the pennsylvania air national guard's 103d fighter squadron of the 111th fighter wing, became the first a-10 ang unit to deploy directly to afghanistan. from december 2002 to january 2003, the 111th fighter wing deployed personnel and sent its aircraft to bagram air base, afghanistan to carry out ground support missions for both united states as well as afghan northern alliance ground forces. in march 2003, the 104th fighter squadron of maryland's 175th wing deployed to afghanistan. while there, it flew all the a-10 combat missions for operation enduring freedom.