8th fighter wing wolfpack
Robin would go on to shoot down a total of four MiGs during 1967, and the Wolf Pack downed a total of 24 enemy aircraft under his command between January 2, 1967 and September 23rd that year. Memorabilia at Fagen Fighters WWII Museum. It was the start of the most impactful and far-reaching assignment of his 30-year USAF career. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by 1st Lt. Cameron Silver), Dr. (Maj.) Joshua Dalzell (left), 8th Healthcare Operations Squadron (HCOS) pharmacist, assists Staff Sgt. Washington quickly ordered him not to lead any more missions over North Vietnam and Robin, in turn, did not want to be sent home to endure the hoopla of getting his fifth MiG and becoming an "Ace". All military members live on base in dormitories. ) . We enjoy friendships at a personal level while providing for the collective defense of the peninsula and the region. Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea -- Members of the Wolf Pack bid farewell to Col. John Wolf 2 Caldwell, 8th Fighter Wing vice commander after completing his The legend of WebU.S. The 80th Fighter Squadrons vision is to lead the combat air forces as the most lethal fighter squadron of motivated, expertly trained warriors focused on the defense of the Republic of Korea, in order to maintain regional stability in the Pacific. (Capt.) During the early morning BOLO briefing on January 2nd, 1967, Robin Olds, inspired by his WWII group commander, Col. Hub Zemke and his notorious 56th FG Wolf Pack, urged his 8th Wing pilots with a rallying cry, "Go get 'em Wolf Pack!". It was during this period that a new 5,000ft runway was built. The airmen, nicknamed the Badgers, have frequently been active in the region since 2004. Conversion to the F-4 Phantom II started in 1967 and the squadron was moved from Yokota AB to Kunsan AB in 1971. On September 30, 1966, Col. Robin Olds took official charge of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon RTAFB, near Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. This was done from Itazuke Air Base, Japan. Feel free to contact us using the form below: Late October, its around 70F and slightly foggy. 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. It was here that the squadron converted from the P-51 to the F-80. The TSP demonstrated the U.S. commitment to stability and security in the region but also ensures that the Wolf Pack remains ready to Fight Tonight. Original material featuring air forces from around the world, High quality photographs tell the visual story. December of 2017 saw their biggest cooperated air exercise so far. It is part of the Pacific Air Forces, headquartered at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Different deployments of the United States Air Force frequently visit South-Korea. The F-100s were eventually replaced by F-105 Thunderchiefs in 1963 and the squadron moved to Yokota Air Base, Japan. The Squadron flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon out of Kunsan Air Base and is assigned to the Wolf Pack (8th Fighter Wing). The following day, a cartoon appeared in newspapers around the country, showing LBJ holding his fainting Official Vietnam Line, admonished by a scolding, heavily-medaled and mustachioed old fighter pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by 1st Lt. Cameron Silver), Dr. The Squadrons first active combat mission was flown from Port Moresby, New Guinea, on July of the same year. The Badgers took part in two large-scale exercises during their three months in Korea, working together with the active 80th & 35th FS. New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, Special Purpose Military Aircraft Gallery, Kunsan Air Base: The Den of the Wolf Pack, About the presence of U.S. forces at Kunsan, the 8th FW Commander Col. David. 8 (Robin Olds) . It was here that the squadron converted from the P-51 to the F-80. The 80th Fighter Squadron was activated during WWII, in 1942, as the 80th Pursuit Squadron at Mitchell Field, NY. This goes to show the tension and threat, something that I certainly felt during my time at Kunsan. Approximately 250 Airmen and 12 F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 120th Fighter Squadron from Colorado Air National Guard Base were stationed here. Forces in May of 2017. As the squadron was re-designated the 35th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) and moved to Mitchell Field, N.Y., they started flying the P-40 Warhawk. WebThe 8th Fighter Wing "Wolf Pack", comprised of the 35th Fighter Squadron "Pantons" and the 80th Fighter Squadron "Juvats", performs both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions The lab at the 8th MDG is uniquely trained in lifesaving emergency blood procedures and detection of bioterrorism agents in support of wartime operations. Four F-16s take to the South Korean skies with afterburners. The cumulative losses forced the North Vietnamese Air Force to ground their remaining aircraft, reassess tactics and retrain crews for four full months. Our goal is the same: peace on the peninsula. Contents of this website may not be used without prior written permission. WebFind 8th Tactical Fighter Wing - Wolf Pack unit information, patches, operation history, veteran photos and more on TogetherWeServed.com. The 8th TFW pilots (mostly in their early to mid-twenties) looked with distrust at this "old" guy who hadn't flown combat since WWII. Lt. Col. Elisa Bones Hammer, 8th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron commander, checks in on a group of Airmen from the bio-environmental engineering (BEE) flight at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 25, 2023. Peter van den Berg is from Coevorden, Netherlands. The 80th was stationed at various bases during the battle for Korea, where it remained in continuous combat during the entire conflict. 