8th Fighter Wing

8th Fighter Wing
35th Fighter Squadron F-16DG Block 40F 89-2168 and CGs 89-2150 and 88-0504 in formation.
Active1948–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleTactical Fighter
Part ofPacific Air Forces
Garrison/HQKunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
Nickname(s)Wolf Pack
EngagementsKorean War(1950–1953) War in Vietnam (1965–1973)
DecorationsPresidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel Peter Kasarskis
Vice CommanderColonel Jason Monaco
Command ChiefChief Master Sergeant Nathan Chrestensen
Notable
commanders
William W. Momyer
Chesley G. Peterson
Robin Olds
Patrick Gamble
Mark Welsh
Gary North
Philip M. Breedlove
Burton Field
Robin Rand
Charles Q. Brown Jr.
John L. Dolan
E. Daniel Cherry
Insignia
8th Fighter Wing emblem (approved 3 July 1952)[1]
Tail CodeWP

The United States Air Force 8th Fighter Wing is the host unit at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea and is assigned to Seventh Air Force. Seventh Air Force falls under Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). The Wing's 8th Operations Group is the successor of the 8th Pursuit Group, one of the 15 original combat air groups formed by the Army before World War II.

Established in Japan after World War II in 1948, the wing flew combat missions throughout the Korean War. Redesignated the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1958, it remained in Japan until 1964. After a year in California, it moved to Southeast Asia, where its F-4 Phantom II crews earned the nicknames "MiG killers" and "bridge busters". In 1974 the wing relocated to Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, where it was redesignated the 8th Fighter Wing in 1992.

  1. ^ Robertson, Patsy (6 February 2015). "Factsheet 8 Fighter Wing (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2016.