watch doing gun practice at Ft. Leonard Wood Mo. and they like to fly low and show off a little at Lake Of The Ozarks. The a10 needs to stay operational
Absolutely love the A-10 Warthog it's the greatest air-to-ground fighter jet ever made and the pilots who do that s*** or f****** unbelievable and you're f****** mustache is proof in the pudding. Thank you for what you did for us on the ground you guys f****** help us out so many times it's on f****** believable Rangers lead the way brother
I was helo crew chief in the Marine Corp, which was cool because I didnt have to hump a pack, I got to fly and shoot shit...but I aint gonna lie, I was always jealous of the Hawg guys. What a magnificent killing machine. That cannon is the sound if freedom.
I love the pilot to pilot excitement going on here
When he's dropping loads he goes brrrrrrrrt brrrrrrrrtttt
Vince was just an awesome guest. I would buy this guy steak and lobster and drinks all night just to hear him talk. About anything for that matter. Seems like epitome of Work Hard/Play Hard. Would love to see you have him on again.
Great hosting as well Ryan. Very engaging. Genuine reactions. Taking notes. That’s awesome. Asking questions that really interested me. Training steps and timelines for such. Many hosts breeze over that and just want to hear about the heroics. The road to the heroics is just as interesting. I think it helps to have a host that’s been a military aviator. Top shelf Ryan.
Great video! Thank you both for your service!🇺🇸
Passed this one up a couple times thinking eh, what could he say about an a10 mission that I haven’t already seen or checked out already, but glad I did! Awesome dude! Love his attitude and the stories he chose to tell. Especially about not taking the shot on yellow smoke n double checking. Whew... really good interview... as always...
Ryan great work here so far and thanks for your and your guests’ service.
What a badass! Great interview!
Really appreciate it! And totally agree he's a bad ass!
Ahhhh! Ya got me-‘ooh an A10 story, click’….I’m gonna listen to ALL the stories but, yeah, gotta love the A10.
Snapper with the secret nintendo Contra code...........love it!! thanks guys for your service
What a super interview! A genuine good guy with an interesting story!
This is a bad ass channel!
The moon story made me laugh..... pre 9/11 a fighter pilot was on his retirement flight.... when he was given his salute by the crew chiefs they all ran out of the back of the truck.... pants at their knees and undershirts over the faces and saluted.... full frontal level stuff. Pilot saluted back....
well... someone saw and got upset..... pilot landed.... got called into the office and they demanded he identify them.... he said basically “I would be happy to but only saw genitals so you would have to have all of maintenance come in and drop their pant’s”. They said “we can’t do that”. He said I know and walked out the door.... that was the end of it.
I absolutely dig Vince and totally love his style.
Dude is for sure a 80's baby he knows the contra 30 man trick.
Great interview! Getting insight on stuff like this is hugely popular these days. I wish your channel success and hope for more content!
Thanks so much! I just wrapped up three interviews this week actually (SF/Rangers, MARSOC/Delta, F-16s) so that's coming soon. I appreciate the kind words and couldn't agree with you more.
Super interesting, our military is awesome. These stories bring it home.
Thank you for your service! A10s are the coolest fighter. We lived in the flight path of a pair of A10s that flew over our house every sunday going from one National air guard base to another. Their last flight they came in tree top level and the second plane rolled over and flew inverted and waves to my son. He would stand out there every sunday to wave to the A10s. He was so excited to see those A10s every sunday.That was the coolest thing ever. He was 9 when it happened and still talks about it today!
Good one and as a guy who owes his life to a Hog and Apaches nothing sounds cooler than that engine/gun combo
Excellent, thank you!
He looks a LOT like the late great Col. Robin Olds.
Very good interview. 👍👍❤️
Loved it.
Good job Ryan
awesome! A10 ROCKS !
Brilliant
Hands down the best interview yet. So much good energy
Ryan, this was a real nail biter. Keep 'em coming!
Great Show.
I was doing training at a camp in 05 at camp atterberry in Indiana and we would kick back and watch the A-10s do gun runs in this little valley while we did our training sleeping in tents attacking mock up villages.
Another Great interview. Thanks Ryan. Vince is an awesome dude! 👍
these fighter pilots stuff is 🔥🇮🇹🇺🇸
Agreed. Makes me even more impressed with the fixed wing community.
❤️ The SNAP‼️
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!! Awesome 😎 interview! Love the A-10.
Great show.how did he get that A-10 in his office? What a character,he'd be a grand lawn dart partner.
What a great interview! Love your questions and some of the detailed answers. Really enjoyed when Vince was reenacting the radio chatter. Almost like you were inside of a football huddle.
