Yontan Airfield
Encyclopedia
Yontan Airfield is a former military airfield on Okinawa, located near the village of Sobe on the Okinawa western coast. It was closed and turned over to the Japanese government in 1972. Today it is abandoned with a series of roads overlaid over the former airfield runways.
, Yontan was a civilian airport on Okinawa, and was taken over by the Japanese military during the war. During the Battle of Okinawa
on April 1, 1945, United States Marine Corps and United States Army forces seized the airfield on the first day of the landing. It was quickly repaired and became the first airfield on Okinawa to be used by the American forces. Later, it was developed into a major American base for Army, Marine and Navy aircraft.
It was at Yontan that the American forces first found copies of the Yokosuka MXY-7 "Ohka"
rocket-propelled kamikaze aircraft. It was a manned flying bomb
that was usually carried underneath a Mitsubishi G4M
"Betty", Yokosuka P1Y
Ginga "Frances" (guided Type 22) or planned Heavy Nakajima G8N
Renzan "Rita" (transport type 43A/B) bomber
to within range of its target; on release, the pilot would first glide toward the target and when close enough he would fire the Ohka's rocket
engine and guide the missile towards the ship that he intended to destroy. The final approach was almost unstoppable (especially for Type 11) because the aircraft gained tremendous speed. Seven US ships were damaged or sunk by Ohkas throughout the war.
In addition to the USAAF units, Yontan Airfield hosted several Naval and Marine Corps air squadrons equipped with F4U Corsair
s, PBY Catalina
s and F6F Hellcat
s.
in combat. Following the dropping of the atomic bombs, in August 1945, the squadron was ordered to move to Okinawa from the Philippines
where the squadron flew several combat missions over Japan. These combat missions were flown in spite of a de-facto cease-fire that had been called following the bombing of Nagasaki
. During this time, the B-32s flew mainly photographic reconnaissance missions, most of which were unopposed. However, on August 17 a group of 4 B-32s flying over Tokyo
were fired on by radar-directed flak and were attacked by Japanese fighters. The American aircraft escaped with only minor damage, claiming one confirmed fighter kill and two probables. During a reconnaissance mission over Tokyo on August 18, serials 42-108532 and 42-108578 were attacked by Japanese fighters. The American gunners claimed two kills and one probable, but 578 was badly shot up and one of her crew was killed with two being injured. This was to prove to be the last combat action of World War II.
The last Dominator mission of the war was flown by four B-32s on August 28 in a reconnaissance mission to Tokyo. The mission was a disaster, although not because of any enemy action. 42-108544 lost an engine on takeoff and skidded off the runway. All 13 men aboard perished when the aircraft exploded and burned. On the way back from the target, 42-108528 lost power on two of its four engines. The plane's pilot ordered the crew to bail out, but two men were killed.
until the mid-1950s. Afterward it was placed in auxiliary reserve status. Yontan was returned to Japanese control in 1972. Yontan was used after the return to Japanese control by the Kadena AFB AeroClub flying five Cessna 150s and having one office building and hangar for maintance. I learned to fly there in 71-72 it was a great place.
History
Prior to 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...
, Yontan was a civilian airport on Okinawa, and was taken over by the Japanese military during the war. During the Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
on April 1, 1945, United States Marine Corps and United States Army forces seized the airfield on the first day of the landing. It was quickly repaired and became the first airfield on Okinawa to be used by the American forces. Later, it was developed into a major American base for Army, Marine and Navy aircraft.
It was at Yontan that the American forces first found copies of the Yokosuka MXY-7 "Ohka"
Ohka
The Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka was a purpose-built, rocket powered human-guided anti-shipping kamikaze attack plane employed by Japan towards the end of World War II...
rocket-propelled kamikaze aircraft. It was a manned flying bomb
Flying bomb
A flying bomb is a manned or unmanned aerial vehicle or aircraft carrying a large explosive warhead, a precursor to contemporary cruise missiles...
that was usually carried underneath a Mitsubishi G4M
Mitsubishi G4M
The Mitsubishi G4M 一式陸上攻撃機, 一式陸攻 Isshiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikkō was the main twin-engine, land-based bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allies gave the G4M the reporting name Betty...
