Acknowledgements: The author wishes
to thank Col David Shoemaker, Capt Chris
Mesnard, 1st Lt Brittany Curry and Mi Chang for
their assistance with this feature.simpler for us here. We know the threat
is to the north.
‘In the future, we will remain ready
to support combat operations if called
upon. This means ying with our Korean
partners and exercising to ensure [we]
have the con dence that we can go
to war as an e ective ghting force
at a moment’s notice. It also means
integrating with forces in the region, as
we’re seeing now with the incorporation
of fth-generation aircraft in ‘Vigilant
Ace 17’. We’re conducting the same
mission, but we’re doing it in a much
more focused manner.
‘The 8th Fighter Wing wears its
heritage proudly — the famed ‘Wolf
Pack’ of Col Robin Olds is the most
tight-knit, lethal unit in the USAF.
As diplomatic e orts in the region
continue, we take very seriously our
responsibility to provide our nation’s
civilian leadership with military options.’
The F-16 is a workhorse in this region,
but the integration of fth-generation
ghters into exercises here is vitally
important. Having these military options
available is designed to be a means of
reassurance for South Korea, the US
and in fact the entire world. The last 12
months have seen some of the highest
tensions experienced during recent
generations — peace and security
issues are felt more keenly here than
anywhere else.Clockwise from
far left: F-35As
operated from
Gwangju during
‘Vigilant ACE
2017’.
Sang Ho Chang
‘Wolf Pack’
F-16s operate
from hardened
aircraft shelters
at Kunsan. This
is a ‘clean’ 80th
FS ‘tub’ (two-seat
F-16D).
Stefan Goossens
The standard
gesture from a
‘Juvats’ pilot is
a ‘crush ‘em’ —
obligatory for any
taxiing USAF pilot.
Stefan Goossens
Below: The
partnership with
RoKAF squadrons
is of great
importance, and
training alongside
fi ghters such as
this KF-16C is vital
on a day-to-day
basis.
Stefan Goossenshttp://www.combataircraft.net // April 2018 75
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