 The 36th's full strength of 79 fully operational F-15As was reached in December 1977.In 1980 more advanced F-15Cs and F-15Ds would replace the original F-15As.Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the 36th conducted routine training missions however the outbreak of the 1990–91 Gulf War put the F-15s of Bitburg into the heart of the conflict.