Criminal Defense Attorney in Thunderbolt, GA.

An A-10 Thunderbolt II made a belly landing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, after its pilot declared an in-flight emergency Tuesday during a routine training flight, according to the Air Force.

The A-10C, assigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron at the base, touched down "without its landing gear extended," officials with the 23rd Wing said in a news release.

Photos of the mishap surfaced on the unofficial, but popular Air Force Facebook page Amn/Nco/Snco, showing the A-10 close-air support aircraft resting on its underside on the flight line as airmen and emergency crews responded to the incident.

The pilot, who was the only person aboard the single-seat jet, "was not injured and evaluated by flight surgeons before release," officials said. A spokesperson for the 23rd could not provide additional details, but said base leaders have launched an investigation into the accident.

The A-10 is known for its iconic Gatling gun, which is designed to shred tanks, and its tough titanium armor, which is designed to take hits and keep flying.

The Air Force has 281 A-10s in its inventory (two A-10s were destroyed in a collision in 2017), but has repeatedly stressed it can maintain roughly six of its nine A-10 combat squadrons through 2032.

During the unveiling of the Air Force's fiscal 2021 budget request, service officials announced they have proposed shelving 44 of the Cold War-era ground attack aircraft in order to modernize a combat-capable fleet across seven squadrons.

Air Force Maj. Gen. John Pletcher, deputy assistant secretary for budget at the Air Force's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Management and the Comptroller at the Pentagon, told reporters in February that the retirement will affect "the oldest and least-ready aircraft."

— Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @oriana0214.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Check out a photo gallery of the Blessing of the Fleet.

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The Thunderbolt was a highly acclaimed WWII fighter known for its combat effectiveness. It also had a strong presence in the Georgia Air National Guard after the war when the 128th Fighter Squadron at Marietta Army Airfield was equipped with P-47N Thunderbolts. The 158th Fighter Squadron, activated at Chatham Army Airfield, Pooler, also flew P-47Ns.

The specific aircraft at Airbase Georgia did not see WWII combat, but it was used effectively in Nicaragua and Guatemala in the 1950s. The CAF acquired the aircraft in 1962 but it was heavily damaged in 2012 when it caught fire during takeoff, severely burning part of the fuselage and the right wing.

“We are proud that Airbase Georgia has been selected to restore this important piece of WWII history,” said Airbase leader Joel Perkins. “Our skilled mechanics will restore and replace parts and eventually complete the P-47 by adding an engine and modern avionics. This will require painstaking work, but the final product will be a beautiful, flying warbird that will serve the mission of the CAF, be in demand for airshows around the country, and inspire the next generation of pilots, mechanics and citizens.”

The CAF Airbase Georgia, based in Peachtree City was founded in 1987. The Airbase is one of the largest units of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). The group maintains and flies seven vintage military aircraft including a P-51 Mustang, an FG-1D Corsair, an SBD Dauntless, and a P-63A Kingcobra.

The Airbase, which is composed of more than 400 volunteers, has hosted WWII Heritage Days since 2003. The organization is also a founding partner of the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail launched in 2021. The Airbase is part of the CAF, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that relies on contributions of time and funds to carry out its mission.

For more information, visit https://airbasegeorgia.org/.

About the CAF

The Commemorative Air Force is the world’s largest flying museum, with a fleet of more than 180 World War II-era airplanes assigned to unit locations across the United States. Nearly all of the aircraft are kept in flying condition, enabling people to experience firsthand the sights and sounds of vintage military aircraft in flight. Supported by 13,000 volunteer members, the CAF is dedicated to honoring American military aviation through flight, exhibition, education and remembrance.

Thunderbolt Town Council approved a resolution for the city’s first hotel/motel tax Tuesday in a special called meeting.

The bed tax would allow the town to collect revenue off short term vacation rentals. Town Clerk Deatre Denion estimates that there are about 30 homes, apartment and boats available as vacation rentals.

Thunderbolt is not home to hotels currently, although two bed-and-breakfasts operate in the town. B&Bs are regulated under separate rules.