"Betty", Yokosuka P1Y
Yokosuka P1Y
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam 7 Company Ltd., 1970. ISBN 0-370-00033-1 ....
Ginga "Frances" (guided Type 22) or planned Heavy Nakajima G8N
Nakajima G8N
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Collier, Basil. Japanese Aircraft of World War II. New York: Mayflower Books, 1979. ISBN 0-8317-5137-1....
Renzan "Rita" (transport type 43A/B) bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
to within range of its target; on release, the pilot would first glide toward the target and when close enough he would fire the Ohka's rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
engine and guide the missile towards the ship that he intended to destroy. The final approach was almost unstoppable (especially for Type 11) because the aircraft gained tremendous speed. Seven US ships were damaged or sunk by Ohkas throughout the war.
Major USAAF units assigned to Yontan
- Headquarters, Seventh Air ForceSeventh Air ForceThe Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
, July 12, 1945 – January 1, 1946 - Headquarters, VII Bomber CommandVII Bomber CommandThe VII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Seventh Air Force, based on Okinawa. It was inactivated on 31 March 1946.-Lineage:...
, July 1945 – March 1946
- Headquarters, 38th Bombardment Group38th Bombardment GroupThe 38th Bombardment Group is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. It was most recently assigned as the operational component of the 38th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Laon-Couvron Air Base, France, where it was inactivated on 8 December 1957.During World War II the 38th Bomb Group...
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- B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
, July 25 – November 22, 1945
- B-25 Mitchell
- 71st Bombardment Squadron71st Flying Training SquadronThe 71st Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 485th Tactical Missile Wing, based at Florennes Air Base, Belgium. It was inactivated on 30 September 1989.-History:...
, July 25 – November 22, 1945 - 405th Bombardment Squadron405th Tactical Missile SquadronThe 405th Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing, based at Sembach Air Base, West Germany. It was inactivated on 25 September 1966.-History:...
, July 25 – November 21, 1945 - 822d Bombardment Squadron822d Tactical Missile SquadronThe 822d Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 38th Tactical Missile Wing, based at Sembach Air Base, West Germany. It was inactivated on 25 September 1966.-History:...
, July 25 – November 22, 1945 - 823d Bombardment Squadron823d Tactical Missile SquadronThe 823d Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 38th Tactical Missile Wing, based at Sembach Air Base, West Germany. It was inactivated on 25 September 1966.-History:...
, July 25 – November 21, 1945
- 41st Bombardment Group41st Bombardment GroupThe 41st Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Seventh Air Force stationed at Manila, Philippines. It was inactivated on 27 January 1946....
Seventh Air ForceSeventh Air ForceThe Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
-
- B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
, June 7 – December 13, 1945
- B-25 Mitchell
- 47th Bombardment Squadron47th Bombardment SquadronThe 47th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 41st Bombardment Group, based at Manila, Philippines. It was inactivated on 27 January 1946.-History:...
, June 7 – December 13, 1945 - 48th Bombardment Squadron48th Bombardment SquadronThe 48th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 41st Bombardment Group, based at Manila, Philippines. It was inactivated on 27 January 1946.-History:...
, June 7 – December 13, 1945 - 396th Bombardment Squadron, June 7 – December 13, 1945
- 820th Bombardment Squadron820th Bombardment SquadronThe 820th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 41st Bombardment Group, based at Fort Lawton, Washington. It was inactivated on 4 January 1946.-History:...
, June 7 – December 13, 1945
- 494th Bombardment Group494th Bombardment GroupThe 494th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Strategic Air Command 19th Air Division, stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated on 2 April 1966...
Seventh Air ForceSeventh Air ForceThe Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
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- B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, June 24 – December 8, 1945
- B-24 Liberator
- 373d Bombardment Squadron373d Strategic Missile SquadronThe 373d Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 308th Strategic Missile Wing, based at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. It was inactivated on August 18, 1987. -History:...
