JGSDF Base Histories

December 14, 2010, marked the centenary of the first flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft in Japan, which had been “unofficially” achieved by Imperial Japanese Army Capt. Kumazo Hino in a German-designed Grade monoplane. (See the first entry on the Japanese Aviation History page of this website.) As aviation literally took off, urged on by the Army, airfields began to spring up across the country. Several current JGSDF bases have thus enjoyed long associations with aviation that stretch back far beyond the service’s formation.

Following the format adopted for the other SDF base histories, the compilation of which was commenced in January 2019, this page will gradually be built up to provide comprehensive information on the key events and operations that have happened in the history of the following 20 Army Camp airfields:

Akeno	Hofu	Kisarazu	Naha	Tachikawa
Aomori	Jinmachi	Kita-Tokushima	Obihiro	Takayubaru
Asahikawa	Kasumigaura	Kita-Utsunomiya	Okadama	Takigahara
Hachinohe	Kasuminome	Metabaru	Soumagahara	Yao

Initial information is being culled from the respective base websites, the URLs of which are included in the concluding data box of each entry, and Japanese Wikipedia. Additional factual information, for example from the Japanese aviation press, will be added and cited where applicable as and when time permits. 

 

Aerial view of Akeno airfield, taken in 1983. (Photo: National Land Image Information
[Color Aerial Photographs], Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
via Wikimedia Commons)  

JGSDF Akeno Army Camp from a lower altitude and better angle today (Photo: JGSDF)

Their pilots conducting engine power checks, 10th AvSqn helicopters set off across Akeno airfield
prior to a formation-flying training mission. (Photo: JGSDF/10th Division)

The main gate at Akeno Army Camp, May 2009 (Photo: ‘Xjm91587’ via Wikimedia Commons)

A view across the airfield on the base open day held on October 2, 2016. (Photo: JGSDF Akeno)

JGSDF Akeno Army Camp, March 17, 2020. 10th AvSqn and other base personnel look on as the
unit’s last two OH-6Ds take off and recede into the distance.(Photos: JGSDF/10th AvSqn)

Held at Akeno on July 28, 2022, was the graduation ceremony for the 89th Pilot Officer Course (POC). Their families were in attendance to witness the new pilots showing off their skills and being awarded their certificates and wings at the conclusion of the year-long course. The event was officially publicized by means of a short video (link).

The target of a future J-HangarSpace museum report, the building dedicated to Akeno’s part in the
history of Japanese aviation. (Photo [Nov. 2010]: ‘Xjm91587’ via Wikimedia Commons)

 

 

 

 

Aerial view of Asahikawa airfield, taken in 1977. (Photo: National Land Image Information
[Color Aerial Photographs], Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
via Wikimedia Commons) 

 (Photo: JGSDF Northern Region ATC/Weather Group website [link], accessed Feb. 2, 2015) 

(Above and below) A 2nd AvSqn UH-1J crew gives a flight demonstration during an event
commemorating the 67th anniversary of Asahikawa base and the 69th anniversary of
the establishment of the 2nd Division. (Photos [June 16, 2019]: JGSDF/2nd Division) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A UH-1H (above) and UH-1J (below) of the resident 6th AvSqn manoeuvre in different parts of their
home base in early November 2010. (Photos: Jerry Gunner via Wikimedia Commons)

 

 

Kasumigaura airfield in 1984 (Photo: National Land Image Information
[Color Aerial Photographs], Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
via Wikimedia Commons)  

 

 

Kasuminome airfield in 1984 (Photo: National Land Image Information
[Color Aerial Photographs], Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
via Wikimedia Commons)  

 

There has been an airfield at Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, since the Imperial Japanese Navy
completed the first facility there in April 1936. Now used primarily by the JGSDF, this
aerial view was taken from a based CH-47JA Chinook helicopter in October 2012.
(J-HangarSpace would like to thank Japan Aviation Journalists’ Association
Executive Director Yukio Suzuki for his key role in arranging the flight.)

Kisarazu airfield in 1988 (Photo: National Land Image Information
[Color Aerial Photographs], Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
via Wikimedia Commons)  

In the form of the first V-22B Ospreys for the Transport Helicopter Group, two new faces arrived
at Kisarazu in July 2020. 
(Photos: 1st Helicopter Brigade, JGSDF via Twitter @1st_helb)

 

 

 

 

Utsunomiya airfield in 1974 (Photo: National Land Image Information
[Color Aerial Photographs], Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
via Wikimedia Commons) 

 

 

Metabaru in 1987 (Photo: National Land Image Information
[Color Aerial Photographs], Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
via Wikimedia Commons) 

The foreshortening effect of a telephoto lens makes it appear that the pilot of a based
Western Region HQ Flt OH-1 is taking the aircraft a little too close to the tower.
(Photo [Dec. 2014]: JGSDF)

 

 

 

 

An aerial view of JGSDF Obihiro Army Camp/Tokachi airfield, formed from four 1977 images.  
  (Photo: National Land Image Information [Color Aerial Photographs], Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism via Wikimedia Commons) 

 

 

Okadama airfield in 1985 (Photo: National Land Image Information [Color Aerial
Photographs], Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
via Wikimedia Commons)  

(Photo: JGSDF Northern Region ATC/Weather Group website [link], accessed Feb. 2, 2015) 

The poster used to advertise Okadama’s COVID-downsized 69th anniversary event in July 2022 and
(below) the scene from outside the base that day. (See Bulletin Board photo report.)
(Image: JGSDF Camp Okadama; Photo: Lien via Twitter @roomskyguard) 

Flight line activity on the day of Okadama’s 70th anniversary event in July 2023.
(Photo: E-2/E-3B（アニキ）via X [formerly Twitter] @e2e3e2e3)

 

The tower at Soumagahara serves as backdrop to the departure of the last flight by a based OH-6D.
(Photo [Mar. 6, 2020]: JGSDF 12th Brigade via Twitter)

 

 

Some of the hangars and the control tower at JGSDF Tachikawa Army Camp in 2013. The
Imperial Japanese Army commenced airfield operations from this Tokyo location in 1922.  

It was from Tachikawa that the Eastern Region Helicopter Squadron flew the very last flight of a
JGSDF OH-6D, on March 26, 2020. (Photo: Japan Ministry of Defense/JGSDF Eastern Aviation)

 

 

Takuyubaru apron and facilities, April 2002 (Photo: Takao Kadokami)

A still from a short YouTube video (link) shows a 109th Sqn Chinook about to receive a wash
down in a spray facility on Takayubaru base. The aircraft was one of three that had just
returned from tackling a forest fire above the village of Ogakicho within the city
of Etajima, Hiroshima Prefecture, in January 2024.
(Image: JGSDF Takayubaru via X [formerly Twitter] @takayubaru_avn)

 

 

 

 

The poster that advertised the event marking the 60th anniversary of Yao’s establishment and
the 52nd anniversary of the Central Region Aviation Group in November 2014.

The scene at the start of proceedings for the Yao open day event in November 2019, which
attracted around 10,000 visitors. (Photo: JGSDF Yao) 

 (All photographs on this website are copyright J-HangarSpace
unless otherwise stated.)