Kadena Air Base

Kadena Air Base

Pacific Air Forces.png
Part of United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)
嘉手納飛行場
Kadena Hikōjō

Kadena AB Okinawa Japan.jpg
IATA: DNAICAO: RODN
Summary
Airport type Military
Operator United States Air Force
(Fifth Air Force)
Location Okinawa
Elevation AMSL 146 ft / 45 m
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05R/23L 3,700 12,139 Asphalt concrete
05L/23R 3,700 12,139 Asphalt concrete
Source: Japanese AIP at AIS Japan[1]

Kadena Air Base (嘉手納飛行場 Kadena Hikōjō?), (IATA: DNA, ICAO: RODN) is a United States Air Force base located 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.

Contents

Units

USAF - 18th Wing.png

The 18th Wing is the host unit at Kadena AB. In addition, the base hosts associate units from five other Air Force major commands, the United States Navy, and numerous other Department of Defense agencies and direct reporting units. Associate units operate more than 20 permanently assigned, forward-based or deployed aircraft from the base on a daily basis.

Associate units:

Other units:

United States Navy use

The Korean War emphasized the need for maintaining a naval presence in Okinawa. On February 15, 1951, the US Naval Facility, Naha, was activated and later became commissioned on April 18. Commander Fleet Activities, Ryukyus was commissioned on March 8, 1957. On May 15, 1972, upon reversion of Okinawa to Japanese administration, the two organizations were combined to form Commander Fleet Activities, Okinawa. With the relocations of Commander Fleet Activities, Okinawa to Kadena Air Base on May 7, 1975, the title then became Commander Fleet Activities, Okinawa/US Naval Air Facility, Kadena.

The mission of NAVCOMM Det Okinawa is to provide communications support for SEVENTH Fleet and supporting units, U.S. Naval Forces Japan, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, Defense Information Systems Agency and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. The detachment has four work centers: 1) TSCCOMM provides telecommunications support for Patrol Wing ONE Det Kadena, deployed patrol squadrons and Marine Wing Detachment; 2) CMS provides communications security (COMSEC) materials and cryptographic equipment to Patrol Squadrons and detachments, and to Commander Amphibious Group One/CTF76, located at White Beach; 3) Naval Radio Transmitter Facility (NRTF) Awase provides HF transmitter support to the fleet and area commanders and LF transmitter support for submarines operating in the Pacific and Indian Oceans; and 4) SURTASS supports command and control functions to SURTASS ships operating in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific.

Notable areas

  • Main Street (The Tiki)
  • Gate 2 Street
  • Kadena Tarmac
  • Kadena BX
  • Schilling Community Center
  • Airmans Club
  • NCO Club
  • Officers Club
  • Jack’s Place Restaurant (originally Skoshi Kume)
  • Kadena High School
  • Kadena Middle School
  • Kadena Elementary School
  • Bob Hope Primary School
  • Ryukyu Middle School
  • Amelia Earhart Intermediate School
  • Stearley Heights Elementary School
  • The Asian Division of University of Maryland University College (UMUC)[1]
  • Kadena Bomb Dump
  • Kadena Commisary

History

Kadena Air Base's history dates back to just before the April 1, 1945, Battle of Okinawa, when a local construction firm completed a small airfield named Yara Hikojo near the island's village of Kadena. The airfield, used by Imperial Japanese warplanes, was one of the first targets of the Tenth United States Army 7th Infantry Division and was seized from the Japanese by the United States.

Major commands to which assigned

Redesignated: Far East Air Force, January 1, 1947
Redesignated: Pacific Air Forces, July 1, 1957

