Misawa Air Base
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Misawa Air Base | |||||||
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三沢飛行場 Misawa Hikōjō | |||||||
F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 35th Fighter Wing departs Misawa Air Base during 2014. | |||||||
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Coordinates | 40°42′19″N 141°22′19″E / 40.70528°N 141.37194°E | ||||||
Type | Joint Japanese and United States air base | ||||||
Site information | |||||||
Owner | Various (leased by Government of Japan and made available to the US) | ||||||
Operator |
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Controlled by | |||||||
Condition | Operational | ||||||
Website | www | ||||||
Site history | |||||||
Built | 1938 | ||||||
In use | 1938 – present | ||||||
Events | Misawa Air Festival (三沢航空祭) | ||||||
Garrison information | |||||||
Garrison |
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Airfield information | |||||||
Identifiers | AMSL | ||||||
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Source: Japanese AIP at AIS Japan[1] :A.^ The text version gives a runway length of 3,050 by 45 m (10,007 by 148 ft) and the aerodrome chart a length of 10,000 by 150 ft (3,048 by 46 m) |
Misawa Air Base (三沢飛行場, Misawa Hikōjō) (
History
Origins
What is now called Misawa Air Base has been used by the military since the
In 1870, the Emperor Meiji established a stud farm for the household cavalry in the area that later became Misawa AB, and kept his own (Tenno Heika) cavalry there until 1931, when the Sino-Japanese conflict required their use in China. Misawa remained a training center for Japanese Cavalry until the Japanese Army constructed the first runway at Misawa for military aircraft in 1938.
Misawa Air Base was near the takeoff site of the world's first non-stop trans-Pacific flight in 1931. Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon took off from a gravel runway on Sabishiro Beach near Misawa in the aircraft known as Miss Veedol, landing 41 hours later in Wenatchee, Washington, thereby successfully crossing the Pacific Ocean. The runway is commemorated by a large sign in the coastal forest and is a popular beach and recreation area for Misawa AB personnel. The cities of Wenatchee and Misawa cemented their special relationship by becoming official sister cities in 1981, strengthening their friendship through annual cultural exchange programs.
The Imperial Army transformed Misawa into an air base in 1938 when it was used as a base for long-range bombers. By early 1941, the Genzan Flying Corps trained at Misawa. The base was taken over by the Imperial Navy Air Corps in 1942, when the 22d Imperial Naval Air Wg assumed control of the base and the mission was changed to research and development. In 1944, facilities were built for Kamikaze Special Attack forces.
World War II
Before the outbreak of World War II, Lake Ogawara at Misawa was used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service to practice for the attack on Pearl Harbor. The lake was used because it was similar in depth to Pearl Harbor. The Japanese military fashioned hills near the shore of the lake to resemble the shapes of Battleships and Cruisers that were anchored in Pearl Harbor. This provided for a realistic view for their pilots from the air. The pilots conducted low level bombing runs, dropping torpedoes into the shallow depths of Lake Ogawara. This practice developed and refined the method to attack the ships that were anchored at Pearl Harbor. During World War II, the Misawa area was heavily damaged (base 90 percent destroyed) by U.S. fighters and bombers.
Postwar era
The American occupation of Misawa began in September 1945. Misawa had to be almost completely reconstructed by occupying U.S. forces by Army engineers who restored the base for future use by the United States Army Air Forces. During the Korean War and Vietnam War, Misawa supported fighter missions. The base was the launching point for clandestine surveillance overflights into China and the USSR during the 1950s.
After the immediate postwar reconstruction of facilities, the first permanent USAAF tenant was the 613th Air Control and Warning Squadron (613th AC&WS), taking up residence on July 15, 1946, and providing air traffic control in the Misawa area for the next decade.