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 The Trojan Horse ruse of Operation BOLO succeeded in downing seven MiG -21s in a fierce aerial battle lasting twelve minutes. The Robin Olds Factor; Air Force magazine June 1, 2008. https://www.airforcemag.com/article/1198sweep/, https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001329821/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-010.pdf, https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0608olds/. 38 70 . It was, upon its return to the United States, demobilized during the American disarmament. They have also been stationed in The Netherlands, East Indies and the Philippines. This is done to provide a deterrent against threats for both security and stability in the region. Such language is typical in North Korean propaganda because the country claims US-South Korean drills are preparation for invasion. "The Bad Boy Commander of Operation Bolo" by Don Hollway, https://www.historynet.com/bad-boy-commander-operation-bolo/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_vietnammag&fbclid=IwAR17gJAgwiaEG6Phyc-gDIMcVFSYYapttd8Z3f7OF8JIrf64prMQ_SKMusA, Today in Aviation History: Operation Bolo, https://warbirdsnews.com/warbird-articles/today-in-aviation-history-operation-bolo.html, Aces & Aerial Victories, US Air Force in Southeast Asia 1965-1973:https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001329821/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-010.pdf, The Robin Olds Factor; Air Force magazine June 1, 2008.https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0608olds/. 8th OSS forecasting the fight. As mentioned, its first combat base was in New Guinea, after which it moved through Borneo and the Celebes Islands. The 80th continues to support the United States in Korea with the same pride and excellence instilled in the squadron from the Headhunters of the past. Due to close cooperation of both ROKAF and USAF forces, their capabilities have improved exponentially. 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. Its heritage dates back as far as June of 1917, when the unit was established as 35th Aero Squadron. In November, 1966, the 8th TFW hosted a tactics conference designed to bring combat pilots throughout SEA together to exchange information and foster teamwork. 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 is one of two MiG pilots avoided engaging the powerful, heavily armed and more maneuverable F-4s. The 35th Fighter Squadron, one of two fighter squadrons assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing, the Wolf Pack. 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. It was in 1981 that the 80th became the first overseas squadron to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon. In December, Robin brought over his former Director of Operations from the 81st FW at RAF Bentwaters, Col. Daniel "Chappie" James, to be his DO, and later, vice-wing commander at Ubon. The squadron accounted for 225 enemy aircraft destroyed during the course of the war, receiving 10 battle honors and three Distinguished Unit Citations. Martina Shannon-Young, 8th OMRS mental health technician, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 25, 2023. Post war, the squadron moved to Itazuke AB, Japan. Its mission includes air interdiction, close air support, In the spring and summer of 1966, before the arrival of Col. Robin Olds, the 555th and the 476th Tactical Fighter Squadrons joined the 8th TFW. Established in Japan shortly after WWII, the 8th Fighter Wing went through varying operations as fighter-interceptor and fighter-bomber wings, first providing air defense for the islands and then flying combat missions during the Korean War. By Senior Airman Shannon Braaten, 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea -- Members of the Wolf Pack bid farewell to Col. John Wolf 2 Caldwell, 8th Fighter Wing vice commander after completing his fini-flight at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 25, 2023. Regardless of the location of the 8th FW F-16 assets, Airmen at the 8th OSS weather flight continue to support the Wolf Packs flying mission. It was in September 1974 that the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing was assigned to Kunsan Air Base. