8th Fighter Wing: Difference between revisions
→Origns: edited and expanded |
→Korean War: edited and expanded |
||
| Line 175: | Line 175: | ||
=== Korean War === |
=== Korean War === |
||
On 25 June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, starting a war that would last three years. As the war in Korea began, the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing was the first fighter wing to fly combat missions, providing air cover for the evacuation of Americans from Korea on 26 June, the day after the invasion. In these early operations, the wing flew the F-80 Shooting Star jet fighter and propeller driven aircraft such as the F-51 Mustang and F-82 Twin Mustang. |
|||
When war broke out on the Korean Peninsula June 25, 1950, the 8th FBW became the first air unit committed to the conflict and the first American jet wing to fly combat missions during wartime. The wing provided air cover for the [[evacuation]] of [[civilians]] from [[Seoul]], 26 - [[28 June]] [[1950]], then conducted [[interdiction]] and [[close air support]] missions. The [[Military tactics|tactical]] group and its [[squadrons]] moved to South Korea on [[11 August]] 1950, while the wing remained in Japan and assumed [[Military operation|operational]] control of other combat units. Wing and group reunited on [[1 December]] 1950, performed a variety of missions, including some [[Strategic bombing|strategic bombardment]], air cover for bombers, armed [[reconnaissance]], and low-level bombing and [[strafing]] for interdiction and ground support. |
|||
The wing had various squadrons attached to it during the first months of the war in addition to the 35th, 36th, and 80th Fighter Squadrons. This first aerial victory of the Korean War went to 1Lt William G. Hudson, of the 68th Fighter All-Weather Squadron (attached to the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing), in an F-82. Later the same day, 35th Fighter-Bomber Squadron F-80s scored the Air Force's first confirmed kills from jet aircraft. In August, the wing briefly reverted to the F-51 Mustang, returning to the F-80 in December 1950. |
|||
| ⚫ | The 8 FW is known for the heroic actions of its members, including Major Charles J. Loring, a pilot in the 80th FS, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 22, 1952 when he flew his badly damaged F-80 aircraft into an enemy artillery emplacement near Sniper Ridge so that entrenched U.S. Infantry men could escape. During the next three years, the 8th flew more than 60,000 sorties while operating from bases in both Korea and Japan. The wing participated in 10 campaigns and earned three unit citations. |
||
Throughout the war, the wing principally conducted air-to-ground operations, providing close air support to United Nations ground forces and attacking targets such as supply centers and transportation assets. |
|||
| ⚫ | The 8 FW is known for the heroic actions of its members, including Major Charles J. Loring, a pilot in the 80th FS, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 22, 1952 when he flew his badly damaged F-80 aircraft into an enemy artillery emplacement near Sniper Ridge so that entrenched U.S. Infantry men could escape. During the next three years, the 8th flew more than 60,000 sorties while operating from bases in both Korea and Japan. The wing participated in 10 campaigns and earned three unit citations. |
||
The wing finished the war flying the F-86 Sabre and became responsible for air defense over South Korea until relocated to Itazuke Air Base, Japan in October 1954. Its wartime participation in Korea earned the wing two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations and ten campaign streamers, while the 8th Fighter-Bomber Group separately earned a Distinguished Unit Citation. During the war in Korea, the 8th shot down 18 enemy aircraft, most in the earliest days of the war before the wing's mission changed to air-to-ground operations. |
|||
=== Cold War === |
=== Cold War === |
||
Revision as of 03:33, 5 July 2007
| 8th Fighter Wing | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 April 1931 - Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Air Force |
| Part of | Pacific Air Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Kunsan Air Base |
| Nickname(s) | Wolf Pack |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Jeffrey Lofgren |
| Notable commanders | William W. Momyer Robin Olds |
The United States Air Force 8th Fighter Wing (8 FW) is the host wing at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The wing is assigned to the Pacific Air Forces Seventh Air Force.
