3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron (JASDF)
3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron | ||
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第3飛行隊 | ||
Trainer Kawasaki T-4 | |
The 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron (第3飛行隊 (dai-sann-hikoutai)) is a squadron of the
It is currently the longest-serving JASDF squadron, as the 1st and 2nd Squadrons have been disbanded.[3]
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/T-2_MIsawa_%2822027977056%29.jpg/220px-T-2_MIsawa_%2822027977056%29.jpg)
On October 1, 1956 the squadron was formed at
On March 31, 1978 it updated from the F-86F to the Mitsubishi F-1 and was transferred to the 3rd Air Wing.[3] From late March 2001 the squadron started replacing its F-1 aircraft with Mitsubishi F-2s. It was the first operational F-2 squadron.[4] On March 19, 2004 it started flying the F-2.[5]
In October 2016 the squadron conducted Exercise "Guardian North 2016" at Misawa. This was a joint exercise with four
On March 26, 2020 unit officially transitioned from Misawa Air Base to Hyakuri Air Base. [10]
Tail marking
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Samurai_helmet_squadron_tail_marking_of_a_3rd_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron_Japan_Air_Self-Defense_Force_Mitsubishi_F-2.jpg/220px-Samurai_helmet_squadron_tail_marking_of_a_3rd_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron_Japan_Air_Self-Defense_Force_Mitsubishi_F-2.jpg)
The squadron's current tail marking is a samurai's helmeted head in profile. A colorful design was adopted in 1983 when the squadron still operated F-1 aircraft. Since the squadron began operating the F-2s in maritime camouflage the tail marking design has been made smaller and less colorful.[3]
Aircraft operated
Fighter aircraft
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/F-1_%28243%29_of_3_Sqn_in_flight_during_Cope_North_%2785-1%2C_-12_Nov._1984_a.jpg/220px-F-1_%28243%29_of_3_Sqn_in_flight_during_Cope_North_%2785-1%2C_-12_Nov._1984_a.jpg)
- North American F-86F Sabre(1956–1978)
- Mitsubishi F-1 (1978–2002)
- Mitsubishi F-2 (2001–present)
Liaison aircraft
- Lockheed T-33A (1956–1992)
- Mitsubishi T-2 (1978–2002)
- Kawasaki T-4 (1990–present)
See also
References
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- ^ Thompson, Paul JASDF – Order of Battle July 1, 2017 J-HangarSpace Retrieved September 14, 2017
- ^ Misawa Air Base Retrieved September 14, 2017 (in Japanese)
- ^ a b c Thompson, Paul JASDF – Squadron Histories J-HangarSpace Retrieved September 14, 2017
- ^ Japan's F-2 Support Fighter Lockheed Martin Retrieved September 16, 2017
- Japan TimesRetrieved September 16, 2017
- ^ RAF and JASDF Make History! October 24, 2016 copybook.com Retrieved September 16, 2017
- Japan TimesRetrieved September 16, 2017
- Asahi ShimbunRetrieved September 16, 2017
- Asahi ShimbunRetrieved September 16, 2017
- ^ @jasdf_hyakuri (26 March 2020). "#三沢基地 3空団所属の #第3飛行隊 は、3/26付で #百里基地 に移動し、#第7航空団 に隷属となりました。本部隊改編により、7空団は #Fー4 に加え、新たに #Fー2 を運用する戦闘航空団として、今後も不断の防空任務等を…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.