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/change-of-command-49712/. On April 8, 2022, the 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, said goodbye to its aging C-130H aircraft. Now the wing is working to transition to providing MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter training, bringing together Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Global Strike Command and Air Force Reserve Command for the first time. Together they formed a legendary team known as "Blackman and Robin". The pilots surged out of the briefing toward their waiting F-4s and ground crews with new fervor and a brand new identity. After photographing many military exercises in Europe over the years, Peter decided to spend the last 15 years visiting Asia and the USA. Theres not much going on, which is fairly unusual for an Air Force Base at 8 a.m. Only a few vehicles arrive and depart, some of them being thoroughly checked. (Operation BOLO) Wolf Pack( ) . WebThe nickname of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing -- the Wolfpack -- fit Robin Olds aggressive style. The pilots surged out of the briefing toward their waiting F-4s and ground crews with new fervor and a brand new identity. She became the first to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon in 1981, together with its sister squadron; the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Olds had flown 152 missions, 105 of them over North Vietnam. Generations of U.S. Air Force members have aspired to become members of the Wolf Pack (8th Fighter Wing), to be stationed at Kunsan and for the opportunity to get after the mission with our ROK brothers and sisters. To quote the 176th EFS Commander: In order to provide you with the best possible experience on our website, we use cookies. It is equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art ordnance. 70 . (Train Together), (Fly Together), (Go Together), An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. The 80th Fighter Squadron, one of two fighter squadrons assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing. Weve developed our ability to train and fight together through RED FLAGs and our Peninsula-wide exercises MAX THUNDER and VIGILANT ACE. Robin Olds, leading the first of three flights of F-4s, scored the first MiG of his tour. Beyond the initial distribution of medication, the pharmacys mission is comprised of several programs such as walk-in treatment for acute issues expedited by a pharmacist after a brief visit, smoking cessation and assisting Airmen with translating and filling prescriptions from off-base providers. Re-designated the 35th Fighter Bomber Squadron, it entered combat as the Korean War began. MiG pilots avoided engaging the powerful, heavily armed and more maneuverable F-4s. The legend of The Wolf Pack had begun. It was in 1981 that the 80th became the first overseas squadron to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The Armys 2nd Battalion, the 1st Air Defense Artillery, consists of the Charlie and Delta missile batteries. The squadron moved to Okinawa in August 1944, where it saw immediate action, flying missions against the Japanese mainland. The squadron started flying F-100s after the Korean War had ended. 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. Rotational Deployment in Korea of the U.S. Air Force Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing was completed on November 8, 2017. They were joined by 79 Squadron of Royal Australian Air Force, flying top cover for the Wing in F-86s. , . It scored the final American aerial victories of the war on the 14th of August, 1945. Seventh Air Force falls under Deployment to Kunsan of over 180 airmen from the 115th FW, 176th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, was realized in early August of 2017. 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. It is tasked with conducting air-to-ground and air-to-air missions with the 45 F-16s that are assigned to the wing. Hundreds of aircraft including two dozen stealth jets began training as the United States and South Korea launched a massive combined air force exercise. WebThe United States Air Force 8th Fighter Wing (8 FW) is the host unit at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea and is assigned to Seventh Air Force. 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. WebThe Official Website of the 908th Airlift Wing. The 80th flew its final combat mission of WWII in August of 1945, during which the squadron commander was shot down. When U.S. forces left Korea in 1949, the base was turned over to the Republic of Korea Air Force. The 8th Medical Group is tasked with managing the medical clinic, offering flight & general medicine, dentistry and military public health services. Other associate units that operate from the Air Base, amongst others, are the American Red Cross, Army Contracting Command Korea, American Forces Network-Korea, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 613 and the U.S. Army 25th Transportation Battalion. The 8th Operation Group trains and equips the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons (nicknames: Pantons and Juvats) in order to conduct air-to-ground and air-to-air missions. The 8th Fighter Wing wears its heritage proudly: the famed Wolf Pack of Robin Olds. The mental health clinic is made up of both officers and enlisted personnel, who can teach and treat patients under their commissioned counterparts licenses. But if called upon to defend our neighbors and allies, may God have mercy on the Wolf Packs prey.