--- title: "The US Air Force really did try to suppress an amazing A-10 video" date: "2018-04-02" modified: "2020-10-21" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/us-air-force-really-try-suppress-amazing-10-video/" categories: - "Air Force" - "Aircraft" - "History" - "Tactical" --- # The US Air Force really did try to suppress an amazing A-10 video ![]() The John Q. Public [blog](), run by retired Air Force officer Tony Carr, came across a video he suspects was produced by the Air Force's Combat Camera units, lauding the A-10, its crews, its pilots, and the capabilities of its support for ground troops. --- "ComCam is perhaps alone in its possession of the unique combination of access and capability to create something this close to the mission with such superior production values," Carr writes. "A ComCam airman risked mortal danger to make this film and tell this story, getting immersed in a firefight along the way (you'll see him drop his camera and hear him discharge his weapon in the video)." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L_TjXXx7eQ Carr published the video, called *Hawg* (above), on his blog's YouTube page and hit more than 935,000 views since it went live on September 4. Its popularity is related to how much the A-10 is beloved by airmen who work and fly the airframe, as well as troops on the ground who need it for close air support. It's also a really good documentary about the A-10's combat role. So why would the Air Force not release it? He suspected the USAF tried to suppress the documentary for political reasons, chiefly the effort by the Air Force to mothball the A-10 in favor of developing the [F-35]() Joint Strike Fighter. He tried to get a statement from the Air Force before releasing it, but received none. After its release, he received a statement from a USAF spokesman explaining the role of Combat Camera and uses of its imagery: *"The documentation was captured by Combat Camera. The primary intent of Combat Camera missions \[is\] to ensure documentation of military activities during wartime operations, worldwide crises, and contingencies. The foundational mission of Combat Camera was achieved. The documentation aided mission assessment. However, the video in your possession never entered the security and policy review process because it was not finalized for any other purpose."* ![]() Carr found another video, a more polished version of *Hawg,* called *Grunts in the Sky*, which contained graphics, music, and credits, which Carr believes is evidence of editorial discretion to get the video through an approval process. That the *Hawg* video includes unblurred faces of USAF JTAC operators and doesn't have name titles of the A-10 pilots interviewed there might be some truth to the official statement, as far as COMCAM is concerned. Carr recently [learned]() from sources inside the Air Force the video was approved through its normal process but once it hit a certain staff level, was shot down. *Officers close to the situation said that the wing commander at Bagram threatened UCMJ action against anyone who leaked the video, going so far as invoking the word "mutiny" in his warning.* The Air Force Public Affairs website describes Combat Camera's mission: "COMCAM imagery serves a visual record of an operation and is of immeasurable value to decision makers in the OSD, Joint Staff, and combatant commands. **COMCAM imagery is also significant for public affairs, public diplomacy and psychological operations.**" Combat Camera imagery is painstakingly reviewed and released (or not) by Public Affairs Officers while in the field and then back at their home units when other products are created from existing imagery. The *Hawg* video would have to have been reviewed before its release, including each clip used in its final form. NOW: BRRRRRT: Congress wants the Air Force to keep the A-10 aircraft that troops totally love OR: [Why the A-10 is the best CAS platform ]() ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()