My favorite...... a10 fckn aye respect indeed GODbless
I went through USAF UPT at Randolph AFB 1969/70 and received a T-37 instructor's slot back to Randolph in January 1971. For a few months, I flew with Iranians then the UPT portion of the base mission was closed and I was transferred to Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX to train in the German/American program. I also flew with many Vietnamese also being trained there. At the time it was just a job but it did allow me to fly a fully acrobatic, very forgiving, jet aircraft. It also allowed me to really learn to fly. My follow on assignment was to NKP in Thailand in the OV-10 but that ended just after my first flight in that aircraft. The war was winding down and canceled all the captains in that class. My next aircraft was the C-130 stateside. before leaving the USAF in 1976 and moving the family to Colorado. I have not flown since but looking back, those several years at Sheppard were some of the most rewarding ones in my career. I was charged with taking new pilot training recruits from walking to being proficient in the AC and going on to the T-38. All of the students I trained to fly ended up graduating from the T-38, At the time I did not realize the impact I was having on their chosen careers and lives, I changed my career path too. I now consider my vocation as an adult educator. My father served as a medical officer on a destroyer in the Pacific during WW2. My oldest son is a retired US Army Lt. Col and served in Iraq and Afghanistan and many other places in the world. His four children are now all serviing as young officers in the US Army. The oldest, Alicia, is a captain flying the Apache and did a short tour in Afghanistan in her chopper. STORY - While on a T-38 two-ship training flight from Randolph to Denver in 1970, I looked over at lead with the IP in the backseat and noticed he had been able to pull his flight suit down enough to show us a pressed ham. That was before cell phones so there is no photo of the event. stevebatty.wordpress.com/2012/04/18/my-usaf-pilot-wings-3/
Good. If you can do the requirements then gender doesn't matter. I don't care who is overhead as long as you provide ground support.
Fascinating stuff fellas. Great interview
Do you need an AC-130 guy to interview?
Yes.
100% yes!
Oh hell yes!
Yes!
You need to interview C.W. Lemoine, and Jim "Skid" Marks
Wonderful interview. Ryan start your kid on gliders to learn. Maybe that will lower your anxiety of them flying.
@25:00 Vince talks about 'old school' training being abandoned and a new way of training is what's being used now days. Well, I went through my Basic training March of 1966, went through the ranks NCO 1969, OCS the summer of 1970, OBC at Ft. Sill the fall 1970. Old School worked then and it works today BUT the liberals (sorry, politics!) have stuck their noses into the mix and think a kinder, gentler manner is 'BETTER'. We'll see how well this new, better way of training works one day won't we. You and Vince went through training that was competitive, weeded the weak from the pack and left ONLY those who really wanted the job. We'll see.
Awesome story. I've been telling my granddaughter about Killer Chick. want her to join the service so bad!!
My mustache goes burrrrr
Are there any actual ground troops that are glad to see the A10 go away? This decision made solely by politicians (including generals) and manufacturers. Close air support will never be the same!
I love A10s !!
Portland represents! Great Job Vince. No bad guy wants to hear “BRrrruuup…”! If they don’t, well Too Late.
I see many hair styles on your stuff Ryan. From the old hippie like me to the shaved. Reminds me of this good looking guy; 'God made a lot of heads, he covered the ugly ones with hair'.
when you asked about at what angle he had to fly the plane to be able to see the ground forces and where he was going to bomb, and you said that it would have to be a steep angle, it sounded like you think that while flying the plane to get the SA that he would be looking out the front windshield. what the pilots are taught is to look out the side window, they would fly their plane 45-90 degrees off of the target to get the SA and find where they need to attack and when they get to the right spot you roll they plane a little over 90 degrees and pull. it will put you right on course to drop or strafe exactly where you need to.
the awesome ability of the modern updated a10c is that even if you are the first to show up once you find the location of the baddies you can put a mark or what is called the cake which is your sensor point of interest, so once you attack when you are lining back up you will be able to use your mark point to align back up. it is very difficult in the urban environment to keep track of everything. another fantastic ability of datalink is if you have ground forces that have it like apc, tanks and even infantry can have a node( like the jtac or radio guy can carry them, unfortunately every solder cant or doesnt carry it yet ) you can see them with the helmet mounted cueing system.
This guy have a shaved head with sideburns?!? Haha hell yeah!!
Only just noticed the fake background the A10 pilot is rocking. Great interview regardless
Get the kids started with Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the USAF.
crazy how low tech they were in 2005. scary low tech with friendlies within rifle range of the target.
That was like a lot of other things in the military. You had to do your best with the tools at hand. In combat situations, you didn't really have time to be too picky.
299 combat missions. I guess the support 1 makes it an even 300
Yeah they want their answer or not your answer
Hey Ryan- enjoy your channel, this one in particular, but I had a question: With a last name of Fugit, rumor has it that your own call sign was "FUCK It". Can you confirm?
A10 dropping flares on Phoenix and people thought it was ALiens😮
Yeah and look up for that golden bb
#Brrrrrtttttt!!!!
Oh yeah!
It would be an honor to buy you two a beer, 1-26 appreciates you
Why does flying at 500 feet burn fuel faster? Is it to do with air density or something?
"... you got to be responsible and not put yourself in scenarios where you get hurt... " ... So, you become an A-10 fighter pilot?
*haha* Thats what i thought. But i guess i know what he meant
.
Brrrrrrrrttttt!
WE NEED NICHOLAS IRVING AKA NICK THE REAPER ON HERE
Flying tank for close in ground support .
You move your lips when other people talk? Or is that why you got the pen right by them to help with the visual effects? ;)
Brrrrrrrrttt
Sexy airframe. This, the 71, and f4are bonerama.
Good stuff some of his answer bout lol'd myself to death
Where do I find that photo 😂
So true! I'm afraid to see it but it's got to be worth $1M bucks!
What's the deal with the pilots head? Is that some disguise or something? Lol 🤣
RYAN, THIS IS ANOTHER CASE OF THE PILOT BEING " BY HIMSELF " WHERE ARE THE AWACS ??
Is it just me or is that a bald Chris Pratt?
r/Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt
(16 Rs)
Chair force doesn’t count 😅