Combat Story (Ep 10): Vince "Snapper" Sherer Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" Fighter Pilot

[@sawtooth4615]

Great interview. And yes, we in internet land always click on A-10 vids. Thank you for your service gentlemen.....

[@CombatStory]

Much appreciated!

[@derekrohan9619]

Wanna thank you guys.. I was one of those grunts on the ground.. always loved to see you both!

[@boggy8557]

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!

[@paulprigge1209]

Their behavior matches their plane.

[@daftpanda6533]

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.

[@fxohare4252]

Thanks for keeping my 6 safe. Had a MI tank company in Iraq . 3rd ACR IstSgt. Your team helped getting all my men home.

[@gtrguy3237]

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.

[@CombatStory]

So true. We loved seeing those beasts flying in Afghanistan.

[@Whitesp44]

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.

[@sysop007]

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🇺🇸

[@Discipline_equals_freedom]

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.

[@heavyizthacrown-5842]

This guy still sounds nervous and uneasy while telling his stories. Thanks again guys, I enjoy these a ton! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@sbeve9820]

Cool to hear stories from a pilot, even better when you know the pilot. Great interview!

[@CombatStory]

Glad you enjoyed it! And so true!

[@earlyprimate]

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.

[@tomeickhorst9890]

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

[@kentgregory3299]

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.

[@briancooper2112]

Great video! Thank you both for your service!🇺🇸

[@rztricky]

Ryan great work here so far and thanks for your and your guests’ service.

[@royshroud9536]

What a super interview! A genuine good guy with an interesting story!

[@andyd9199]

Snapper with the secret nintendo Contra code...........love it!! thanks guys for your service

[@benyoung552]

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...

[@juliefeasal8878]

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!

[@caststudios9254]

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.

[@colinskerrett2346]

I love the pilot to pilot excitement going on here

[@carlfischer4163]

Very good interview. 👍👍❤️

[@mrshoashe]

Ahhhh! Ya got me-‘ooh an A10 story, click’….I’m gonna listen to ALL the stories but, yeah, gotta love the A10.

[@jermichaelphipps178]

Super interesting, our military is awesome. These stories bring it home.

[@gregorymaupin6388]

I absolutely dig Vince and totally love his style.

[@aturboford1]

Hands down the best interview yet. So much good energy

[@chrisculley3756]

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

[@CCaraway]

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!!!

[@MyTruth1771]

This is a bad ass channel!

[@0612Devil]

Great interview! Getting insight on stuff like this is hugely popular these days. I wish your channel success and hope for more content!

[@CombatStory]

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.

[@odan7564]

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!! Awesome 😎 interview! Love the A-10.

[@ChiIeboy]

Ryan, this was a real nail biter. Keep 'em coming!

[@FISHGEEK305]

Good one and as a guy who owes his life to a Hog and Apaches nothing sounds cooler than that engine/gun combo

[@Captain-wc6vj]

Another Great interview. Thanks Ryan. Vince is an awesome dude! 👍

[@mhsvz6735]

Excellent, thank you!

[@martysmith5260]

Ground forces (of which I was one) L O V E the A10 and their pilots!

[@Lordestroyer]

It’s so hard to tell how many lives this guy saved!

[@MoeElliot]

A-10 pilot who references the Contra code.....salute to you sir

[@garymartin9898]

Great Show.

[@Lordestroyer]

Built here in my home town! My uncle was a wing worker. A ground troopers best friend!

[@riffism]

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.

[@bresciano98]

these fighter pilots stuff is 🔥🇮🇹🇺🇸

[@CombatStory]

Agreed. Makes me even more impressed with the fixed wing community.

[@cryptolicious3738]

awesome! A10 ROCKS !

[@jerrymarshall2095]

Great show.how did he get that A-10 in his office? What a character,he'd be a grand lawn dart partner.

[@davewarner7763]

Good job Ryan

[@stevebatty7733]

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/

[@scottbailey3857]

Awesome!

[@christobin3840]

Brilliant

[@stanleywilson2844]

Loved it.

