8th Operations Group

The 8th Operations Group is a United States Air Force combat aviation organization assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing and operating under Pacific Air Forces. Based at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, it provides the wing's principal flying capability and maintains fighter forces prepared for air defense, counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and suppression of enemy air defenses. Its present structure includes the 35th Fighter Squadron, known as the Pantons, the 80th Fighter Squadron, known as the Juvats, and an operational support squadron. The fighter squadrons operate Lockheed Martin F-16CJ aircraft carrying the WP tail code and use distinctive blue and yellow tail markings respectively. The group is the modern successor to the 8th Pursuit Group, a lineage that reaches back to aviation units activated during the First World War. Its predecessor squadrons were associated with the 33rd, 35th, and 36th Aero Squadrons, which were later consolidated into the 8th Pursuit Group. The group was placed on the inactive list in 1923, redesignated several times during the interwar period, and activated in 1931. During the 1930s it trained with aircraft including the Consolidated PB-2, Curtiss P-6, Boeing P-12, Seversky P-35, Curtiss P-36, Bell P-39, and Curtiss P-40. It also took part in air exercises and equipment testing. A notable prewar experiment occurred in October 1940, when 24 of its P-40s took off from the aircraft carrier USS Wasp in a test of Army aircraft operating from a Navy carrier. In 1940 the group moved to Mitchel Field, New York, for metropolitan air defense. After the United States entered the Second World War, it was redesignated the 8th Fighter Group and sent to the Southwest Pacific. The unit reached Australia in 1942 and operated mainly P-40s before later receiving P-38 Lightning aircraft. Its combat record included operations around Port Moresby, Milne Bay, New Guinea, New Britain, the Admiralty Islands, the Philippines, Borneo, and Japan. It provided fighter cover for Allied landings, escorted bombers, attacked airfields and shipping, and supported ground forces. The group participated in nine campaigns, received two Distinguished Unit Citations during the wider Second World War period, and was credited in official historical accounts with producing 27 fighter aces and destroying 449 enemy aircraft. The 8th also has a major Korean War legacy. It began combat operations on 26 June 1950 by covering the evacuation of United States personnel from Seoul and entered sustained action immediately afterward. It became associated with several early or record-setting achievements, including being the first United States Air Force unit committed to the conflict, the first USAF jet unit in combat, and the first USAF unit to destroy an enemy aircraft in the war. Across the conflict, its personnel flew more than 60,000 sorties and the organization earned campaign streamers, Republic of Korea citations, and a Distinguished Unit Citation. Major Charles J. Loring of the 80th Fighter Squadron was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for deliberately directing his damaged aircraft into an enemy artillery position in November 1952, enabling endangered United States infantrymen to withdraw. The group was inactivated in 1957 after postwar air-defense and strike duties in Japan and Korea. It was redesignated the 8th Tactical Fighter Group in 1985 while inactive, then redesignated and reactivated as the 8th Operations Group in February 1992. Since that reactivation it has been responsible for the 8th Fighter Wing's flying operations at Kunsan. Unlike a commercial brand, it has no independent ownership, sales activity, public listing, or consumer product portfolio; its identity is institutional and military, expressed through lineage, heraldry, combat honors, squadron traditions, and operational readiness.

The lineage of the 8th Operations Group is rooted in the American military aviation expansion of the First World War. The 33rd, 35th, and 36th Aero Squadrons were activated in 1917 at Camp Kelly, Texas, and later formed part of the lineage that became the 8th Pursuit Group. The group was authorized on the inactive list in 1923, redesignated in 1926, and activated on 1 April 1931. During its early years it supported air-mail-route operations, training, reviews, maneuvers, and aircraft and equipment trials. A 1932 reorganization brought the 33rd, 35th, and 36th Pursuit Squadrons together at Langley Field, Virginia. At Langley, the group transitioned through several generations of aircraft, including the PB-2, P-6, P-12, P-35, P-36, P-39, and P-40. In October 1940, 24 group P-40s participated in a pioneering test involving takeoffs from USS Wasp. In December of that year the group moved to Mitchel Field to help defend the New York metropolitan area. Its organization changed repeatedly as squadrons were transferred to other theaters or used to form new units. The 80th Pursuit Squadron was activated in January 1942, shortly before the group entered wartime service. On 15 May 1942 the organization became the 8th Fighter Group and deployed to Australia for operations in the Southwest Pacific. The 35th and 36th Squadrons fought around Port Moresby and Milne Bay, while the 80th later operated in New Guinea. The group initially flew P-40s and subsequently equipped part of its force with P-38 Lightnings. From 1943 through the end of the war it escorted bombers, protected convoys, attacked airfields and shipping, and supported amphibious and ground operations across New Guinea, New Britain, the Admiralty Islands, Borneo, the Philippines, and Japan. Its wartime record included nine campaigns, two Distinguished Unit Citations, and a large number of credited enemy-aircraft victories. After Japan's surrender, the organization remained in the Far East as part of the occupation force. It flew P-51D Mustangs for regional air defense and converted to F-80C jet fighters in 1948. It was redesignated the 8th Fighter-Bomber Group in 1950 and entered the Korean War on 26 June, covering the evacuation from Seoul and beginning combat the next day. The group conducted air-cover, interdiction, close-support, and air-superiority missions from Korean and Japanese bases. It flew more than 60,000 sorties during the war and became associated with several early USAF milestones, including the first USAF jet combat operations and the first USAF aerial victory of the conflict. Major Charles J. Loring was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for an attack that sacrificed his damaged aircraft against an enemy artillery position near Sniper Ridge. The group continued postwar air-defense and quick-reaction duties in Japan and Korea until it was inactivated on 1 October 1957. It was redesignated the 8th Tactical Fighter Group in 1985 but remained inactive. On 1 February 1992 it received its present designation, and it was activated on 3 February as the operational component of the reconstituted 8th Fighter Wing. At Kunsan Air Base, the modern group operates F-16CJ-equipped fighter squadrons and an operational support squadron. Its role is to preserve combat readiness and provide deployable tactical-air capability for Pacific Air Forces and the defense of the Korean Peninsula.