, July 21 – December 15, 1945 - 864th Bombardment Squadron864th Bombardment SquadronThe 864th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 494th Bombardment Wing, based at Sheppard AFB, Texas...
, June 24 – December 13, 1945 - 865th Bombardment Squadron865th Technical Training SquadronThe 865th Technical Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 1st Missile Division, based at Redstone Arsenal. Huntsville, Alabama...
, June 24 – December 13, 1945 - 866th Bombardment Squadron866th Technical Training SquadronThe 866th Technical Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 1st Missile Division, based at Redstone Arsenal. Huntsville, Alabama...
, June 24 – December 13, 1945 - 867th Bombardment Squadron867th Bombardment SquadronThe 867th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 494th Bombardment Group, based at Fort Lawton. Washington. It was inactivated on 4 January 1946.-History:...
, June 24 – December 13, 1945
- 35th Fighter Group Fifth Air ForceFifth Air ForceThe 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....
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- P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
, June 28 – October 1945
- P-51 Mustang
- 39th Fighter Squadron, June 30 – October 10, 1945
- 40th Fighter Squadron, June 30 – October 10, 1945
- 41st Fighter Squadron, June 30 – October 10, 1945
- 312th Bombardment Group312th Aeronautical Systems WingThe 312th Aeronautical Systems Group is a component of the United States Air Force 312th Aeronautical Systems Wing. It is stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio and is assigned to Air Force Material Command ....
Fifth Air ForceFifth Air ForceThe 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....
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- A-20 Havoc August 13 – December 13, 1945
- 386th Bombardment Squadron386th Tactical Fighter SquadronThe 386th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 312th Tactical Fighter Wing, based at Cannon Air Force Base. New Mexico...
, August 13 – November 28, 1945 (B-32 DominatorB-32 DominatorThe Consolidated B-32 Dominator was a heavy bomber made for United States Army Air Forces during World War II, and has the distinction of being the last Allied aircraft to be engaged in combat during World War II. It was developed in parallel with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress as a fallback design...
) - 387th Bombardment Squadron387th Tactical Fighter SquadronThe 387th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 312th Tactical Fighter Wing, based at Cannon Air Force Base. New Mexico...
, August 13 – December 13, 1945 - 388th Bombardment Squadron, September – December 13, 1945
- 389th Bombardment Squadron389th Bombardment SquadronThe 389th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 312th Bombardment Group, based at Ellington Field. Texas. It was inactivated on June 27, 1949.-History:...
, September – December 9, 1945
- 413th Fighter Group413th Fighter GroupThe 413th Flight Test Group is a United States Air Force Air Force Reserve Command unit. It is stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia as a tenant unit....
, EighthEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
/Twentieth Air ForceTwentieth Air ForceThe Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
*
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- P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
January 29 – October 1946
- P-47 Thunderbolt
- 1st Fighter Squadron1st Fighter SquadronThe 1st Fighter Squadron was most recently based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It operated F-15C Eagle aircraft conducting advanced fighter training.-Mission:...
, January 29 – October 15, 1946 - 21st Fighter Squadron21st Fighter SquadronThe 21st Fighter Squadron is part of the 56th Operations Group at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting advanced fighter training for the pilots of Republic of China .-Mission:...
, January 29 – October 15, 1946 - 34th Fighter Squadron34th Fighter SquadronThe 34th Fighter Squadron was part of the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. It operated the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.-History:...
, January 29 – October 15, 1946
- 507th Fighter Group, Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
-
- P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
, January 29 – May 27, 1946
- P-47 Thunderbolt
- 463d Fighter Squadron463d Fighter SquadronThe 463d Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 507th Fighter Group, based at Yontan Airfield, Okinawa...
, January 29 – May 27, 1946 - 464th Fighter Squadron464th Fighter SquadronThe 464th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 507th Fighter Group, based at Yontan Airfield, Okinawa. It was inactivated on 27 May 1946.-History:Established in late 1944 at Peterson Field, Colorado...
, January 29 – May 27, 1946 - 465th Fighter Squadron465th Air Refueling SquadronThe 465th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 507th Air Refueling Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling missions.-Mission:...
