Hamamatsu Air Base
Encyclopedia
is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force
base located 3 NM north of the city of Hamamatsu
, Shizuoka Prefecture
, in central Japan
.
, the base facilities were used as an emergency landing strip by the United States Air Force
, and were returned to the Japanese government in 1952 for use as a flight training school for the nascent Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The training syllabus was transformed in 1954 into separate schools for flight training, aircraft maintenance and communications. The base was divided into northern and southern areas in 1958, with the operational area in the north housing the First Air Wing, and from 1960, the Blue Impulse
aerobatic squadron and the southern area housing the administrative and training facilities.
The Blue Impulse squadron was transferred to Matsushima Air Base in 1981; however the team suffered from a fatal mid-air collision during a farewell performance at Hamamatsu in 1982.
The First Air Wing transitioned from Lockheed T-33A trainers to Kawasaki T-4 trainers in 1988. In a fiscal reform in 1989, the northern and southern halves of the base were reunited into a single administrative entity. From 1998, Hamamatsu Air Base became the home base of Japan's small force of Boeing E-767
AWACS aircraft.
In 1999, an aviation museum, the , was established. It has many aircraft from the history of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force on static display, and also a restored example of a World War II era A6M6 Zero.
In 2004, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Hamamatsu Air Base hosted a display by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
aerobatic display team.
From 2008, the MIM-104 Patriot
missile has been deployed at Hamamatsu Air Base.
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
The , or JASDF, is the aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace and other aerospace operations. The JASDF carries out combat air patrols around Japan, while also maintaining an extensive network of ground and air early warning radar systems...
base located 3 NM north of the city of Hamamatsu
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
is a city located in western Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. On July 1, 2005, the city merged with 11 surrounding cities and towns. It became a city designated by government ordinance on April 1, 2007.- History :...
, Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
, in central 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...
.
History
Hamamatsu Air Base was established in 1925 as an Imperial Japanese Army Air Force base to be home to the newly-formed IJAAF No.7 Air Regiment. In 1933, it was designated as the primary flight school for Japanese army aviation. After 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...
, the base facilities were used as an emergency landing strip by the United States Air Force
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...
, and were returned to the Japanese government in 1952 for use as a flight training school for the nascent Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The training syllabus was transformed in 1954 into separate schools for flight training, aircraft maintenance and communications. The base was divided into northern and southern areas in 1958, with the operational area in the north housing the First Air Wing, and from 1960, the Blue Impulse
Blue Impulse
, or 11 Squadron, is the aerobatic demonstration team of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Originally founded in 1960 as a team of six F-86 Sabres, the team switched to the Mitsubishi T-2 in 1980 and then to the Kawasaki T-4 in 1995...
aerobatic squadron and the southern area housing the administrative and training facilities.
The Blue Impulse squadron was transferred to Matsushima Air Base in 1981; however the team suffered from a fatal mid-air collision during a farewell performance at Hamamatsu in 1982.
The First Air Wing transitioned from Lockheed T-33A trainers to Kawasaki T-4 trainers in 1988. In a fiscal reform in 1989, the northern and southern halves of the base were reunited into a single administrative entity. From 1998, Hamamatsu Air Base became the home base of Japan's small force of Boeing E-767
Boeing E-767
The Boeing E-767 is an airborne warning and control system aircraft. It was designed in response to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's requirements, and is essentially the Boeing E-3 Sentry's surveillance radar and air control system installed on a Boeing 767-200.-Background:On September 6, 1976,...
AWACS aircraft.
In 1999, an aviation museum, the , was established. It has many aircraft from the history of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force on static display, and also a restored example of a World War II era A6M6 Zero.
In 2004, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Hamamatsu Air Base hosted a display by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the U.S. Air Force , based at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. The squadron tours the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially marked USAF jet aircraft...
aerobatic display team.
From 2008, the MIM-104 Patriot
MIM-104 Patriot
The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. It is manufactured by the Raytheon Company of the United States. The Patriot System replaced the Nike Hercules system as the U.S. Army's primary High to Medium...
missile has been deployed at Hamamatsu Air Base.
Organization
Hamamatsu Air Base is currently headquarters to the JASDF Air Training Command. Units currently based at Hamamatsu currently include:- JASDF 1st Air Wing
- 31st Squadron (Kawasaki T-4)
- 32nd Squadron (Kawasaki T-4)
- Airborne Early Warning Group (E-767)
- Air Basic Training Wing
- Hamamatsu Air Rescue Squadron (U-125ABritish Aerospace BAe 125The British Aerospace 125 is a twin-engined mid-size corporate jet, with newer variants now marketed as the Hawker 800. It was known as the Hawker Siddeley HS.125 until 1977...
, UH-60J) - Hamamatsu Anti-Aircraft Missile Group
- Air Officer Training School
- 1st & 2nd Technical School
- Air Training Aids Group
- Air Traffic Control Group
- Air Weather Service Group
- Hamamatsu Air Police Group