Yokota

• 1.Unit
• 2. AMC passenger terminal
• 3. History
  • 3.1 Tama aerodrome
  • 3.2 Post-war years
    • 3.2.1 korean war
  • 3.3 cold war
  • 3.4. After the Cold War
• 4. Litigation
• 5. The main teams to which are assigned
  • 5.1 Basic Operation Blocks
  • 5.2 Large units of the U.S. Air Force
• 6. Convenience
  • 6.1374th Force Support Squadron
  • 6.2. Friendship Celebration
  • 6.3.Education
  • 6.4 Tama Hills Recreation Area
  • 6.5.
• 7.Links
• 8.External links

The leading unit in Yokot is the 374 Military Air Transport Wing and is currently used for air travel throughout East Asia. The 374th includes four groups that are designed for various operations, escort in missions, technical and medical services. Each group includes a large number of squadrons that fulfill their mission.

• 374th Operational Group (keel code: YJ) 374th Operational Group serves an advanced presence, providing rapid response of personnel, equipment, and operational support in the Asia-Pacific region. The group consists of:
  • 374th Operations Support Squadron
  • 36th Air Squadron (Lockheed C-130H1 Hercules)
  • 459th Air Squadron (Bell UH-1N Iroquois (Huey)), (C-12J Huron)

Often you can see the Stratotanker KC-135, C-135, 747, C-5, KC-10 Extender, KC-767, KC-46, C-130, DC-8, C-17, L-100, civil charter air vessels (Omni Air International, Air Transport International, etc.) and cargo vessels (Atlas Air, Kalitta Air, etc.) according to military regulations on the Transient Aircraft ramp.

• 374th Maintenance Group 374th Maintenance Group supports the C-130H1, C-12 and UH-1N aircraft, which support cross-steam locomotive airflow and excellent passenger transport for the Pacific Air Force.
• 374th Mission Support Group The 374th Mission Support Group is responsible to the 374th Air Traffic Commander for commanding, monitoring and managing support activities of up to 374 AW and 32 tenant units, including US, US and fifth Air Force headquarters .
• 374th medical group 374th medical group, provides medical readiness of 374 AW, 5 AF and US troops in Japan. They also support 64 military reserve projects, including the largest inventory of US military movements in the United States.
• Associates / Tenants
  • US Forces, Japan (USFJ) - A non-operational, military-political unit that acts as the USPACOM front for US-Japanese military discussions.
  • The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is an air component for the USFJ.
  • 730th Air Mobility Squadron
  • Pacific Air Force Group
  • Stars and stripes
  • Network of american troops
  • US Coast Guard (USCG) Far East Activities (FEACT) (checking ships heading to US ports for port control and security reasons).
• Yokota Cadet Squadron, Civil Aviation Patrol Canada's Yokota Civil Aviation Squadron conducts operations at the Yokota Air Base.

The recently refurbished Air Mobility Trip (AMC) passenger terminal is located on the main part of the base near the flight line. It is a 5-7 minute walk from the Kanto Lodge (see below) and offers Space-Available flights to various destinations at PACAF, such as Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Korea, Okinawa, Singapore, and the Related United States,

Tama Airfield

The facility hosting the Yokota Air Base was originally built by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1940 as the Tama airfield and was used as a flight test center. During World War II, Yokota became the center of flight testing for the Japanese Air Force and the base was the site of the first meeting between the allies of Japanese and Italian wartime.

In November 1944, Tama was first identified by the United States military as a result of the shooting of the 3rd reconnaissance aircraft reconnaissance squadron of the 3rd reconnaissance squadron F-13 Superfortress, flying from Tinian in the Mariana Islands. He was identified as being associated with the nearest Musashino-Nakajima aircraft manufacturing plant. Along with Seth's airbase in the northwest and Tachikawa's airbase to the east, it was compared to the USAAF Wright-Paterson Field aircraft development complex in Ohio. According to USAAF intelligence at the time, three bases conducted all IJA flight tests. In the spring of 1945, the command of the XXI bombers attacked the base eight times along with the aircraft factory, but each time heavy clouds forced the bombers to attack secondary targets. In April 1945, the Nakajima factory was attacked, but the Tama airfield never bombed.

