Hōfu Air Field Explained

Hōfu Air Field
Nativename-A:防府飛行場
Nativename-R:Hōfu Hikōjō
Icao:RJOF
Type:Military
Operator:Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Location:Hōfu, Japan
Elevation-F:7
Coordinates:34.0344°N 131.5464°W
Pushpin Map:Japan
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Japan
Metric-Rwy:yes
R1-Number:01/19
R1-Length-M:1,180
R1-Surface:Asphalt
R2-Number:12/30
R2-Length-M:1,480
R2-Surface:Asphalt
Footnotes:Source: Japanese AIP at AIS Japan[1]

is a military aerodrome of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force . It is located 1.1NM southwest[1] of Hōfu in the Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

History

Hōfu Airfield's origins appear to begin as a World War II airfield, as its runway pattern is indicative of wartime fields built in that era. It was the main Royal Australian Air Force base during the early part of the occupation of Japan and was repaired by No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF. From September 1947 the United States Air Force's 347th Fighter Wing (All Weather) based F-61 Black Widow night fighters at the airfield as part of the air defense of Japan, but moved shortly afterwards to Ashiya Airfield. The 347th later stationed new F-82 Twin Mustangs at the airfield in October 1948, moving them to Ashiya in May 1949. It was apparently placed in reserve status afterwards, the 6134th Air Base Squadron being a housekeeping unit until 31 August 1951.

Tenant squadrons

Hōfu Air Field provides pilot flight training for the Japan Air Self Defense Force. It reports to JASDF Air Training Command, headquartered at Hamamatsu Air Base.

References

Notes and References

  1. http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160517110850/https://aisjapan.mlit.go.jp/ AIS Japan