USAF and ROKAF F-16s 70th anniversary tail
At the beginning of May 2023, Airmen from the 8th Fighter Wing, normally based at Kunsan Air Base (Republic of Korea), applied a series of decals to their F-16s. This, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the US Republic of Korea Alliance at Osan Air Base (RoK).
At this moment, because of runway repairs at Kunsan, the 8th Fighter Wing has deployed their WP Wolf Pack coded F-16C/D Fighting Falcons to Osan.
The "70" decals have been applied to three Fighting Falcons assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing, and two KF-16Cs and one KF-16D with the Republic of Korea Air Force's (ROKAF’s) 38th Fighter Group, also based at Kunsan. Throughout the duration of 2023, the aircraft will sport the decals, representing the solid alliance at training events and celebrations across the ROK.
F-16s from both nations are set to execute a fly-over on 12 May 2023, during a memorial service in honour of Col. Dean E. Hess, a Korean War hero primarily recognised for the rescue of Korean orphans.
Of note is that on 6 May 2023, a WP coded 8th Fighter Wing F-16CM crashed while carrying out a training sortie out of Osan. Luckily the pilot survived. The F-16 was completely destroyed and its serial is still unknown.
The following USAF 80th Fighter Squadron/8th Fighter Wing F-16CMs are adorned with the special "70" tail: 89-2054, 90-0736 and an unknown example. Also, the following ROKAF 111th Fighter Squadron/38th Fighter Group KF-16Cs have a "70" tail: 93-076, 93-081 and KF-16D 93-112.
Credit photos: USAF