page_title: 8th Fighter Wing
section_title: Twenty-first century
hierarchical_section_title: 8th Fighter Wing / History / Twenty-first century
caption_attribution_description: English: An 80th Fighter Squadron F-16D Block 40G Fighting Falcon flies Oct. 21, 2010, in support of training exercise Max Thunder 10-02.
context_page_description: 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. 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.
context_section_description: 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.
  An inspection in November 2008 faulted the wing's adherence to technical orders and standards of documentation. As a result, on 10 November 2008 Colonel Bryan Bearden was removed as wing commander.
  Today 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 with a few of its functions being Security, Civil Engineering, Communications, Personnel Management, Logistics, Services and Contracting support. The Medical Group provides medical and dental care. The Morale of the 8th Fighter Wing has been a controversial topic in the 21st Century. Most former members of the "Wolf Pack" have been diagnosed with "overwhelming saltiness" by other member of the USAF. An unofficial motto of the 8th fighter Wing is "This is Where Morale Dies"
  Wing Staff Agencies
  8th Comptroller Squadron (8 CPTS)
  8th Operations Group (8 OG) (Tail Code: WP)
  8th Operations Support Squadron (8 OSS)
  35th Fighter Squadron (35 FS) (F-16C/D, Blue tail stripe)
  80th Fighter Squadron (80 FS) (F-16C/D, Gold tail stripe)
  8th Maintenance Group (8 MXG)
  8th Maintenance Squadron (8 MXS)
  8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (8 AMXS)
  8th Maintenance Operations Squadron (8 MOS)
  8th Mission Support Group (8 MSG)
  8th Civil Engineer Squadron (8 CES)
  8th Security Forces Squadron (8 SFS)
  8th Force Support Squadron (8 FSS)
  8th Logistics Readiness Squadron (8 LRS)
  8th Mission Support Squadron (8 MSS)
  8th Communications Squadron (8 CS)
  8th Medical Group (8 MDG)
  8th Medical Operations Squadron (8 MDOS)
  8th Medical Support Squadron (8 MDSS)
caption: 8th Fighter Wing Block 40 F-16D in training exercise.
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