49th Fighter Bomber Wing
The first operational fighter wing was the
Korean War
With the outbreak of the
At Misawa, the 49th was replaced by the 6163d Air Base Wing to perform host and occupation duties. The 41st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron from the 35th FIW at Johnson AB was deployed to Misawa to provide air defense starting in September 1950, remaining until February 1951, being replaced by the 40th FIS also from Johnson AB, which remained until July. The
Between May and August 1953, the 12th Strategic Fighter Wing pulled a rotational TDY at Misawa relieving the 27th and being relieved in turn by the 31st Strategic Fighter Wing. remaining until February 12, 1954. The 12th SFW returned for a second TDY in May 1954, remaining until August.
The 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing was relieved from its duties in South Korea on November 7, 1953, and resumed its host duties at the base. It remained at Misawa until December 10, 1957, however its operational control of its squadrons and group came under the 39th Air Division on March 1, 1955.
Cold War
39th Air Division
On March 1, 1952, the
Wings controlled by the 39th AD were:
- 49th Fighter Bomber Wing March 1, 1955 – April 15, 1957
- 4th Fighter Bomber Wing March 8, 1955 – December 8, 1957
- 21st Tactical Fighter Wing November 10, 1958 – June 18, 1960
Squadrons controlled by the 39th AD were:
- 4th Fighter Interceptor Squadron March 1, 1955 – June 20, 1965
- 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron April 25, 1960 – January 15, 1968
- 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron December 15, 1967 – January 15, 1968
- 339th Fighter Interceptor Squadron March 1, 1955 – January 15, 1958
- 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron November 29, 1965 – January 15, 1968
- 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron June 18, 1960 – June 16, 1964
- 418th Fighter Day Squadron December 10, 1957 – March 25, 1958
- 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron June 18, 1960 – June 16, 1964
- 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron November 3, 1965 – January 15, 1968.
In this role the 39th trained the assigned units and controlled aerial interception missions when Japanese air space was violated. The division also controlled air refueling and ECM missions, and trained personnel of the
After the
The division also supported combat operations during the Vietnam War.
Aircraft flown by the 39th AD included the
Japanese Air Forces
The first
475th Air Base Wing
The 31st Air Division was inactivated on January 15, 1968, and was replaced at Misawa by the
6112th Air Base Group
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/ANFLR-9_antenna_array.jpg/220px-ANFLR-9_antenna_array.jpg)
The 6112th ABG took over the base host duties at Misawa in 1971, with the inactivation of the 475th ABW. For the next several years, Misawa's focus was with the
During this period, the base hosted various Allied exercises in the region and the 6112th ABG provided support for 13 Air Force associated non-flying units, 14 DOD agencies and the JASDF units stationed in the Misawa area until September 1, 1982.
In 1983, Misawa was a major deployment site for rescue and recovery operations, following the downing of
432d Tactical Fighter Wing
In July 1984, the ) flying the HH-53 "Super Jolly Green Giant" helicopter.
Post Cold War
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Misawa-f16s.jpg/220px-Misawa-f16s.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/%22Elephant_Walk%22_at_Misawa_Air_Base%2C_May_2022.jpg/220px-%22Elephant_Walk%22_at_Misawa_Air_Base%2C_May_2022.jpg)
The 35th Fighter Wing was redesignated and reassigned October 1, 1994, when it inactivated at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland and was reactivated the same day at Misawa where the wing assumed the missions and responsibilities previously performed by the 432nd Fighter Wing.
