Hamamatsu Air Base, Japan

Author & Photographer: Ian French

Hamamatsu Air Base was established in 1925 as an Imperial Japanese Army Air Force base and in 1933 it became the primary flight school.  Post World War II the base was used by the United States Air Force but was returned to the Japanese in 1952 for use a a flight training school.

The resident unit was 1st Kokudan (Flying Training Wing) operating the T-33A until 1988 when the T-4 was introduced.  From 1998, 602 Hikotai with the Boing E-767 was located here.  The aerobatic squadron Blue Impulse operated from here from 1960 to 1981 when it relocated to Matsushima.

The following JASDF units are based at Hamamatsu:

1 Kokudan with:

31 Kyoiku Hikotai with T-4

32 Kyoiku Hikotai with T-4

41 Kyoiku Hikotai with T-400

Keikai Kokudan (AEW Wing) with 602 Hikotai operating the Boeing E-767

Koku Kyunandan (Air Rescue Wing) with UH-60J & U-125A

31 Hikotai was established in 1989 as a T-4 conversion unit when the JASDF introduced the T-4.

31 Hikotai’s sister unit, 32 Hikotai, was formed a year later in 1990.

JASDF’s sister Flying Training Wing, 13 Hiko Kyoikudan, is at Ashiya Air Base and operates two units: 1 Hikotai and 2 Hikotai.

41 Hikotai was established at Miho in 1994 to operate the Beech T-400 as a multi engined training unit.  It relocated to Hamamatsu in 2021.

602 Hikotai which along with sister squadrons 601 Hikotai at Misawa and 603 Hikotai at Naha, constitute the Keikai Kokudan (AEW Wing).  602 Hikotai was originally formed in 2005 as Hiko Keikai Kanseita and became 602 Hikotai in 2014.

The Hamamatsu Kyunantai is a Search and Rescue detachment available to cover natural disasters, aircraft crashes and sea rescues. It was established in 1961 as the Hamamatsu Kyunan Bunkentai and operated the H-19C, H-21B, T-6G and T-34A and from 1962 the S-62J. In 1964 it was renamed the Hamamatsu Kyunantai.

In this period the KV-107, Mu-2S & S-62J formed the backbone of the fleet until they were replaced by the UH-60J and U-125A.

The U-125A is able to provide aerial surveillance and coordination to locate survivors and to relay their precise positions to the UH-60Js or ground rescue teams.