Shimofusa Air Base
Encyclopedia
is a military aerodrome of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
. It is located 5.4 NM east of Matsudo
in Chiba Prefecture
, Japan
. The base straddles the border between Kashiwa
and Kamegaya
cities.
P-3C Orion
maritime patrol aircraft and NAMC YS-11
training aircraft. It is also host to the JMSDF 3rd Service School and a detachment from the JMSDF Communications Command.
by appropriating the Shimofusa Country Club and constructing runways on what was once the premier golf course
in the Tokyo area. On the surrender of Japan
, the air field was occupied by the United States Army Air Force and was designated Shiroi Air Base, after the nearby town of Shiroi
. Between 1947 and 1959, it was under the control of the USAF
Fifth Air Force
. In 1959, it was returned to Japanese control, and became a training facility for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The runway and control tower were rebuilt in 1962, and the JMSDF Fleet Air Wing 4 was stationed at the base. In 1973, the JMSDF Air Training Command was relocated to Shimofusa, and the JMSDF Fleet Air Wing 4 was relocated to Atsugi Air Base. The JMSDF Helicopter Rescue Squadron has been stationed at Shimofusa since 1993.
Groups
Squadrons
Others
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....
. It is located 5.4 NM east of Matsudo
Matsudo, Chiba
is a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 484,578 and a population density of 7900 persons per km²...
in Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The base straddles the border between Kashiwa
Kashiwa, Chiba
is a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 404,820 and a population density of 3520 persons per km²...
and Kamegaya
Kamagaya, Chiba
is a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 108,142 and a population density of 5120 persons per km²...
cities.
Operations
JMSDF Shimofusa Air Base is currently the headquarters of the JMSDF Simofusa Air Training Group, which is equipped with Kawasaki-LockheedLockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
P-3C Orion
P-3 Orion
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...
maritime patrol aircraft and NAMC YS-11
NAMC YS-11
The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954, the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.-Development and design:In...
training aircraft. It is also host to the JMSDF 3rd Service School and a detachment from the JMSDF Communications Command.
History
JMSDF Shimofusa Air Base was initially founded as an airfield field for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in 1945 during the closing stages of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by appropriating the Shimofusa Country Club and constructing runways on what was once the premier golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
in the Tokyo area. On the surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
, the air field was occupied by the United States Army Air Force and was designated Shiroi Air Base, after the nearby town of Shiroi
Shiroi, Chiba
is a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of late March 2011, the city has an estimated population of 61,073 and a population density of 1725 persons per km²...
. Between 1947 and 1959, it was under the control of the USAF
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Fifth Air Force
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
. In 1959, it was returned to Japanese control, and became a training facility for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The runway and control tower were rebuilt in 1962, and the JMSDF Fleet Air Wing 4 was stationed at the base. In 1973, the JMSDF Air Training Command was relocated to Shimofusa, and the JMSDF Fleet Air Wing 4 was relocated to Atsugi Air Base. The JMSDF Helicopter Rescue Squadron has been stationed at Shimofusa since 1993.
Major USAF Units Assigned (1950s)
Wings- 6920th Security Wing
Groups
- 524th Aircraft Control and Warning Group
- 528th Aircraft Control and Warning Group
- 597th Aircraft Control and Warning Group
- 6002nd Air Intelligence Service Group
- 6902nd Special Communications Group
Squadrons
- 711th Air Transport Squadron
- 6004th Air Intelligence Service Squadron
- 6020th Air Base Squadron
- 6924th Radio Squadron Mobile
- 6926th Radio Squadron Mobile
Others
- Det. 4, Headquarters, Far East Air Forces
- Det. 10, 1st Air Postal Squadron