Near the 1995 new year, Misawa experienced two earthquakes—7.5 and 7.9 on the
On July 25, 1998, a US
Global War on Terror
On September 25, 2003,
On July 17, 2007, a US F-16 from Misawa, while deployed to the 13th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron,
The base was slightly damaged by the March 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and experienced a black out. There were concerns about flooding from the tsunami reaching the base, and about a nearby nuclear facility, the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant.[7]
After the quake, personnel and aircraft from the base assisted with Operation Tomodachi. The base also served as an important hub for airlifted assistance during the disaster recovery efforts. During the crisis, around 1,400 American family members voluntarily departed the base for locations outside Japan.[8]
In April 2015, two US F-16s based at Misawa made an emergency landing at a local airport after oil started leaking from one of the fighters.[9]
In October 2016, four Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters from No. 2 Squadron RAF supported by a Voyager aerial tanker and a C-17 deployed to Misawa for the first bilateral exercises in Japan for the JASDF to host conducted with non-U.S. forces.[10][11][12]
On February 20, 2018, a US F-16 based at Misawa dumped two external fuel tanks into the nearby Lake Ogawara after experiencing an engine fire.[13][14][15]
On January 14, 2019, a US F-16 based at Misawa made a precautionary landing at a Japanese regional airport after a problem with the aircraft. It was later revealed that this was due to a plastic piece falling off of the aircraft mid-flight.[16][9]
On April 3, 2019, a Japanese
On November 1, 2019, a US F-16 based at Misawa accidentally dropped an inert training device about 3 miles North of Misawa Air Base's Draughon Range, into a privately owned field. There were no injuries or deaths.[19]
On February 2, 2020, the 35th Fighter Wing Commander temporarily tightened the base's curfew and prohibited the consumption of alcohol off-post until March 2, 2020. This was due to 5
In May 2021, the
Post Global War on Terror
On December 1, 2021, a US F-16 based at Misawa dropped its external fuel tank in the town of
In March 2022, the
In September 2022, the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was inactivated and split into the 13th and 14th Fighter Generation Squadrons under the 35th Maintenance Group.[25]
Major commands to which assigned
- Far East Air Forces, (September–December 1945)
- Redesignated: Pacific Air Command, United States Army, (December 1945 – January 1947)
- Redesignated: Far East Air Forces, (January 1947 – July 1957)
- Redesignated: Pacific Air Forces, (July 1957 – July 1972)
- Air Defense Command(Attached), (September 1950 – June 1965)
- United States Air Force Security Service, (July 1972 – October 1978)
- Pacific Air Forces, (October 1978–present)
Major Operating Units
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* Performed Host Unit functions
Role and operations
Misawa is the only combined, joint service installation in the western Pacific. It houses three U.S. military services (Air Force, Navy, and Army), as well as the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The base is home to 5,200 US military personnel, as well as 350 US civilian employees and 900 Japanese national employees.
The Misawa Passive
United States
The United States Air Force's 35th Fighter Wing (35 FW) is the host unit at Misawa Air Base. The wing conducts daily F-16 flight training to maintain its combat readiness. Its pilots fly air-to-air weapons delivery exercises over water and sharpen their air-to-ground skills using the Draughon Gunnery Range (formerly Ripsaw Range) located 12 miles north of Misawa.
Four groups are assigned to the 35th Fighter Wing: the 35th Maintenance Group, the 35th Mission Support Group, 35th Medical Group and 35th Operations Group. Operational fighter squadrons of the 35th Operations Group are:
- 13th Fighter Squadron "Panthers", Red tail stripe
- 14th Fighter Squadron "Samurais", Yellow tail stripe
Both squadrons fly the Block 50 F-16C/D "Wild Weasels", and use the tail code of "WW" (before adopting the "WW" tail code, the code "MJ" (for Misawa, Japan) was carried.