• 1992

  Present-day group activated

  [1]8th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 8th Operations Group was activated on 3 February as the flying component of the 8th Fighter Wing.

• 1957

  Inactivated after postwar service

  [1]8th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 1 October following postwar air-defense and strike duties.

• 1950

  Korean War combat begins

  [1]8th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group covered the evacuation from Seoul and began combat operations in the Korean War.

• 1942

  Redesignated and deployed to the Pacific

  [1]8th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit became the 8th Fighter Group and deployed to Australia for Southwest Pacific combat operations.

• 1940

  P-40 carrier takeoff experiment

  [1]8th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Twenty-four group P-40s took off from USS Wasp in an Army-Navy aviation experiment.

• 1931

  8th Pursuit Group activated

  [1]8th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was activated and began duties involving training, maneuvers, reviews, and air-mail-route operations.

• 1923

  Lineage authorized on the inactive list

  [1]8th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was authorized as the 8th Pursuit Group on the inactive list.

• 1917

  Predecessor aero squadrons activated

  [1]8th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 33rd, 35th, and 36th Aero Squadrons were activated at Camp Kelly, Texas, establishing important elements of the group's later lineage.

A combat-ready United States Air Force fighter group focused on forward-based air operations, deterrence, and rapid employment in the Korean Peninsula and Indo-Pacific region.

• Multirole fighter aircraft

  Lockheed Martin F-16CJ Fighting Falcon

  The group's current fighter squadrons operate F-16CJ aircraft configured for tactical air missions. Their duties include counter-air operations, air superiority, interdiction, close air support, and suppression of enemy air defenses. The aircraft carry the WP tail code associated with the 8th Fighter Wing and are operated by the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons.

• World War II fighter aircraft

  Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

  The P-40 was the principal fighter used by the group during its early Southwest Pacific combat operations in 1942 and early 1943. The aircraft performed air defense, escort, ground-attack, and strafing missions under difficult conditions in Australia and New Guinea.

• World War II fighter aircraft · 1943

  Lockheed P-38 Lightning

  Elements of the group transitioned to the P-38 in 1943. Its range and twin-engine design supported the group's long-distance escort, attack, and fighter operations across the Southwest Pacific.

• Postwar fighter aircraft · 1946

  North American P-51D Mustang

  Following World War II, the group used P-51D aircraft for air-defense duties in Japan before converting to jet aircraft.

• Early jet fighter aircraft · 1948

  Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star

  The group converted to F-80C jet fighters in 1948 and used them during the opening and subsequent years of the Korean War. The aircraft supported the group's air-cover, interdiction, and close-support missions.

• 1992

  Reconstitution as an operations groupStrategy

  Background

  The United States Air Force reorganized its combat wings and restored an operational group structure after the earlier inactivation of the historic fighter group.

  Action taken

  The inactive 8th Tactical Fighter Group was redesignated the 8th Operations Group and activated as the flying component of the 8th Fighter Wing.

  Aftermath

  The group resumed an active operational role at Kunsan Air Base and has continued to provide fighter readiness for Pacific Air Forces.

  Source

• 1942

  Shift from pursuit defense to fighter combat operationsStrategy

  Background

  With the United States engaged in global war, the group's mission changed from peacetime pursuit and defense duties to offensive and defensive fighter operations.

  Action taken

  The organization was redesignated the 8th Fighter Group and deployed to the Southwest Pacific.

  Aftermath

  It became a major combat unit in the Pacific, supporting Allied landings, bomber escorts, ground forces, and attacks on enemy airfields and shipping.

  Source

1. 18th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Factsheet: 8 Operations Groupafhra.af.mil