Komatsu Air Base, Japan

The Air Base was established in 1944 as an Imperial Japanese Navy base and was occupied by the United States Armed Forces at the end of World War II. The base was handed over to the JASDF in 1958. Civilian operations commenced in 1962 and the first international flight was in 1973. The runway was extended in 1960 and again in 1964 to facilitate jet operations.

The following JASDF units are based at Komatsu:

6 Kokudan (Wing) with:
303 Hiko-tai with F-15J, F-15DJ, F-35A & T-4
306 Hiko-tai with F-15J, F-15DJ & T-4

Koku Senjyutsu Kyododan (Tactical Air Command) with the Hiko Kyodogun (Aggressor Group) operating the F-15DJ & T-4

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

The unit adopted the dragon squadron marking and call sign in 1981. According to local lore, the dragon is the protector of the nearby Mount Haku.

The unit is responsible for protecting Japan’s western coast and sea and has a long and busy history of intercepting Chinese, North Korean and Russian aircraft. Four aircraft are kept on Quick Reaction Alert at all times.

The T-33A was operated from 1991 to 1994 when they were replaced by the T-4.

The squadron’s emblem is a yellow golden eagle and is the Prefectural bird of Ishikawa.

Like 303 Hiko-tai, this unit’s primary mission is the protection of the west coast and Sea of Japan.

The unit operated the T-33A from 1981 to 1992 when the T-4 was introduced.

The unit relocated to Komatsu in 2016 but provides detachments for training to many bases.

The Komatsu Kyunantai is a Search and Rescue detachment available to cover natural disasters, aircraft crashes and sea rescues. It was established in 1961 as the Komatsu 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 Komatsu 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.

The Komatsu detachment was established in 1962.