Kunsan Air Base, located in the Republic of Korea, is home to the 8th Fighter Wing, known as the Wolf Pack. WebU.S. Their major goal: Making the 8th FW & 7th AF commanders feel that they were a viable asset and of great support to the active duty squadrons. Public health officers manage programs that focus on the following: food safety and public facility sanitation, disease surveillance and prevention, force health management and medical readiness, vector surveillance and entomology, and occupational and environmental health. Nicole Saulovich-Rogan (top), 8th Healthcare Operations Squadron physical therapist, provides care to a patient at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 24, 2023. In mid-January 1967, increasingly frustrated by missions planned and ordered by the White House and Pentagon brass back in Washington, Robin decided to grow a mustache deliberately out of limits, knowing it would inflame his bosses and inspire his crews. From this time forward, the 8th Fighter Wing became known as the Wolf Pack. Block 40 F-16s were received in 2000, these aircraft carried Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pods, enabling the Wolf Pack to take the fight into the night. The 8th Fighter Wing consists of four groups, each carrying the responsibility for the wings operations, maintenance, support & medical functions. 1966 . The Trojan Horse ruse of Operation BOLO succeeded in downing seven MiG -21s in a fierce aerial battle lasting twelve minutes. Both meetings were contentious. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by 1st Lt. Cameron Silver), Capt. This was the start of several Air Force units stationing at Kunsan AB. Just win it!" 8th Fighter Wing KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- This week across the Air Force, Jan. 23-27, is Biomedical Sciences Corps (BSC) Appreciation Week, a week to highlight the men and women who comprise the When the 80, In the period leading up to the Vietnam Conflict, the 80th was one of the first units to send pilots and planes to Thailand where they would fly missions against North Vietnam. This ranged from striking the enemys front line to missions deep behind the lines to hit supply routes, bridges, build-ups and heavy troop concentrations. 8th Tactical Fighter Wing - Wolf Pack - Air Force Unit Directory Its mission is to deliver lethal airpower when and where directed, including interdiction, close air support, counter air, air superiority and suppression of enemy air defenses. Vincent Antwi, 8th HCOS pharmacy technician, in taking inventory at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 25, 2023. Special thanks to Kunsan AFB Public Affairs for making this visit possible. Even though operations differ between National Guard, Reserve and active duty units, the advantage for the 176th turned out to be experienced instructor pilots. The first airbase where he photographed was Soesterberg, Netherlands where the 32 TFS was stationed with the F-15. It stands ready to conduct counter-air, air interdiction and close air support in both day and night conditions. 38 70 . KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea Although aircraft assigned to the 80th and 35th Fighter have left Kunsan for the duration Its mission includes air interdiction, close air support, Kunsan AFB and its 8th FW is home to more than 2,800 active-duty personnel, mostly U.S. Air Force (2750) but also U.S. Army (185), U.S. DoD civilians (28), Korean nationals (450) and family members (50-100). Martina Shannon-Young, 8th OMRS mental health technician, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 25, 2023. Conversion was completed in 2001. As part of a reorganization program, the 80, Re-designated the 35th Fighter Bomber Squadron, it entered combat as the Korean War began. We enjoy friendships at a personal level while providing for the collective defense of the peninsula and the region. It is one of two The 8th Maintenance Group is tasked with the daily flying and maintenance operations. The Badgers took part in two large-scale exercises during their three months in Korea, working together with the active 80th & 35th FS. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by 1st Lt. Cameron Silver), An official website of the United States government, SLIDESHOW | 0 images | BSC: Looking after the Wolf Pack, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. He regularly writes books for Veldhuis Media Group. The mental health clinic at Kunsan has implemented a frontline care strategy to be more accessible to base personnel by meeting them where they work. The first assigned aircraft wing at Kunsan was the 3rd Bombardment Wing, on August 22, 1951. Its mission is to be prepared to execute immediate air combat operations against any aggressors threatening the United States or the Republic of Korea. Deployment to Kunsan of over 180 airmen from the 115th FW, 176th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, was realized in early August of 2017. Post war, the squadron moved to Itazuke AB, Japan. The war games came a week after North Korea test-fired its most powerful missile ever, an ICBM that may be able to target the eastern seaboard of the United States. The legend of the maverick Robin Olds had been fully born. This was the first of over 200 victories ever since. It was part of the Indo-Asia-Pacific Theater Security Package (TSP) which, on a routine basis, deploys fighter aircraft to the U.S. Pacific Command and Pacific Air Forces. December also began the planning for Operation BOLO, a tactic to disguise flights of F-4s as F-105s, which were flying bombing missions so routine (as ordered by Washington) that North Vietnamese MiGs and SAM missles easily shot them out of the sky. It scored the final American aerial victories of the war on the 14th of August, 1945. The 80th flew its final combat mission of WWII in August of 1945, during which the squadron commander was shot down. 908th Airlift Wing > Home 8 . With Kunsan maintaining a constant state of readiness, these professionals are extra sharp in delivering trusted care, improving the 8th Fighter Wings health and underwriting the Wolf Packs lethality. All rights reserved Aviation Photography Digest, 2023. Its not like any other base that Ive visited, less relaxed maybe. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter and get notified when new articles are published. It was later re-designated the 8th Fighter Wing in 1992. Copyright 2012-2023 Aviation Photography Digest. Seventh Air Force falls under The unit was, among others, based in Australia and New Guinea. The 8th Fighter Wing serves as the bases host unit and falls under the Seventh Air Force at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The lab at the 8th MDG is uniquely trained in lifesaving emergency blood procedures and detection of bioterrorism agents in support of wartime operations. Members of the Air Force bioenvironmental engineering career field work to ensure healthy and safe working conditions for Airmen through the management and monitoring of various programs such as industrial hygiene, radiological health and environmental protection. Pictured here are revetments and F-4s of the 8th TFW at Ubon, The 8th Medical Group is tasked with managing the medical clinic, offering flight & general medicine, dentistry and military public health services. TWS is the largest online Hammer is a BEE officer by trade and now leads one of the two squadrons containing biomedical service corps personnel at the 8th Fighter Wing.