8th Operations Group

8th Operations Group
Emblem of the 8th Operations Group
Active1931–1957; 1992–present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Nickname(s)Cyclone's Flying Circus
Engagements
  
  • World War II
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (1942–1945)
  • Army of Occupation (Japan) (1945–1952)
  • Korean Service (1950–1953)
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Col. Emmett "Cyclone" Davis
80th Fighter Squadron F-16CJ Block 40D Fighting Falcon 88-0543
35th Fighter Squadron F-16DJ Block 40F 89-2168 and CJs 89-2150 and 88-0504 in formation
Emblem of the World War II 8th Fighter Group
P-40s of the 33rd PS, 8th PG, at Langley Field, Va., in 1941.
P-40 of the 8th Fighter Group, New Guinea, 1942
Sign of the 36th Fighter Squadron, New Guinea, 1943
P-38s of the 38th Fighter Squadron, Mindiro, Filipinos, 1944
Lockheed F-80C-10-LO Shooting Star 49-8708 of the 8th Fighter-Bomber Group, Korea, 1950.
North American F-86F-30-NA Sabres of the 8th Fighter-Bomber Group, Korea, 1953. Serial 52-4877 in front in Wing Commander's colors, 52-4473 alongside.

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).

The group is a direct successor organization of the 8th Pursuit Group, one of the 15 original combat air groups formed by the Army before World War II.

During World War II, the unit operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater as part of Fifth Air Force. 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. During the course of World War II in the Pacific, the 8th participated in battles in Port Moresby, Nadaab, Owi, Zamboanga, the Philippines, Minadoro, Ie Shima and Japan. The Group participated in nine campaigns and received two Distinguished Unit Citations. The 8th spawned twenty-seven "Aces" and accounted for destroying 449 enemy aircraft during World War II.

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. The Group added eleven streamers to their flag, two Republic of Korea citations, and another Distinguished Unit Citation.