THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Thunderbolts Active During the Holidays

An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off on an Operation Enduring Freedom mission Dec. 2 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse.)

Capt. Eric Fleming taxies an A-10 Thunderbolt II Dec. 2 on the flightline at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The teeth painted on the nose of the aircraft symbolizes the legacy of the fighter squadron, dating back to the Flying Tigers of World War II. Captain Fleming is the assistant wing weapons and tactics officer and an A-10 pilot. He is deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and hails from Philadelphia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse.)

Airman 1st Class Michael Ward climbs the crew ladder to assist Capt. Eric Fleming get ready for a mission in an A-10 Thunderbolt II Dec. 2 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Captain Fleming is the assistant wing weapons and tactics officer and an A-10 pilot. He is deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and hails from Philadelphia. Airman Ward is an A-10 crew chief deployed from Moody AFB, Ga. He hails from Cincinnati. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse.)

Capt. Eric Fleming performs a preflight inspection of a guided bomb unit-12 on an A-10 Thunderbolt II Dec. 2 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Captain Fleming is the assistant wing weapons and tactics officer and an A-10 pilot. He is deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and hails from Philadelphia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse.)

Capt. Eric Fleming performs a preflight walk-around of an A-10 Thunderbolt II Dec. 2 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Captain Fleming is the assistant wing weapons and tactics officer and an A-10 pilot. He is deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and hails from Philadelphia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse.)

Capt. Eric Fleming prepares for takeoff in an A-10 Thunderbolt II Dec. 2 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Captain Fleming is the assistant wing weapons and tactics officer and an A-10 pilot. The large bubble-style canopy of the A-10 gives the pilot optimal visibility of the ground and surroundings during missions. He is deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and hails from Philadelphia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse.)

Airman 1st Class Michael Ward talks to the pilot of an A-10 Thunderbolt II during engine startup Dec. 2 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Airman Ward helps the pilot by acting as his eyes and ears outside the aircraft to make sure everything is working properly. Airman Ward is an A-10 crew chief deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. He hails from Cincinnati. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse.)