Post-war years

After the cessation of hostilities and the surrender of Japan in September 1945, a squad of the 1st Cavalry Division of the U.S. Army arrived at the base on September 4. Airfield buildings were mostly intact, and about 280 of the most modern IJA aircraft were found in hangars. The first Cav named the object Fussa Army Airfield , and then at the end of September renamed it the Yokota Army Airfield airdrome (the name appeared on a 1944 US map taken from a village that has since been included in neighboring Musashimurayama).

The name was supposed to be changed to Wilkins Army Airfield (WAAB) after the winner of the Medal of Honor Raymond "Ray" Wilkins, but the orders never arrived, and he remained under the name Yokota until the USAAF became the USAF in 1947, after which it became the Yokota air base . Some metal hatches covered with the WAAB stamp have remained in operation around the base since 2017.

The initial use of the USAAF for the base was for air operations, when the 2nd group of combat cargo arrived with four Skytrain C-47 squadrons. When the old runway deteriorated with heavy use, the runway was repaired, and Yokota supported the operations of the Douglas A-26 Invader, equipped with a 3D bombing group, by August 1946. Additional construction in the 1940s and 1950s was completed, and the base reached its current size around 1960.

On the occasion of the extension, the course of the Hachiko line and the national highway Route 16 was changed, and the Itukaichi route was divided.

During the first post-war years of training, Yokota hosted the following well-known USAAF / USAF divisions:

• 20th Combat Command Group (October 1945 - April 1946) (F-7 (B-24) Liberator)
• 8th Reconnaissance Group (June 1946 - October 1947) (F-7 (B-24) Liberator)
• 71st reconnaissance group (February 1947 - April 1949) (RB-17, RB-29, RF-51, RF-61 and RF-80)

These units performed photographic reconnaissance and mapping of Japan and South Korea.

• 6th Night Fighter Squadron (1946-47) (P-61A / B) Inactivated and personnel, mission and equipment transferred to the 339th Fighter Squadron (347th Fighter Group) with F-82F / G Twin Mustangs in Nagoya AB Japan .
• 82nd Intelligence Squadron (1947-48) FP-80
• 3d emergency rescue squadron (July 1947 - April 1950) (SB-17G) Modified B-17G bombers equipped under their bellies flew with a 27-foot boat (called A-1) that could be parachuted, and which contained enough food, water, and clothing for the twelve survivors to last about twenty days in the ocean.

Korean War

During the Korean War, Yokota was used for combat missions in North and South Korea. Famous divisions were:

• Fighters
  • 27th wing of an escort fighter (November - December 1950) F-84E Thunderjets flying in armed reconnaissance, ban, fighter escort and mission to support aviation support.
  • 35th wing of a fighter-interceptor (April - August 1950) Flau Lockheed F-80Cs in air defense missions.
  • 339th Fighter Aviation Squadron (April-August 1950) Attached to the 35th wing of an interceptor fighter and flew the M-Mustang F-82F / G mission in South Korea during the first few months of combat operations.
• Bombardment blocks
  • 325th, 326th, 327th Bomber Squadrons (92nd Bomber Group) (July-October 1950) Deployed squadrons from Spokane AAFld (later Fairchild AFB), Washington. Flying B-29 Bombing Mission in North Korea.
  • 98th Bomber Wing (343d, 344th, 345th Boomb Squadrons) (August 1950 - July 1954) Group, then Wing deployed from Spokane AAFld (later Fairchild AFB), Washington. Flying B-29 Bombing Mission in North Korea. Two after arriving in Yokotu, the squadron is a bomb mission against sorting yards in Pyongyang, North Korea. The 98th BG participated mainly in the prohibition of enemy communications centers, but also supported the United Nations ground forces. The objectives of the persecution included marshalling yards, oil centers, railway facilities, bridges, roads, troops, airfields and military installations.
• Intelligence units
  • 31st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic (July-August 1950) Flying missions fly by to provide the FEAF bombers command with a photo of the target and bomb assessment.
  • 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, medium, photographic (December 1950 - December 1954) Assigned to the 407th Strategic Fighter Wing (1953-54) See 91st Reconnaissance Squadron Absorbed personnel and resources of the 31st Infantry Reconnaissance Squadron in Japan. Using the RB-29, RB-45, RB-50, and RB-36 aircraft, he performed photo-visual visual surveys and visual reconnaissance for the FEAF bombers, completed other special photographic missions, and conducted a ferret electronic reconnaissance to determine frequencies, the location and other characteristics of the enemy’s ground radar. The squadron also oversaw the Sea of ​​Japan near the Siberian coast, and leaflets were thrown over North Korea. Since the end of 1952, the rotating flight crews of the 581st Philippine Aviation Supply and Communication Wing have increased the 91st SRS in flight.
  • 512th Bomber Squadron (January-August 1950) The B / RB / WB-29 aircraft was operated and field reconnaissance missions were carried out.
  • 56th reconnaissance squadron (September 1951 - July 1972) The 512th bomb squadron in the reconnaissance mission was replaced. They operated aircraft WB-29, WB-50, WC-135B and RB-57, used for sampling nuclear waste, as well as weather conditions in the Pacific Ocean.
    • In fact, the 56th was the first 56th strategic reactionary squadron. It became the 56th WRS later. And for several years, the only aircraft were modified B-29.