- Naval Air Facility Misawa
- Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Seventh Fleet (COMPATRECONFORSEVENTHFLT, Task Force 72). In 2018 this force is an additional designation for Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1.[26]
- Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) Misawa
- Navy Munitions Command East Asia Division (NMC EAD) Unit Misawa
- Rotational squadrons and detachments of EA-18G Growleraircraft on six-month deployments to NAF Misawa
U.S. Defense Contractor
- CUBIC Defense Applications ACMI
Based units
Flying and notable non-flying units based at Misawa Air Base.[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]
United States Air ForcePacific Air Forces (PACAF)
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Air Education and Training Command (AETC)
Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI)
Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
Commander, Navy Installations Command (CINC)
Commander, Naval Air Force, Pacific (COMNAVAIRPAC)
United States Space Force
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Climate
Like most of the
Climate data for Misawa AB, Aomori, Japan (Means 2007/01/01 - 2016/12/31) | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 59 (15) |
61 (16) |
70 (21) |
86 (30) |
88 (31) |
93 (34) |
97 (36) |
97 (36) |
94 (34) |
82 (28) |
73 (23) |
63 (17) |
97 (36) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 34 (1) |
36 (2) |
44 (7) |
55 (13) |
64 (18) |
68 (20) |
75 (24) |
79 (26) |
74 (23) |
64 (18) |
51 (11) |
40 (4) |
57 (14) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 28 (−2) |
29 (−2) |
35 (2) |
46 (8) |
55 (13) |
60 (16) |
68 (20) |
72 (22) |
67 (19) |
56 (13) |
43 (6) |
33 (1) |
49 (9) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24 (−4) |
25 (−4) |
31 (−1) |
39 (4) |
49 (9) |
56 (13) |
64 (18) |
68 (20) |
61 (16) |
49 (9) |
38 (3) |
29 (−2) |
45 (7) |
Record low °F (°C) | 5 (−15) |
−4 (−20) |
7 (−14) |
19 (−7) |
30 (−1) |
37 (3) |
45 (7) |
48 (9) |
39 (4) |
30 (−1) |
19 (−7) |
10 (−12) |
−4 (−20) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.6 (66) |
2.3 (58) |
2.6 (66) |
2.8 (71) |
3.1 (79) |
3.9 (99) |
5.0 (130) |
5.4 (140) |
6.5 (170) |
4.0 (100) |
3.0 (76) |
2.5 (64) |
43.0 (1,090) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 40.1 (102) |
33.1 (84) |
20.5 (52) |
2.6 (6.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
5.7 (14) |
23.2 (59) |
126.1 (320) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 119 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.05 in) | 17 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 56 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
68.3 | 64.7 | 63.5 | 61.0 | 68.6 | 78.6 | 80.3 | 78.5 | 74.6 | 66.9 | 67.9 | 68.5 | 70.1 |
Source: AFCCC (Extremes 1948/04/08 - 2017/10/31)[35] |
Education
The Department of Defense operates two schools that serve the children of the American military and civilian personnel stationed at the base.[36]
- Sollars Elementary School, home of the Dragons
- Robert D. Edgren Middle/High School, home of the Eagles[37]
Higher educational opportunities for those in the military and working for the Department of Defense, as well as for family members at Misawa are available through several contracted academic institutions. For example:
- The Asian Division of University of Maryland University College (UMUC)[38]
- Central Texas College
- University of Phoenix
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- AN/FLR-9
- Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan
- U.S.–Japan Status of Forces Agreement
References
Citations
- ^ a b "AIS Japan". Aisjapan.mlit.go.jp. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ https://scout.com/military/warrior/Article/Army-Fires-New-Stryker-30mm-Cannon-Preps-for-Major-Land-War-108357646[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Misawa Air Force Base in Misawa, Japan". Military Bases. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ Published Cold War Shoot Down Incidents Archived 2009-06-11 at the Wayback Machine at Advocacy & Intelligence Index For POWs-MIAs Archives
- ^ "Ahz.JPG photos | F-16.net".
- ^ Svan, Jennifer (2 February 2008). "Balad F-16 crash blamed on maintainers and pilot". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Dickson, Patrick At Misawa, 'cold, miserable and scared people' March 11, 2011 Stars and Stripes Retrieved August 22, 2016
- ^ Reed, Charlie, "Military wraps up first round of departures from Japan", Stars and Stripes, 25 March 2011, retrieved 28 March 2011.
