Partners in sky, on land, at sea

by Senior Airman Clayton Lenhardt
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

9/4/2013 - KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- American and Korean F-16 Fighting Falcons took off from Kunsan Air Base on a friendship flight mission in the skies over Gunsan, Republic of Korea, Aug. 14, 2013.

Colonel S. Clinton Hinote, 8th Fighter Wing commander, led the U.S. Air Force aircraft while Col. Min-Oh Seo, 38th Fighter Group commander, led the ROK air force jets. The flight showcased the partnership and communication shared between the two air forces at Kunsan.

"It is an honor to fly with our ROKAF partners," said Hinote. "This friendship flight is a meaningful symbol of the deep, ongoing relationships we have with Colonel Seo and the 38th Fighter Group."

Embodying the partnership, the F-16s flew around several landmarks in the Gunsan area in different formations with both Hinote and Seo leading the way.

Seo agreed that the flight was a meaningful representation of the commanders' attitudes towards combined operation capabilities.

"The flight was not merely a ROK-US combined flight, but was more of a representation of the will of commanders of the 8th FW and 38th FG to enhance realistic combined operation capabilities, and we firmly believe it could serve as a role model for ROK-US combined fighting power," said Seo.

Seo believes the combined flight was meaningful training since both the 8th FW and 38th FG witnessed the possession of excellent combined air operation capabilities.

"We could successfully complete the mission if we needed to fight tonight," said Seo. "This flight also reaffirmed a solid alliance between the 8th FW and the 38th FG, both of which play a pivotal role in protecting the sovereign skies of the Republic of Korea."

Just as they fly in tandem in the sky, both commanders also agree when it comes to their combined mission capabilities.

"We will continue flying and training together," Hinote said. "If we have to, we will be able to fight and win together."