Around 1956, the B-29s began to replace the B-50s, and the unit continued to fly two missions a day, as well as fly to any typhoons in the South Pacific. In 1956, the 56th lost the plane returning from the mission, as it crashed into a hill near the base. Everyone on board was killed.

Cold War

With hostilities in Korea ending in 1953, Yokota Air Base returned to the Cold War peacetime. During the 1950s, there were two main wings at the base, the 67th reconnaissance wing (1956-60) flying at radio frequencies 80, RF-84 and, finally, RF-101. The 35th wing of the fighter-interceptor (1954-57) flew out of the base. The tactical air command nuclear power station, the 421st air refueling squadron flew KB-29, and then KB-50J from Yokota from 1953-65. All of these units were under the command of the 41st Air Division .

The 35th TFW was reassigned in 1957 and the 67th TRW in 1960. Throughout the world, DOD size restrictions in the late 1950s led to several Japanese-based PACAF wings being reassigned or inactivated. These tactical fighters were replaced by the Martin B-57 Third Bomber Wing , where he trained in bombing, reconnaissance and air refueling operations. The 40th interceptor fighter squadron (December 1961 - May 1962), equipped with the Convair F-102 delta dagger, was dedicated to the air defense mission.

The wing of the air base 6102d adopted the status of the main unit for the base, in 1964 it was replaced by the 441st combat support group.

Unaccompanied staff housing

The Vietnam War led to an increase in the number of military and airplanes at the base. Yokota was used to transport the B-52 to Southeast Asia, and was also the base for the F-105 Tactical Fighter reconnaissance aircraft deployed in the USA (35, 36, 80s). The 610th Air Force Squadron (1966-78) was created by the Air Force to service a large increase in transit air traffic. The 65th Military Air Transport Support Group (1969–71) was the headquarters for the squadrons of MAC airliners in the Pacific and Far East.

F-105 squadrons were often deployed at bases operated by the US Air Force in Thailand for combat missions in North and South Vietnam, as well as in South Korea for combat operations. Initially, the fighter squadrons were commanded by the 41st Air Division, shortly after being redirected to the 6441st tactical fighter wing , which was activated in April 1965 to control the F-105 squadrons after their parent organization, the eighth tactical fighter wing, moved to George Air Force Base, California, to become a division of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. With the return of the 347th fighter wing to Yokotu in 1968, the 347th took responsibility for all tactical fighters before being redirected to Kunsan AB, South Korea, in March 1971.

In 1971, all combat squadrons were transferred to Kadena and Misawa Air Base, and Yokota became a non-flying station, which was organized by the 475th wing of the air base . In the 475th there were no numbered flying squadrons, but several Saberliners T-39 and UH-1 aircraft were involved, as well as support for the transit MAC of cargo and passenger aircraft. The designated flight squadrons returned to Yokota in 1975 when the 345th Tactical Aviation Squadron was assigned with its C-130E.

The headquarters of the Fifth Air Force was transferred to Yokota on November 11, 1974, transferred from Fuchu AS, Japan.

After the Cold War

In 2005, the Japanese government announced that the headquarters of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces would be relocated to Yokota.