- Col. David G. Shoemaker. For training purpose with the 80th FW, multiple of their F-16s were present at Kunsan Air Base during my visit here. The meeting with President Lyndon Johnson was tense, as the combat weary colonel said, "Sir, with all due respect to you as my Commander-in-Chief, get us the hell out of this god-damned war!" A warm welcome was felt in a time of heightened tension. The 35th flew the P-12, PB-2, A-17 and P-36 out of Langley Field, Virginia. This includes intermediate level aircraft maintenance, component repair and maintenance training. The airmen, nicknamed the Badgers, have frequently been active in the region since 2004. Olds had flown 152 missions, 105 of them over North Vietnam. The legend of the maverick Robin Olds had been fully born. 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. 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 BSC and all that they bring to the fight. From this time forward, the 8th Fighter Wing became known as the Wolf Pack. Flying the P-39, it scored its first victory within a month when it engaged and destroyed six enemy aircraft. OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) -- After receiving the first phase of one of the largest modernization efforts in U.S. Air Force F-16 program history, an upgraded The Wing remained in Japan through the Cold War, briefly relocated to George AFB, CA in 1964, and then moved to Ubon RTAFB, Thailand in December, 1965. The 8th Fighter Wing renders a salute during the 8th FW change of command at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, June 1, 2021. About the presence of U.S. forces at Kunsan, the 8th FW Commander Col. David. Sofia Shank, 8th Healthcare Operations Squadron lab and ambulance services flight commander, handles blood samples at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 25, 2023. The Kunsan physical therapy office treats musculoskeletal conditions to include sports injuries, chronic issues and postoperative rehabilitation. Sudden media attention became focused on the 8th TFW and Robin Olds following Bolo. Redesignated the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing and flying USAF's newest fighter aircraft, the F-4C Phantom, the wing joined other USAF, Navy and Marine bases in the SEA theater flying combat missions to North Vietnam. He regularly writes books for Veldhuis Media Group. . All rights reserved. Air Force Chief of Staff, General John P. McConnell, ordered him to shave off his mustache before starting his new job as Commandant at the Air Force Academy in order to be a proper influence on cadets. A variety of Air Base Groups and Squadrons operated and maintained the base in the decades after the Korean Conflict. So, he obeyed orders in his own fashion, by choosing to fly within a flight of F-4s, not leading as #1, and he passed off MiGs he spotted for his flight members to down. 8 (Wolf) . G. Shoemaker once mentioned: The ironclad alliance between the US and Republic of Korea is evident in everything we do. Chris Drager (left), 8th Healthcare Operations Squadron physical therapist, guides a patient lifting weights at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 25, 2023. . Wolf Pack tail no. Here at Kunsan Air Base, we train with the 38th Fighter Group of the ROKAF. As the family left together in an Air Force staff car, Robin was informed he had to report immediately to his boss in the Pentagon, followed by a visit to the White House. (For detailed description of Operation Bolo, see: MiG Sweep by Walter Boyne, November 1, 1998 Aforementioned 3rd Bombardment Wing returned to Japan at the end of the Korean Conflict. 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). Later the same week, Wolf Pack F-4s again engaged the enemy, knocking down another two MiGs. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by 1st Lt. Cameron Silver), Maj. Brock McNabb (left), 8th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron (OMRS) mental health flight commander, laughs with Tech. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by 1st Lt. Cameron Silver), Dr. Robin arrived on September 23, 1966 to find squadrons demoralized by mounting losses of pilots and aircraft due to enemy MiG forces, surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries, heavy concentrations of anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) units and multiple early warning radar systems. Sgt. Following the wars end, they moved to Fukuoka Air Base in Japan to fly the P-51 Mustang. 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. This was the start of several Air Force units stationing at Kunsan AB. 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. It was in 1972 when the 35th moved to Kunsan Air Base to fly the F-4 Phantom. WebKunsan Air Base is home to the 8th Fighter Wing which is known as the Wolf Pack, a nickname given during the command of Colonel Robin Olds back in 1966. The 8th Fighter Wing consists of four groups, each carrying the responsibility for the wings operations, maintenance, support & medical functions.