Aerial Warfare

US Air Force 8th Operations Group Conducts Live-fire Training in Kunsan Air Base

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US Air Force 8th Operations Group Conducts Live-fire Training in Kunsan Air Base
US Air Force 8th Operations Group Conducts Live-fire Training in Kunsan Air Base

The U.S. Air Force 8th Operations Group F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots completed live-fire training in the skies over Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, December 1, 2022. During the training, the aircrew demonstrated the F-16 Fighting Falcons maneuverability, targeting and deploying live munitions on simulated adversaries. 8th Fighter Wing personnel continuously train to better their tactics in all areas, allowing the Wolf Pack to play their part in protecting a free and open Indo-Pacific theater.

The 8th Operations Group (8 OG) is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 8th Fighter Wing. It is stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, and is a part of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). During the Korean War, the group was the first USAF air unit committed to combat, first jet unit, first unit to shoot down an enemy airplane, first to fly 255 sorties in one day, first to fly 50,000 sorties in jet warfare, first to fly 60,000 sorties, and first to fly 291 sorties in a single day.

An 8th Operations Group F-16 Fighting Falcon fires an AIM-9 missile at a simulated adversary during a training in the skies near Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Dec. 1, 2022.
An 8th Operations Group F-16 Fighting Falcon fires an AIM-9 missile at a simulated adversary during a training in the skies near Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Dec. 1, 2022. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Sadie Colbert/U.S. Air Force )

The 8th Operations Group is the backbone of the 8th Fighter Wing. The 8 OG is a combat-ready fighter group composed of two deployable Lockheed F-16CJ fighter squadrons (Tail Code: WP), and one operational support squadron. The 8th OG is comprised of the 35th Fighter Squadron (Blue tail stripe) “Pantons”, 80th Fighter Squadron (Yellow tail stripe) “Juvats” and the 8th Operations Support Squadron. The squadrons conduct interdiction, close air support, counter air, air superiority, and suppression of enemy air defense missions

Kunsan K-8 Air Base is a United States Air Force base located at Gunsan Airport, on the west coast of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. It is located in the town of Gunsan (also romanized as Kunsan), about 180 kilometres (110 mi) south of Seoul. Kunsan Air Base is the home of the 8th Fighter Wing, “The Wolf Pack,” assigned to the Pacific Air Forces Seventh Air Force and the 38th Fighter Group of the Republic of Korea Air Force. It is one of two major Air Force installations operated by the United States Forces Korea, the other being Osan Air Base.

US Air Force 8th Operations Group Conducts Live-fire Training in Kunsan Air Base
A two-ship of 8th Operations Group F-16 Fighting Falcons fly during a training event in the skies near Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Dec. 1, 2022. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Sadie Colbert/U.S. Air Force )
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