Misawa Air Base, Japan

Author: Ian French
Photography: Ian French

The Air Base was established in 1938 as an Imperial Japanese Army base for long range bombers. The Imperial Japanese Navy assumed control of Misawa in 1942. The base was 90% destroyed by the time the United States forces took control in 1945 and a reconstruction programme was undertaken to restore the base for operations.

The base was used for clandestine missions over China and the USSR and later for missions during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

JASDF operations commenced in 1954.

The following JASDF units are based at Misawa:

3 Kokudan (Wing) with:
301 Hiko-tai with F-35A
302 Hiko-tai with F-35A
Hokubu Shien Hikohan (Northern HQ Support Flight) operating the T-4

Keikai Kokudan (Airborne Early Warning & Control Wing) with 601 Hiko-tai operating the E-2D

Koku Kyunandan (Air Rescue Wing) with the Misawa Herikoputa Kuyutai operating the CH-47J

Teisatsu Kokutai (Air Reconnaissance Group) with 502 Hiko-tai operating the RQ-4B drone

The resident USAF unit is the 35th Fighter Wing, tail code WW, with two units: 13 Fighter Squadron “Panthers” and 14 Fighter Squadron “Samurais”.

The base also houses permanent US Army and Navy units although no permanent aircraft are based.  Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft are often on detachment at Misawa.

301 Hiko-tai was established at Hyakuri in October 1973 to operate the F-4EJ and T-33A as the operational conversion unit for the F-4EJ. The squadron relocated to Nyutabaru Air Base in 1985 and in 1991 upgraded to the F-4EJKai. The T-33s were replaced by the T-4 from 1991. In 2016 the unit relocated to Hyakuri Air Base, swapping with 305 Hiko-tai. The unit was now primarily responsible for the air to ground mission. In 2020 the F-4 was withdrawn and the unit relocated to Misawa Air Base to convert to the F-35A. The unit’s tail marking is a frog with a scarf which is based on the toads found around Mount Tsukuba near Hyakuri where the unit was formed. The scarf contains a number of stars which signify the wing the squadron belongs to.

302 Hiko-tai was established at Chitose Air Base in 1974 as the second F-4EJ squadron. The squadron relocated to Naha in 1985. In 1995 the transition to the upgraded F-4EJKai was completed. In 2009 the unit relocated to Hyakuri Air Base, swapping with 204 Hiko-tai. The T-33A was operated from 1974 to 1992 when they were replaced by the T-4. The F-4EJKai was withdrawn in 2019 and the unit relocated to Misawa Air Base to convert to the F-35A. The squadron’s emblem is a stylised image of a white tailed eagle.

502 Hikotai operates to RQ-4B and was formalised in 2022 as the operating squadron of the Teisatsu Kokutai (Air Reconnaissance Group).  The unit had previously operated as the Rinji Teisatsu Kokutai (Temporary Reconnaissance Group).

The Hokubu Shien Hikohan was established in 1978 and is also part of 3 Kokudan and provides support flights for the Northern HQ region.

The T-33 and T-4 have been operated.

13 Fighter Squadron was activated in 1966 for the Vietnam War operating the F-105 and F-4 from Khorat in Thailand and then Udorn.  The unit disbanded in 1975 at the end of the war.

The unit reactivated a year later at MacDill Air Force Base as a Tactical Fighter Training Squadron with the F-4.  The unit disbanded again in 1982 and reactivated in 1985 in Misawa to operate the F-16.  It was redesignated 13 Fighter Squadron in 1991.

14 Fighter Squadron was established in 1944 as 14 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron.  Post World War II the squadron was placed in reserve, later as a troop carrier in the early 1950s.  The unit returned to reconnaissance duty in 1967 and participated in the Vietnam War moving to Udorn, Thailand in 1967.

The squadron disbanded in 1975 and reactivated in 1987 to operate the F-16 at Misawa.