, January 29 – May 27, 1946
- 51st Fighter Group51st Fighter WingThe 51st Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Osan Air Base, South Korea.The 51st Fighter Wing is under Pacific Air Forces' Seventh Air Force...
, Twentieth Air ForceTwentieth Air ForceThe Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
-
- P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
, October 15, 1946 – May 22, 1947
- P-47 Thunderbolt
- 16th Fighter Squadron16th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 16th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School, based at Nellis AFB, Nevada.The 16th began as the 16th Pursuit Squadron on 20 November 1940. During World War II, the 16th Pursuit Squadron flew missions in New Guinea, India, and China in the...
, 15 October 1946-22 May 1947 - 25th Fighter Squadron, 15 October 1946-22 May 1947
- 26th Fighter Squadron, 15 October 1946-22 May 1947
- 4th Fighter Squadron (All Weather)4th Fighter SquadronThe 4th Fighter Squadron is part of the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.-History:...
(347th Fighter Group), February 20, 1947 – August 19, 1948 (P-61 Black WidowP-61 Black WidowThe Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the first operational U.S. military aircraft designed specifically for night interception of aircraft, and was the first aircraft specifically designed to use radar. It was an all-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom design developed during World War II...
)
In addition to the USAAF units, Yontan Airfield hosted several Naval and Marine Corps air squadrons equipped with F4U Corsair
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...
s, PBY Catalina
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
s and F6F Hellcat
F6F Hellcat
The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a carrier-based fighter aircraft developed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat in United States Navy service. Although the F6F resembled the Wildcat, it was a completely new design powered by a 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800. Some tagged it as the "Wildcat's big...
s.
- Eighth Air Force was reassigned to Mac Dill AAF, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
on June 7, 1946. All assigned units in the Pacific were reassigned to Twentieth Air ForceTwentieth Air ForceThe Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
that date.
B-32 Dominator
The 312th Bomb Group, 386th Bomb Squadron was the sole USAAF squadron that flew the Consolidated B-32 DominatorB-32 Dominator
The Consolidated B-32 Dominator was a heavy bomber made for United States Army Air Forces during World War II, and has the distinction of being the last Allied aircraft to be engaged in combat during World War II. It was developed in parallel with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress as a fallback design...
in combat. Following the dropping of the atomic bombs, in August 1945, the squadron was ordered to move to Okinawa from the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
where the squadron flew several combat missions over Japan. These combat missions were flown in spite of a de-facto cease-fire that had been called following the bombing of Nagasaki
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.For six months...
. During this time, the B-32s flew mainly photographic reconnaissance missions, most of which were unopposed. However, on August 17 a group of 4 B-32s flying over Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
were fired on by radar-directed flak and were attacked by Japanese fighters. The American aircraft escaped with only minor damage, claiming one confirmed fighter kill and two probables. During a reconnaissance mission over Tokyo on August 18, serials 42-108532 and 42-108578 were attacked by Japanese fighters. The American gunners claimed two kills and one probable, but 578 was badly shot up and one of her crew was killed with two being injured. This was to prove to be the last combat action of World War II.
The last Dominator mission of the war was flown by four B-32s on August 28 in a reconnaissance mission to Tokyo. The mission was a disaster, although not because of any enemy action. 42-108544 lost an engine on takeoff and skidded off the runway. All 13 men aboard perished when the aircraft exploded and burned. On the way back from the target, 42-108528 lost power on two of its four engines. The plane's pilot ordered the crew to bail out, but two men were killed.
Postwar use
After 1947 there were no permanently assigned units to Yontan, and the base was used as auxiliary for Kadena Air BaseKadena Air Base
, is a United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Kadena Air Base is the hub of U.S. airpower in the Pacific, and home to the USAF's 18th Wing and a variety of associate units.-Units:The 18th Wing is the host unit at Kadena...
until the mid-1950s. Afterward it was placed in auxiliary reserve status. Yontan was returned to Japanese control in 1972. Yontan was used after the return to Japanese control by the Kadena AFB AeroClub flying five Cessna 150s and having one office building and hangar for maintance. I learned to fly there in 71-72 it was a great place.