Oyama Clandestine Airfield

The end of its original function was due to the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II. The facility was subsequently occupied by Allied forces and converted into a United States military airbase, a role it has maintained ever since.

The site is an active and major military installation known as Naval Air Facility Atsugi (NAF Atsugi, ICAO: RJTA). It is a joint-use facility, home to both United States Navy aviation units and significant Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) commands, including the headquarters of the JMSDF Fleet Air Force. It supports maritime patrol, helicopter, and transport squadrons for both nations.

The site has immense historical significance. Established in 1938 as Sagami Airfield for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), it was one of the IJN's largest and most important airbases during World War II. It was a center for aircraft testing, including advanced prototypes like the Kyushu J7W Shinden interceptor. Its most famous historical moment occurred on August 30, 1945, when General Douglas MacArthur and the first American occupation forces landed here, marking the official start of the post-war occupation of Japan. Throughout the Cold War, as Naval Air Station Atsugi, it was a critical frontline base for the U.S. Navy, supporting operations during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. For decades, it was the home of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed carrier air wing, until its relocation to MCAS Iwakuni in 2018.

The facility is not closed and remains a strategically important military base for both the United States and Japan. There are no plans or prospects for its closure or conversion to a civilian airport.