Kisarazu Air Field
| Kisarazu Air Field 木更津飛行場 Kisarazu Hikōjō | |||||||||||
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| IATA: none – ICAO: RJTK | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
| Operator | Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | ||||||||||
| Location | Kisarazu, Japan | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 10 ft / 3 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°23′42″N 139°54′47″E / 35.39500°N 139.91306°ECoordinates: 35°23′42″N 139°54′47″E / 35.39500°N 139.91306°E | ||||||||||
| Website | JGSDF 1st Helicopter Brigade | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  RJTK Location in Japan | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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Kisarazu Air Field (木更津飛行場 Kisarazu Hikōjō) (ICAO: RJTK) is a military aerodrome of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force JGSDF Camp Kisarazu (木更津駐屯地 Kisarazu Chūtonchi). It is located 1.2 NM (2.2 km; 1.4 mi) north northwest[1] of Kisarazu in the Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
Operations
JGSDF Kisarazu is home to the JGSDF 1st Helicopter Brigade, which is attached to the Central Readiness Force.[2] operating as a supporting unit for the 1st Airborne Brigade and the Japanese Special Forces Group.[3] The base also supports tenant units from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Japan Air Self-Defence Force
History
Kisarazu Air Field was originally established in 1936 as a base for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service, subordinate to the Yokosuka Naval District. It was home to the Kisarazu Air Group, the Imperial Japanese Navy's first dedicated land-based bomber unit, which saw extensive combat during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. The base was also used for training, and the testing of experimental aircraft, including Japan's first jet-powered aircraft, the Nakajima Kikka.
After the end of World War II, from September 1945 the base was used by the United States Air Force as "Kisarazu Air Base". In 1956, the base was officially transferred to the control of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and was used as a training base; although USAF units remained on the base in a tenant capacity until transferred to Tachikawa Air Base in 1961. Subsequently, American assets at Kisarazu came under the control of the United States Navy. In 1968, the JASDF relocated to Iruma Air Base, and Kisarazu was transferred to the control of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Remaining United States Navy assets were transferred to United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka from 1975, and there is currently no American presence at Kisarazu; however, under the terms of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, Kisarazu Air Field remains available for use by aircraft of the United States 7th Fleet under the name "Kisarazu Auxiliary Landing Field".
The base will be used for maintenance of V-22 Osprey aircraft operated by the United States Marine Corps from MCAS Futenma in Okinawa. Maintenance of the aircraft at Kisarazu will begin in 2015 and will be provided by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.[4]
References
- 1 2 AIS Japan
- ↑ Archived June 13, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "What is the CRF （Central Readiness Force）？". Retrieved 2009-01-13.
- ↑ "米軍オスプレイ整備、木更津駐屯地で 防衛省方針". Nihon Keizai Shimbun. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
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