Chitose Air Base
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chitose Air Base (千歳基地 Chitose Kichi?) (ICAO: RJCJ), is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base located in Chitose, Hokkaido, adjacent to New Chitose Airport. It is the JASDF's primary base in northern Japan and tasked with monitoring Japan's maritime borders with Russia. It was also Hokkaido's primary civilian airport until the opening of New Chitose Airport in 1988.
[edit] History
Chitose's first flight came in 1926, when the Otaru Shimbun newspaper sponsored the "Hokkai One" (Hokkai-ichigō) flight, originating at a 10-hectare air field donated by the villagers of Chitose. In 1939, the Imperial Japanese Navy took over the field.
After Japan's surrender in 1945, ending World War II, the United States Armed Forces took over the base. During the Allied occupation, in 1951, Chitose received its first scheduled civilian flights to Tokyo, operated by Japan Airlines. The airfield was returned to the Japanese government in 1959.
Until 1988, Chitose Airport was the main airport serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. A new terminal building opened in 1963 and immigration facilities were constructed in 1969. In 1981, Chitose received its first scheduled international flights to Honolulu. However, following the opening of New Chitose Airport, all civilian passenger service moved there.
[edit] Units based at Chitose
- No. 2 Squadron (F-15 Eagle)
- No. 8 Mobile Warning Corps
- No. 3 Anti-Aircraft Group (Patriot missiles)
- Special Air Transport Corps (Boeing 747s used by Japanese government)
