Air Force Lt. Col. John “Karl” Marks stands in front of an A-10C Thunderbolt II on Sept. 1, 2021 at Whiteman AFB, Mo. Marks reached a historic 7,000 hours in the A-10C and is the longest flying A-10 pilot to date.
Marks’ resume boasts thirteen combat deployments in multiple theaters of operations, and he said that the best part of his job is being able to “mentor and fly with the next generation of fighter pilots.”
Marks’ story spans over three decades, beginning during the Cold War. He is well-known for destroying 23 Iraqi tanks in a trio of missions.
“I love flying the A-10,” said Marks. “Even after 32 years, it hasn’t gotten old. The technology has changed over time and our adversaries’ threats have also changed. You can’t sit still. You have to adapt and improve.”
“Karl achieved 7,000 hours in a single aircraft type – what an incredible feat!” said Brig. Gen. Mike Schultz, 442d Fighter Wing Commander. “He has been leading the Air Force in this platform for a long time. He is an outstanding attack pilot; he loves to fly, and his knowledge is an invaluable resource for the squadron. If you stick around on a Friday afternoon, you may even hear a war story or two.”
“7,000 hours. 3,610 sorties. 358 combat sorties in the A-10…just incredible” said Lt. Col. Ryan Hodges, 303rd Fighter Squadron commander, as he presented Marks’ 7000-hour plaque. “No words can describe the caliber of leader and fighter pilot we have in our squadron.”
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https://theaviationgeekclub.com/a-10-pilot-who-destroyed-23-tanks-in-one-day-during-operation-desert-storm-reaches-a-historic-7000-hours-in-the-warthog
https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2766529/fighter-pilot-reaches-historic-milestone-7000-hours-in-the-a-10c/
