Gary "Wolfman" Wolf | A-10 Fighter Pilot

During a close air support mission over Baghdad on 8 April 2003, Maj Gary "Wolfman" Wolf and his A-10 Warthog were struck by an SA-16 MANPADS while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. On the 8th of April 2003, Gary "Wolfman" Wolf was covering an Army convoy across a Tigris River bridge when a shoulder-fired missile took out his right engine over the middle of Baghdad. We go all the way back in this one, from a kid in Elkhart who found aviation in a college catalog to Battle Creek, Bosnia, and that afternoon over the city, and we sit with the actual HUD tape. Again, three A-10s took hits over Baghdad in two days and every pilot came home, and the airplane that brought Gary back is going into a museum in Michigan. Battle Creek Bourbon: https://shop.winglorespirits.com/page... Program and partnership inquiries: https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/ Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @afterburnpodcast   The Lowdown Newsletter: https://www.lowdownnews.us/ Support The Afterburn Podcast for on Patreon and gain early access and AD Free episodes. Plus access to "There I was…" stories.   / theafterburnpodcast   Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple - https://apple.co/3dLradT Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3SAeSUr Afterburn Podcast Links: Website – https://www.theafterburnpodcast.com Patreon -   / theafterburnpodcast   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rainwaters2... Hear from A-10 fighter pilot Gary Wolfman Wolf as he recounts his journey from a blue-collar town to the cockpit. Many pilots have dramatic origin stories, but for Gary, the road to aviation was grounded in humble beginnings in Elkhart, Indiana. In this conversation, we discuss the reality of pursuing a career as a fighter pilot without the typical childhood obsession with flight. It is a candid look at the path to becoming an aviator, stripping away the myths often associated with military service. Whether you are interested in A-10 Warthog operations or simply curious about the life of a military pilot, this interview provides a grounded perspective on the career. Gary shares the honest truth about his upbringing and how he navigated his professional development in the Air Force. If you enjoy authentic stories from the flight line, subscribe for weekly aviation interviews, and let us know in the comments what specific aircraft or pilot roles you want to hear about next. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @afterburnpodcast   The Lowdown Newsletter: https://www.lowdownnews.us/ Support The Afterburn Podcast for on Patreon and gain early access and AD Free episodes. Plus access to "There I was…" stories.   / theafterburnpodcast   Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple - https://apple.co/3dLradT Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3SAeSUr Afterburn Podcast Links: Website – https://www.theafterburnpodcast.com Patreon -   / theafterburnpodcast   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rainwaters2...