Mission
- DEFEND THE BASE
- ACCEPT FOLLOW-ON FORCES
- TAKE THE FIGHT NORTH
Units
The 8th Fighter Wing is composed of four groups each with specific functions. The Operations Group controls all flying and airfield operations. The Maintenance Group performs Aircraft and Aircraft support equipment maintenance. The Mission Support Group has a wide range of responsibilities but a few of its functions are Security, Civil Engineering, Communications, Personnel Management, Logistics, Services and Contracting support. While the Medical Group provides medical and dental care.
|
8th Operations Group (8 OG) (Tail Code: WP)
8th Maintenance Group (8 MXG)
Wing Staff Agencies
|
8th Mission Support Group (8 MSG)
8th Medical Group (8 MDG)
|
-
8 FW -
8 CPTS -
35 FS -
80 FS
-
8 OSS -
8 MXG -
8 MOS -
8 MSG -
8 CES -
8 CS -
8 LRS -
8 SFS -
8 SVS -
8 MDG -
8 MDOS -
8 MDSS
History
Lineage
|
|
Note:*** Lineage, honors and history of USAAF 8th Fighter Group bestowed on USAF 8th Fighter Wing, 1952.
Bases Assigned
|
|
Aircraft Flown
|
|
Origns
February 6, 1918, marked the activation of the 8th Pursuit Group at Camp Waco, Texas. By May of that year, the pilots of the 8th were deployed to the World War I Western Front and experienced their first combat in France. The group deactivated at the end of the war and remained as such until April 1931.
In 1931, the 8th was reactivated helped fly the air corps air mail routes across the United States. In addition, the group trained, took part in maneuvers and reviews, and tested planes and equipment.
Initially, the group had two flying squadrons assigned, but both operated from other bases. The 36th Pursuit Squadron flew from Selfridge Field, Michigan, while the 55th Pursuit Squadron operated from Mather Field, California. In June 1932 the group reorganized. It gained the 33rd and 35th Pursuit Squadrons, activated at Langley; the 36th moved from Selfridge to Langley to join the rest of the group. At the same time, the 55th Pursuit Squadron transferred to another group, leaving the 8th with three squadrons.
At Langley the group trained in such aircraft as the PB-2, P-6, and P-12. Over the next several years, the group transitioned to such newer aircraft as the P-35, P-36, P-39, and P-40. Significantly, on 11 October 1940, the 8th Pursuit Group participated in a test designed to compare the take-off runs of standard Navy and Army aircraft. On that day, 24 P-40s from the 8th Pursuit Group launched from the USS Wasp, an aircraft carrier, and returned to Langley Field. That experiment, the first time that Army planes had flown from a Navy carrier, foreshadowed the use of the ship in the ferry role that it performed admirably in World War II.
In December 1941, the group became part of the defense force for the New York metropolitan area. The 33rd Pursuit Squadron transferred to another unit in Iceland in August 1941, leaving the group with two flying squadrons, the 35th and 36th.
World War II
In 1940, the P-40 aircraft became the primary weapon used by the 8th Pursuit Group. When the unit arrived in Brisbane, Australia, in April 1942, three squadrons were assigned: the 35th, 36th and 80th Pursuit Squadrons. Since fighting became the new objective, the unit took on the new designation of the 8th Fighter Group.
In September 1942 the group moved to New Guinea and served in combat in February 1943. Resuming operations in April 1943, the 8th served in the theater through the rest of the Second World War, providing cover for Allied landings, escorting bombers, and attacking enemy airfields. The group supported operations of the Marines at Cape Gloucester, February and March 1944; flew long-range escort and attack missions to Borneo, Ceram, Halmahera, and the southern Philippines; provided cover for convoys; and attacked enemy shipping. The unit won a Distinguished Unit Citation for strafing a Japanese naval force off Mindoro on 26 December 1944. The group went on to cover landings at Lingayen; support ground forces on Luzon; escort bombers to targets on the Asian mainland and on Formosa; and, in the last days of the war, attack enemy airfields and railways in Japan.
