Matsushima Air Base, Japan

Author & Photographer: Ian French

Matsushima Air Base was established in 1937 as an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service base during the second Sino-Japanese War.  During World War II, the base operated bombers and participated in the Battle of Okinawa.

Post World War II the US Forces began to revise the Japanese military and the base was handed back in 1954 with the base becoming a training base operating the T-6 Texan.

The following JASDF units are based at Matsushima:

4 Kokudan (Flying Training Wing) with:

21 Hikotai with F-2 & T-4

11 Hikotai/Blue Impulse with T-4

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

The predecessor unit was established in 1975 and become 21 Hikotai a year later in 1976. The Blue Impulse aerobatic team operated as part of the unit flying the F-86F until 1982 when the T-2 was introduced.

21 Hikotai operated the T-2 from 1976 to 2004 and the F-2 from 2002.  The unit also operates aircraft in the liaison role:  The T-33A from 1976 to 1994 and since 1992, the T-4.

After the 2011 earthquake and Tsunami, Matsushima was flooded and many aircraft were damaged beyond repair.  The unit relocated to Misawa and did not return to Matsushima until 2016.

The Blue Impulse aerobatic team was established in 1960 flying six F-86F Sabres from 2 Hikotai and based at Hamamatsu.  The team operated the T-2 from 1980 and the T-4 from 1995.  It relocated to Matsushima in 1982.

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