The excise tax, which was previously marked for up to 8%, was changed to 6% after Chatham County's state legislative delegation showed weak support to a proposal to bump Savannah's hotel/motel tax from 6% to 8%. The delegation asked Thunderbolt Town Council to approve a revised resolution that would match the existing hotel/motel tax of Savannah and other Chatham County's municipalities.

All council members voted to pass the resolution.

Thunderbolt Mayor Beth E. Goette says the revised resolution is expected to pass the Georgia General Assembly.

“We’ve had a tremendous increase in people buying up homes and renovating them and renting them out,” says Goette. “A lot of people come here to visit the view, so we have a lot to offer.”

Thunderbolt’s River Drive borders the Wilmington River, once the shrimping capital of the East Coast, and is now home to several marinas plus Thunderbolt Marine, one of the country's busiest seagoing ship maintenance facilities. North of the city is Bonaventure Cemetery, a popular picnic spot listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A resolution for a hotel/motel tax has been in the works since last year and has been in discussion for even longer. It has not been met with any vocal opposition according to several councilmembers.

However, Drohan acknowledges that, in addition to the extra cost, “it makes what traditionally was a really easy process a bit more complicated.”

“Now you're doing sales tax and hotel/motel tax and you’ve got to do all the filings and all the costs that are associated with doing that,” says Drohan.

Although the extra revenue that will be generated has not been specifically earmarked, the resolution states that “such tax would benefit the Town of Thunderbolt by providing additional revenues for the promotion of tourism, conventions, tradeshows, and tourism product development.”

Typically, bed tax revenues are used for marketing to visitors.

“This was talked about in terms of having funds that would be utilized in terms of helping Thunderbolt to be a more desirable point of visitation,” says Drohan.

Bringing in more tourism would, in turn, benefit the short term rental owners as well.

An ordinance further detailing how the revenue will be used will be drafted after state approval of the resolution.

Cliff Miller walked the timeworn halls of Thunderbolt Elementary School on Sunday afternoon and reminisced with the staff, students and alumni who gathered for a closing ceremony.

"I was in Mrs. McCracken's fifth-grade class right here," he said. "Mrs. McCracken used to let my dog come in and sit with me during the day. Everywhere I went, the dog went, except the lunch room. She wouldn't allow that."

Sixty-one-year-old Thunderbolt School will close at the end of the 2016-2017 school year. Students from the old school in the small fishing village will attend the newly constructed Low Elementary school next year. Passage of an education sales tax extension in 2011 enabled the district to generate $30.6 million to rebuild the Low Elementary campus large enough to accommodate both the Low and Thunderbolt student populations.

The Thunderbolt community came out to say goodbye Sunday.

"This is the only school I've ever gone to and to me it is my family," said Aiden Mason Harvey, a Thunderbolt student.

Thunderbolt's first public school was a one-room school house. When it opened in 1890, there was one teacher with 68 students. Nancy Edinger Hiers remembers when the current school first opened in 1956.

"I was in third grade and Mrs. Carter was my teacher," Hiers said. "I remember coming over from the old school on Mechanics Avenue."

Her cousin Beth Feltovic Toomer lived just across from Thunderbolt School and went to school there from first through sixth grade.

"It was a lot different then," she said. "This gym wasn't here and the library was just an old classroom. I've got certificates for helping to put books away."

Current Principal Susan Ambrose organized Sunday's ceremony like a reunion. Former students were given alumni ribbons. Students decorated the halls with photos and school history details. Classrooms were opened so teachers could reminisce with their past students. Former faculty and staff returned to take one last look at the leaky, flood-prone school they had all grown to love.

Past principals Camille O'Neill, Shannon Floyd, Vicki Bryant and Kim Newman returned for the celebration and Jacob Wilson, III, who was hired earlier this year to serve as principal of the merged Low and Thunderbolt student bodies, attended the ceremony as well.

Thunderbolt parent Elizabeth Powell said she is sad that a school that created so many happy memories is closing, but she is happy the large new Low School will be able to provide even more children with love, care and a firm academic foundation.

Markayla Green ran up and hugged teacher Emily Morgan. She was in Morgan's third grade class when she first started teaching at Thunderbolt.

"Thunderbolt was just what I imagined when I changed careers and went back to school to get a master's degree in special education," Morgan said. "Thunderbolt was just what I imagined teaching should be. There will never be another school like it."