After V-J Day, the group remained as part of the occupation force at Ashiya Air Field on the island of Kyushu. Flying P-51 Mustangs , the 8th provided air defense for the Japanese region. While stationed in Japan, the wing changed to the more sophisticated F-80 jet fighter. On January 20, 1950, the wing gained its new designation as the 8th Fighter Bomber Wing.
Korean War
On 25 June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, starting a war that would last three years. As the war in Korea began, the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing was the first fighter wing to fly combat missions, providing air cover for the evacuation of Americans from Korea on 26 June, the day after the invasion. In these early operations, the wing flew the F-80 Shooting Star jet fighter and propeller driven aircraft such as the F-51 Mustang and F-82 Twin Mustang.
The wing had various squadrons attached to it during the first months of the war in addition to the 35th, 36th, and 80th Fighter Squadrons. This first aerial victory of the Korean War went to 1Lt William G. Hudson, of the 68th Fighter All-Weather Squadron (attached to the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing), in an F-82. Later the same day, 35th Fighter-Bomber Squadron F-80s scored the Air Force's first confirmed kills from jet aircraft. In August, the wing briefly reverted to the F-51 Mustang, returning to the F-80 in December 1950.
Throughout the war, the wing principally conducted air-to-ground operations, providing close air support to United Nations ground forces and attacking targets such as supply centers and transportation assets.
The 8 FW is known for the heroic actions of its members, including Major Charles J. Loring, a pilot in the 80th FS, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 22, 1952 when he flew his badly damaged F-80 aircraft into an enemy artillery emplacement near Sniper Ridge so that entrenched U.S. Infantry men could escape. During the next three years, the 8th flew more than 60,000 sorties while operating from bases in both Korea and Japan. The wing participated in 10 campaigns and earned three unit citations.
The wing finished the war flying the F-86 Sabre and became responsible for air defense over South Korea until relocated to Itazuke Air Base, Japan in October 1954. Its wartime participation in Korea earned the wing two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations and ten campaign streamers, while the 8th Fighter-Bomber Group separately earned a Distinguished Unit Citation. During the war in Korea, the 8th shot down 18 enemy aircraft, most in the earliest days of the war before the wing's mission changed to air-to-ground operations.
Cold War
The 8 FW conducted air defense in South Korea, July 1953-October 1954. In 1954, the unit moved back to Itazuke AB, Japan and once again assumed an air defense role. Redesignated the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing on July 1, 1958, it remained in Japan until July 1964. During its tenure in Japan the wing flew a variety of aircraft including the F-86, F-100, and the F-105.
As part of an overall effort to reduce the number of wings in Japan the wing's tactical squadrons were detached on 13 May 1964, and on 18 June 1964 all wing components except wing headquarters inactivated.
Vietnam War
On 18 Jun 1964, the wing moved without personnel or equipment to George AFB California, absorbing resources of the 32d Tactical Fighter Wing. While at George AFB, the wing trained with the F-4 Phantom II fighter aircraft and participated in numerous exercises, operational readiness inspections, and the like until the wing moved to Thailand in December 1965 to commence combat operations in the Vietnam War
For the next seven years, the 8th TFW carried out its wartime mission as it led the way for Air Force units during the Vietnam conflict. Based at Ubon Royal Thai AB, Thailand, the wing carried out a number of roles during combat. By the end of 1966, aircrews assigned to the 8th TFW flew nearly 14,000 combat missions into Vietnam. One of the squadrons assigned to wing, the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, became known as the "Ace" squadron of the conflict. During his tenure from September 1966 to September 1967, Col Robin Olds, Wing Commander, referred to his unit as the "Wolf Pack" because of pilot aggressiveness and teamwork while flying combat missions, much like a pack of wolves, which led to the wing's nickname.