Major units assigned

(7th AF), July 2–21, 1945
437th Bomb Squadron, July 2, 1945 – July 21, 1945
438th Bomb Squadron, July 3, 1945 – July 21, 1945
439th Bomb Squadron, July 2, 1945 – July 21, 1945
440th Bomb Squadron, July 2, 1945 – July 21, 1945
(8th AF) August 5, 1945 – May 28, 1946
460th Bomb Squadron, August 5, 1945 – May 28, 1946
507th Bomb Squadron, August 5, 1945 – May 28, 1946
435th Bomb Squadron, August 5, 1945 – May 28, 1946
507th Bomb Squadron, August 5, 1945 – May 28, 1946
(8th AF) August 7, 1945 – June 30, 1946
461st Bomb Squadron, August 13, 1945 – June 30, 1946
462d Bomb Squadron, August 13, 1945 – June 30, 1946
463d Bomb Squadron, August 13, 1945 – June 30, 1946
  • HQ 316th Bombardment Wing, (8th AF) August 17, 1945 – June 21, 1948
  • 317th Troop Carrier Group, (5th AF) August 22, 1945 – September 21, 1945
46th Troop Carrier Squadron, August 18, 1945 – September 21, 1945
  • HQ 413th Fighter Group (8th AF) (Stationed at Ie Shima Airfield)
1st Fighter Squadron, November 17, 1945 – January 29, 1946
34th Fighter Squadron, November 17, 1945 – January 29, 1946
21st Fighter Squadron, November 21, 1945 – January 29, 1946
  • 6th Bombardment Group, June 1, 1947 – October 18, 1948
  • 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, August 18 – October 25, 1948
  • 32d Composite Wing, August 24, 1948 – April 1, 1949
  • Thirteenth Air Force December 1, 1948 – May 16, 1949
  • 6332d Composite Group April 1, 1949 – June 1, 1953
6332d Air Base Wing September 1, 1953 – May 1, 1955
  • 19th Bombardment Group July 5, 1950 – June 1, 1953
19th Bombardment Wing June 1, 1953 – June 5, 1954
  • Twentieth Air Force February 25 – October 25, 1951
  • 307th Bombardment Wing July 22, 1952 – November 13, 1954
  • 581st Air Resupply Group September 1953 – September 1956
  • 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing October 30, 1954 – July 1, 1958
18th Tactical Fighter Wing July 1, 1958 – October 1, 1991
18th Wing October 1, 1991 – present
  • 313th Air Division March 1, 1955 – October 1, 1991
  • Kadena Task Force (Provisional) May 1955 – May 1958
  • 25th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron July 17, 1956 – August 1, 1957
  • 6313th Air Base Wing September 1, 1957 – April 15, 1959
  • 498th Tactical Missile Group February 8, 1961 – July 8, 1965
  • 824th Combat Support Group December 8, 1964 – September 30, 1974
  • 4252nd Strategic Wing January 1965 – April 1970
376th Strategic Wing April 1, 1970 – October 1, 1991
  • 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (Detachment) 1968–1974
  • 1st Special Operations Squadron December 15, 1972 – January 1, 1981
  • 18th Combat Support Wing October 1, 1974 – October 1, 1991

Operational history

Aerial view of Kadena Air Base

What the Americans captured was nothing more than a 4,600 foot strip of badly-damaged coral runway. Army engineers from the 13th Combat Battalion, 7th U.S. Infantry Division quickly made repairs and, by nightfall the same day, the runway could accept emergency landings. Eight days later, and after some six inches of coral were added, the airfield was declared operational and put into immediate service by artillery spotting aircraft when the runway became serviceable on April 6. Additional construction was performed by the 807th Engineering Aviation Battalion to improve the airfield for USAAF fighter and bomber use with fuel tank farms, a new 6,500-ft bituminous runway, and a 7,500-ft runway for bomber aircraft by August.

Kadena airfield was initially under the control of Seventh Air Force, however on July 16, 1945, Headquarters Eighth Air Force was transferred, without personnel, equipment, or combat elements to the town of Sakugawa, near Kadena from RAF High Wycombe England. Upon reassignment, its headquarters element absorbed the command staff of the inactivated XX Bomber Command. Kadena was used by the headquarters staff for administrative flying requirements.

Upon its reassignment to the Pacific Theater, Eighth Air Force was assigned to the U.S. Army Strategic Air Forces with a mission to train new B-29 Superfortress bomber groups arriving from the United States for combat missions against Japan. In the planned invasion of Japan, the mission of Eighth Air Force would be to conduct strategic bombing raids from Okinawa. However, the atomic bombings of Japan led to the Japanese surrender before Eighth Air Force saw action in the Pacific theater.

The surrender of Japanese forces in the Ryukyu Islands came on September 7. General Joseph Stilwell accepted the surrender in an area that would later become Kadena's Stearley Heights housing area.

Known World War II units assigned to Kadena were:

On June 7, 1946, Headquarters Eighth Air Force moved without personnel or equipment to MacDill AAF, Florida. It was replaced by the 1st Air Division which directed fighter reconnaissance, and bomber organizations and provided air defense for the Ryukyu Islands until December 1948.

Twentieth Air Force became the command and control organization for Kadena on May 16, 1949.

Postwar Years and the Korean War

Twentieth Air Force was inactivated in March 1955. Fifth Air Force became the command and control organization for Kadena. Known major postwar USAAF/USAF units assigned to Kadena have been:

18th Wing

Since November 1954, the 18th Wing under various designations has been the main United States Air Force operational unit at Kadena. Over the past 50 years, the 18th has maintained assigned aircraft, crews, and supporting personnel in a high state of readiness for tactical air requirements of Fifth Air Force and the Pacific Air Forces.