[@jamesshine2033]

Portland represents! Great Job Vince. No bad guy wants to hear “BRrrruuup…”! If they don’t, well Too Late.

[@MrCobb-rq8iv]

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'.

[@derekrohan9619]

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.

[@jamesgriffin5663]

Wonderful interview. Ryan start your kid on gliders to learn. Maybe that will lower your anxiety of them flying.

[@1KDave]

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.

[@1979augistine]

When he's dropping loads he goes brrrrrrrrt brrrrrrrrtttt

[@maytronix7201]

Fascinating stuff fellas. Great interview

[@Jag-alskar-dig]

❤️ The SNAP‼️

[@MkShantrul]

Dude is for sure a 80's baby he knows the contra 30 man trick.

[@wizzardofpaws2420]

Awesome story. I've been telling my granddaughter about Killer Chick. want her to join the service so bad!!

[@benjaminsnoize]

My favorite...... a10 fckn aye respect indeed GODbless

[@jasondelaney6849]

You need to interview C.W. Lemoine, and Jim "Skid" Marks

[@quickdeuce]

@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.

[@derekrohan9619]

This guy have a shaved head with sideburns?!? Haha hell yeah!!

[@md8590]

Only just noticed the fake background the A10 pilot is rocking. Great interview regardless

[@briangrady367]

Do you need an AC-130 guy to interview?

[@heavyizthacrown-5842]

Yes.

[@nicks3350]

100% yes!

[@daledassel5658]

Oh hell yes!

[@edmeds1336]

Yes!

[@waynegriswold8953]

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.

[@dfdemt]

He looks a LOT like the late great Col. Robin Olds.

[@davidbgraham461]

I love A10s !!

[@spxfabien]

Why does flying at 500 feet burn fuel faster? Is it to do with air density or something?

[@joeytapia5856]

My mustache goes burrrrr

[@scottbartlett4853]

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!

[@tommynikon2283]

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?

[@lctjr]

It would be an honor to buy you two a beer, 1-26 appreciates you

[@cenccenc946]

crazy how low tech they were in 2005. scary low tech with friendlies within rifle range of the target.

[@MrGaryGG48]

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.

[@tonyfknb3896]

299 combat missions. I guess the support 1 makes it an even 300

[@danieldoes4568]

Where do I find that photo 😂

[@CombatStory]

So true! I'm afraid to see it but it's got to be worth $1M bucks!

[@ronsouther]

Get the kids started with Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the USAF.

[@boxiest394]

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? ;)

[@Waniac]

What's the deal with the pilots head? Is that some disguise or something? Lol 🤣

[@indy500tabasco8]

A10 dropping flares on Phoenix and people thought it was ALiens😮

[@terialbrett241]

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.

[@asif_es]

"... you got to be responsible and not put yourself in scenarios where you get hurt... " ... So, you become an A-10 fighter pilot?

[@Scoobz187]

*haha* Thats what i thought. But i guess i know what he meant .

[@luthiervandros]

Sexy airframe. This, the 71, and f4are bonerama.

[@lemuelcasillas7572]

#Brrrrrtttttt!!!!

[@CombatStory]

Oh yeah!

[@kingquan2608]

WE NEED NICHOLAS IRVING AKA NICK THE REAPER ON HERE

[@terencewinters2154]

Flying tank for close in ground support .

[@tonysigsby870]

Yeah they want their answer or not your answer

[@tonysigsby870]

Yeah and look up for that golden bb

[@AGfrom83]

Brrrrrrrrttttt!

[@dougstitt1652]

Good stuff some of his answer bout lol'd myself to death

[@DaleKallio]

When you are like me, an intelligent capabable individual combat leader let your combat self lead. I hope that oath is enough.

[@KLeVoyBarnes]

RYAN, THIS IS ANOTHER CASE OF THE PILOT BEING " BY HIMSELF " WHERE ARE THE AWACS ??

[@chrisstengren8995]

Brrrrrrrrttt

[@nickhoags7282]

Is it just me or is that a bald Chris Pratt?

[@F3PIZZA]

r/Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt (16 Rs)

[@rexarnold3950]

Chair force doesn’t count 😅