- ^ a b Kusumoto, Hana (15 January 2019). "Misawa-based F-16 makes precautionary landing at Japanese airport". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Royal Air Force Aircraft Arrive in Japan October 22, 2016 Archived February 22, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Royal Air Force Retrieved October 24, 2016
- Japan TimesRetrieved October 24, 2016
- ^ Royal Air Force to Join Air Forces of Japan and South Korea in First Ever Aerial Drills October 16, 2016 Yibada Retrieved October 24, 2016
- Japan Times. February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- Asahi Shimbun. February 20, 2018. Archived from the originalon February 19, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ Yamaguchi, Mari (February 20, 2018). "US F-16 dumps fuel tanks near fishermen in Japan lake". Air Force Times. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ Kusumoto, Hana (8 November 2019). "No injuries or damage after Air Force F-16 drops dummy bomb on private property in Japan". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Yeo, Mike (9 April 2019). "Japan confirms F-35A fighter jet crashed; remaining aircraft still grounded". DefenseNews. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Lendon, Brad (11 June 2019). "Japan F-35 fighter crash: Pilot suffered 'spatial disorientation'". CNN. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ Kusumoto, Hana (8 November 2019). "No injuries or damage after Air Force F-16 drops dummy bomb on private property in Japan". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Roza, David (5 February 2020). "Misawa AFB airmen are facing a tighter curfew after a wave of alcohol-related incidents". Task and Purpose. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Robson, Seth Navy’s Triton maritime surveillance drones arrive at Misawa Air Base, Japan May 19, 2021 Stars and Stripes Retrieved October 6, 2022
- ^ Wilson, Alex Navy’s Triton surveillance drones conclude their first deployment to Japan October 25,2021 Stars and Stripes Retrieved October 6, 2022
- ^ Kusumoto, Hana (1 December 2021). "Japan wants US to ground F-16s after pilot dropped fuel tank during emergency". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Robson, Seth Japan receives first of three Global Hawk surveillance drones at Misawa Air Base March 15,2022 Stars and Stripes Retrieved October 6, 2022
- ^ "13th and 14th Fighter Generation Squadrons Activated at Misawa Air Base".
- ^ http://www.cprw1.navy.mil/, accessed January 2018.
- ^ "Units". Misawa Air Base. US Air Force. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "Operations". Naval Air Facility Misawa. US Navy. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ "Task Force 72". Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing One. US Navy. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ "Japan Air Self-Defense Force – Order of Battle". Scramble. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ "Civil Air Patrol - Overseas Squadrons". gocivilairpatrol. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "Wild Weasel Walk-Through: OSI". Misawa Air Base. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Bolfing, Brieana. "JJTAGS mission transfers from Army to Space Force". 5th Air Force. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ "372nd TRS, Field Training Detachment 23". US Air Force. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "AFCCC Operational Climate Data Summary". 14th Weather Squadron. Archived from the original on 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
- ^ School Contacts Archived 2006-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Home | Edgren Middle High School | DoDEA". Department of Defense Education Activity (which owns "dodea.edu"). Archived from the original on 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
- ^ "asia.umuc.edu". asia.umuc.edu. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
Sources
- General
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Some of the text in this article was taken from pages on the Misawa Air Base website, which as a work of the U.S. Government is presumed to be a public domain resource. That information was supplemented by:
- Fletcher, Harry R. (1989) Air Force Bases Volume II, Active Air Force Bases outside the United States of America on September 17, 1982. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6
- Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Misawa Air Base at U.S. Air Forceweb site
- NIOC Misawa at U.S. Navyweb site
- Misawa Air Base at GlobalSecurity.org
- Misawa Airport Terminal Company (civilian passenger terminal)
- Current weather for RJSM at NOAA/NWS
- Accident history for MSJ at Aviation Safety Network
- the Insider for Local Information
- SAPPORO INN Archived 2017-09-11 at the Wayback Machine for Housing Info
- Wenatchee Valley Misawa Sister City Association