The Tokyo metropolitan government has advocated opening Yokota for civilian flights as a way to facilitate traffic at Haneda and Narita airports. Governor Shintaro Ishihara raised a proposal for sharing during the 2003 gubernatorial elections, and Governor Naoki Inoes made comments in 2013 that suggested a joint use as a possible solution to meet the needs of visitors during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

In November 2009, the base was attacked by leftist extremists through improvised mortars. Tents used to house the US Pacific Command (USCACOM) deployment system during the Tomodachi operation In April 2010, Colonel Frank Eppich, commander of the US Air Force base, banned the screening of the movie “Cove” in the base theater. The base spokesman said that The Cove was banned because using the base location for showing the film can be seen as confirmation of the film. The spokesperson added: “We have a lot of problems with Japan ... and everything that is done on an American base will be seen as an endorsement of this event.”

Staff and aircraft from the base helped Operation Tomodachi after and during the Tikhoku earthquake in March 2011 and the tsunami and Fukushima I nuclear disaster. The base also served as an important hub for assisting air transport during disaster recovery efforts. During the crisis, about 600 American family members voluntarily left the base for places outside of Japan.

James Mattis arrived at the base in February 2017 during his first trip abroad as Secretary of Defense.

Claims to the air base followed immediately after the US occupation. The gravel used in the construction of the airfields was taken from the Tama River, subsequently the riverbed changed and had a negative impact on the traditional hydraulic system (Fuchu-yusui), which has been supplying water to local communities since the early Edo period. The base also caused great indignation among residents living near it, repeated fuel leaks and spills that polluted groundwater and well water; unpleasant odors and fires, stunning noise and repeated air crashes. Local leaders managed to secure the return of land that was illegally appropriated by the base. Pilot training, simulating the landing of aircraft on an aircraft carrier, is carried out several times a year, often throughout the night. The total number of departures from Yokot airbase per year reaches 20,000. This preparation, along with engine tests and daily flights, created a level of noise pollution that local residents consider unbearable, numerous lawsuits were filed against Japanese and American governments, calling for termination of flights and compensation for damage caused by noise pollution. Currently, a small portion of the compensation required for past losses is likely to be awarded. The Yokot Nuclear Weapons Protection Bill No. 9, filed on December 12, 2012, and the New Yokot Bill of Air Claim lawsuit No. 2, filed March 26, 2013, are currently being disputed.

• 1st Cavalry Division, United States Pacific Forces (September 1945)
• US Air Force Pacific Command (September 1945 - January 1947)
• Far Eastern Air Force (January 1947 - July 1957)
• Pacific Air Force (July 1957-present)

Basic Operation Blocks

Main USAF divisions

A. ^ Assigned to the 2143rd Air Wing in Andersen AFB, Guam.

Yokota provided support for fighters, bombers and military air operations by deploying the B-26 Invader, B / RB-29 Superfortress, P / F-51 Mustang, KB-50J Aerial Tankers, F-94 Starfire, B / RB-57 Canberra, C -54 Skymaster, F-86D Saber, F-102 Delta Dagger, McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II, F-100 Super Saber, F-105 Thunderchief, C-5 Galaxy, C-141 Starlifter and C-130 Hercules units.

374th Force Support Squadron

The 374th Power Support Squadron is responsible for providing a higher quality of life, facilities and programs for 11,000 troops, civilians and dependents, as well as 150,000 people in transition per year. The 374th Power Support Squadron provides personal and personal support, membership clubs, child development, youth programs, food, accommodation, sports / fitness, leisure / leisure, a comprehensive preparedness program, marketing / advertising, ice exchange and walrus operations for Yokota AB .

Friendship Festival

Friendship Festival - Photo from Flightline Every year in September, the Yokota Air Base opens the gateway to the Japanese community for its annual Friendship Festival. Within two days, locals can learn about the Yokota air base. Food and activities are provided for all ages. Approximately 200,000 visitors appear every year, although non-Japanese visitors may be turned away from the gate for security reasons.

During these two days, visitors can explore many types of planes and even tour some of the larger cargo planes from the inside.

Education

The Department of Defense's educational activities run schools in Yokot for children assigned to the base.

