Hobby Master Archive

On October 1, 1981 as part of Alaska Air Command the 343rd Composite Wing replaced the 5010th as the host unit for Eielson AFB, situated 26 miles north of Fairbanks Alaska. Eielson AFB was named in honor of the polar pilot Carl B. Eielson. On June 4, 1984 the unit was re-designated 343rd TFW. The operational squadron of the 343rd was the 18th TFS “Ice Hawgs” flying the Fairchild-Republic A-10A Warthog. In 1991 the 18th TFS transitioned to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. In June 1991 the Pacific Air Force’s flying training exercise Cope Thunder was held at Eielson AFB due to the fact that Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines erupted forcing the move from Clark AFB. The move was made permanent and in 1993 the 343rd was inactivated and personnel and equipment were transferred to the 354th FW.