The 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing was reassigned to Kadena from Osan-ni AB (K-55), South Korea on November 1, 1954, flying three squadrons (12th, 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons) of North American F-86 Sabres. Initially the wing supported tactical fighter operations in Okinawa, as well as in South Korea, Japan, Formosa, and the Philippines with frequent deployments. In 1957, the wing upgraded to the North American F-100 Super Sabre and the designation was changed to the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing. In 1960, a tactical reconnaissance mission was added to the wing with the arrival of the McDonnell RF-101 Voodoo and the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.

On June 30, 1959 an F-100 from the wing crashed on Okinawa during a training flight after suffering an engine fire. The pilot successfully ejected and suffered no harm, but the aircraft crashed into a local elementary school, killing 11 students plus six residents of the nearby neighborhood.[2]

Beginning in 1961, the 18th was sending its tactical squadrons frequently to South Vietnam and Thailand, initially with its RF-101 reconnaissance forces, and beginning in 1964 with its tactical fighter forces supporting USAF combat missions in the Vietnam War. In 1963, the Republic F-105 Thunderchief replaced the Super Sabres. During the TDY deployments to Southeast Asia, the 12th TFS lost four aircraft, the 44th TFS lost one F-105D, and the 67th TFS lost nine aircraft, including three on the first day of the Rolling Thunder operations. Aircraft markings on natural metal/silver F-105D/F aircraft included a PACAF badge on both sides of the vertical fin, and a coloured band around the nose directly behind the radome. The deployments to Southeast Asia continued until the end of United States involvement in the conflict.

The McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II replaced the RF-101 in the reconnaissance role in 1967 An electronic warfare capability was added to the wing in late 1968 with the attachment of the 19th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron from Shaw AFB South Carolina flying the Douglas EB-66 Destroyer. The B-66s remained until 1970, flying daily over the skies of Southeast Asia.

During the 1968 Pueblo crisis, the 18th deployed between January and June to Osan Air Base, South Korea following the North Korean seizure of the vessel. Frequent deployments to South Korea have been performed ever since to maintain the air defense alert mission there. The McDonnell Douglas F/RF-4C Phantom II replaced the F-105s in 1971, and a further upgrade to the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle was made in 1979.

In 1972, the 1st Special Operations Squadron was assigned, bringing their specialized Lockheed C/MC-130 Hercules aircraft to the wing. The squadron was reassigned in 1978. The reconnaissance mission ended in 1989 with the retirement of the RF-4Cs, and the deactivation of the 15th TRS.

The designation of the wing changed on October 1, 1991 to the 18th Wing with the implementation of the Objective Wing concept. With the objective wing, the mission of the 18th expanded to the Composite Air Wing concept of multiple different wing missions with different aircraft. The mission of the 18th was expanded to include aerial refueling with Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker tanker aircraft; and surveillance, warning, command and control Boeing E-3 Sentry, and communications. Added airlift mission in June 1992 with the Beech C-12 Huron, transporting mission critical personnel, high-priority cargo and distinguished visitors. In February 1993, the 18th Wing gained responsibility for coordinating rescue operations in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

BRAC 2005

In November 2006, the U.S. Army's 1-1 ADA Battalion, a Patriot PAC-III unit, deployed to Kadena from Fort Bliss Texas[3]. They are assigned to the 94th AAMDC, PACOM, they were assigned to 31st ADA Brigade at Fort Bliss. The move was part of the BRAC consolidation of U.S. Army bases and security agreements between the U.S. and Japan. The battalion's mission is to defend the base against tactical ballistic missiles from North Korea. The deployment was controversial in Okinawa. The unit was greeted by protests.[4]

Other units

Other major units assigned to Kadena since 1954 have been:

Beacon

Name type Call sign Frequency Operating time
Kadena VOR KAD 112.000 24hour
TACAN - 1018.000
The U.S. air force takes charge of maintenance.

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "Kadena Air Base".

  1. AIS Japan
  2. Kyodo News (July 1, 2009). "Okinawa school marks 50th year since deadly U.S. fighter crash". Japan Times. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090701a8.html. Retrieved 2009-07-01. 
  3. 1-1 ADA PAC-3 Battalion officially at Kadena 18th Wing Public Affairs- U.S. Air Force November 11, 2006
  4. U.S. missile defense under way in Okinawa THE ASAHI SHIMBUN-October 27, 2006

External links and references