• Joan C. Mendel Elementary School (formerly known as East Yokota Elementary School)
• Yokota West Elementary School
• Yokot High School: The school initiation ceremony took place on June 13, 2000. The initial year of the YMS began only with grades 7 and 8, and the high-school classes at the highest level in special wings were completed before the construction changes at YHS were completed. The class officially began in August 2000.
• Yokot High School, Yokota Pantele House. The school was built in 1973. The new 21st Century school began construction in 2015 and is due to end in 2017 and should replace the old Yokot school.

Higher educational opportunities for military personnel and employees in the Ministry of Defense, as well as for family members in Yokot, are available through several contracted academic institutions. For example:

• University of Maryland University College Asia (UMUC)

Tama Hills Recreation Area

The Tama Hills Recreation Area includes approximately half of the 500-acre Tama Services Division app and the other half includes the Tama Hills Golf Course.

Known for

The basis was the production of " Almost Transparent Blue," a popular novel written by Ryu Murakami and published in 1976, as well as the anime Blood the Last Vampire and the short film Baby Blue from Genius, directed by Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo. Yokota Air Base and its environs were central to the 2006 film Sugar and Spice. This is also the installation of parts of the Yokota Officers Club: Sarah Birds novel . The base is also home to U.S. Marine Captain, former UFC fighter and Fox Sports analyst Brian Stann. The base was also briefly presented in the biographical snow of 2016 as one of the jobs of Edward Snowden.

• US Air Force Portal
• United States Armed Forces Portal
• World war portal

This article presents public domain material from the website of the Air Force Historical Research Agency http://www.afhra.af.mil/ . Part of the text in this article was taken from the pages of the website of the Yokota Air Base , which is supposed to be the US government. This information has been supplemented by:

• Fletcher, Harry R. (1989) Air Force Basics Volume II, active air bases outside the United States of America on September 17, 1982. Maxwell A.F., Alabama: Managing Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6
• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Combat units of the Air Force of the Second World War. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Air Force History Directorate. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). The history of the combat wings of the air forces and the merits of 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Air Force History Directorate. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• Rogers, Brian (2005). Designations of the US Air Force units since 1978. Hinckley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.

1. Jump up ^ AIS Japan
2. Jump up ^ Yokota AB News
3. Jump up ^ Yokota Story Part 2: Lesson Period, 1945-51 Yokota Air Base Website Website Checked September 16, 2017
4. Jump up ^ Facebook post August 24, 2017. Yokota Air Base. Received September 16, 2017.
5. Jump up ^ Kyodo News . Received December 19, 2013.
6. Jump up ^ Japanese police raid of anti-American military group operational bases - Japan - Lanes
7. Jump up ^ Harnell, Boyd, “ The founding of Yokota prohibits Cove from being neutral, ” Japan Times , April 13, 2010, p. 1.
8. Jump up ^ Reed, Charlie, “The Military Complete the First Round of Departures from Japan ,” “ Stars and Stripes,” March 25, 2011, received March 28, 2011.
9. Jump up ^ "米 マ テ ィ ス 国防 長官 が 日本 に 到 着 | NHK ニ ュ ー ス . " Retrieved 2017-02-03.
10. Jump up ^ 横 田 基地 の 概要
11. Jump up ^ [1]
12. Jump up ^ www.YokotaSupport.com
13. Jump up ^ Department of Defense Education
14. Jump up ^ Joan C. Mendel Elementary School
15. Jump up ^ Yokota West Elementary School
16. Jump up ^ Yokota High School
17. Jump up ^ Yokota High School
18. Jump up ^ [2]
19. Jump up ^ University of Maryland: Department of Asia
20. Jump up ^ UMUC Asia | Quality Academic Programs for US Military Communities
21. Jump up ^ [3]
22. Jump up ^ Tama Hills Arsenal Adventures of Punanari Island
23. Jump up ^ http://japanbsa.org/summer-camp-2013---tama-hills.html

• Official website

Categories :

• Airports created in 1940
• US Air Force Fundamentals in Japan
• US Air Force Airdromes at the Pacific Theater
• Transportation in Tokyo
• Transportation in the Greater Tokyo area
• US Army Airfields in Occupied Japan
• Military installations in Tokyo