Hamby Airfield

Military consolidation and land reversion. Hamby Airfield was a temporary U.S. Army installation built during World War II. Following the war, as the U.S. military presence in Okinawa was reorganized, operations were consolidated into larger, more permanent facilities like the nearby Kadena Air Base. The smaller, temporary airfields like Hamby were deemed redundant and were closed. The land was subsequently returned to the Japanese government for civilian redevelopment over several decades.

The site of the former Hamby Airfield has been completely and extensively redeveloped. It is now an unrecognizable part of the modern, bustling Chatan Town. The land is occupied by a mix of commercial, residential, and recreational areas. Key developments on or near the former airfield grounds include the Mihama American Village, a large entertainment and shopping complex, and the Sunabe Seawall area, which is a popular destination for scuba diving, surfing, and waterfront dining.

Hamby Airfield (also known as Hamby Army Airfield or Hamby AAF) was constructed by U.S. forces during or immediately after the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. It was named in honor of Sergeant Thomas D. Hamby, who was killed in action during the campaign. The airfield primarily handled light aircraft, including liaison, reconnaissance, and small transport planes, supporting U.S. Army operations during the initial post-war occupation period. It was one of many airfields rapidly built across the island to support the massive Allied military presence. It is important to note that the ICAO code 'JP-1989' is not an official, historically recognized designation; it is a fictional code used in flight simulator databases and add-on scenery packages to represent the historical location.

None. There are absolutely no plans or prospects for reopening an airport at this location. The area is now a densely populated and highly developed urban center, making the re-establishment of an airfield physically impossible and economically infeasible.