In May 1968, the wing was the first to use laser-guided bombs (LGBs) in combat. During 1970, the Wolf Pack flew its 100,000th combat sortie. During its final years of combat the wing used B-57s for night attacks, AC-130 gunships for ground support and armed reconnaissance, and F-4s for fast-forward air control, interdiction, escort, armed reconnaissance, and other special missions.
After North Vietnam invaded the Republic of Vietnam in March 1972, the 8 FW was augmented by additional F-4 units. To make room for these forces, the B-57 squadron moved to the Philippines.
Between 1966 and 1968, the 8th's primary function involved tactical fighter bombing. With the temporary bombing halt in 1969, attention turned toward interdiction of enemy resources bound for South Vietnam. After North Vietnam invaded the Republic of Vietnam in March 1972 the 8th Wing was augmented by additional F-4 units from the United States. To make room for these forces the B-57 squadron became non-operational and moved to the Philippines.
In December 1972, the 8th became involved in Linebacker II. Designed to make the enemy more serious about the peace negotiations in progress at Paris, France, the 8th TFW launched 524 sorties for bombing missions against North Vietnam between December 18-31, 1972.
Early in 1973, the Wolf Pack mission included air interdiction into Laos against communist insurgents in Cambodia. In mid-1974 action began to phase down Ubon Afld, Thailand, and the wing began to lose personnel, aircraft, and units. The last scheduled F-4 training flight occurred on 16 July 1974,
For its efforts during the Vietnam War, the wing received four Presidential Unit Citations and five Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards. In addition, the wing led the Air Force with 38.5 MiG kills.
Post Vietnam Era
On 16 September 1974 the wing moved without personnel or equipment to Kunsan AB, South Korea, where it absorbed resources of the 3d Tactical Fighter Wing. The 8th then became responsible for air defense of South Korea.
In April 1975 the wing gained an air base squadron at Kwang Ju, often used during numerous tactical exercises. Following the killing of two U.S. Army officers by North Koreans on 18 August 1976, the 8th TFW went on increased alert and was quickly augmented by F-4s from the 12th and 67th Squadrons at Kadena AB, Okinawa. The alert status relaxed on 8 September 1976 and the augmentation forces were released.
On 1 October 1978, the wing gained a third flying unit, the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, based at Taegu Air Base, South Korea. Operations continued unchanged for the next few years, until the wing transitioned from the F-4 to the newer F-16 Fighting Falcon. The Wolf Pack’s transition from the F-4 to the F-16 began with the arrival of the wing’s first F-16 on 29 May 1981. The wing’s first F-16 sortie was flown the following 18 September and, by 19 July 1982, the conversion of the 35th and 80th Fighter squadrons was complete as the last F-4 departed Kunsan. This aircraft conversion made the 8th the first active-duty overseas F-16 wing. On 1 January 1982, the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Taegu inactivated.
For the next ten years the wing used the F-16 to maintain combat readiness for the defense of Korea. While the overall mission remained unchanged, the wing reorganized on 3 February 1992. The wing became the 8th Fighter Wing. Further, the wing adopted a new organizational structure. Under the former tri-deputy system, the wing commander had three deputy commanders, one each for operations, maintenance, and resources. As well, the squadrons were assigned directly to the wing.
Post Cold War
In 1992, the wing adopted a multi-group structure. This reorganization re-activated the 8th Operations Group and assigned it and the 8th Logistics, Support, and Medical Groups directly to the wing. The squadrons were then assigned to their functionally aligned groups.
The 8th Fighter Wing entered a new era in November 2000. On 17 November, the 35th Fighter Squadron received its first Block 40 F-16s. The new aircraft carried Low-Altitude Navigation & Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pods. The 35th completed its conversion in February 2001. The combination of LANTIRN and night-vision goggles has allowed the Wolf Pack to take the fight into the night.