Exercise Beverly Bulldog 13-2 tests Wolf Pack's ability to respond to aircraft accident

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tong Duong
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  More than 20 Wolf Pack members responded to a simulated aircraft crash during Exercise Beverly Bulldog 13-2 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Feb. 14, 2013.

As smoke billowed from a simulated burning aircraft and moulaged victims with various wounds lay near the scene of the accident, 20 U.S. and Republic of Korea firefighters and medical responders rushed to the scene.

"We responded to a crash of an unknown aircraft with 22 members on board and several people who had been ejected," said Tech. Sgt. Travis Winningham, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron, acting assistant fire chief.

Amidst the chaos, the first responders joined forces to battle the blazing aircraft while others set up a triage area to provide medical assistance to the wounded.

"We are working with several different agencies like medical and crash recovery and our Korean counterparts. Communicating with them can be challenging, that's why we have these exercises," Winningham said.

The Wolf Pack responders provided aid to the victims until medical inspectors and exercise evaluation team members were satisfied with their actions.

"We cannot predict exact situations we might be called to respond to at the Wolf Pack," said Col. John W. Pearse, 8th Fighter Wing commander. "That's why we exercise a variety of scenarios that encompass defending the base and accepting follow-on-forces while knowing we may be called to take the fight north at a moment's notice."