🇯🇵 Yokota Air Base

Yokota Air Base (RJTY, OKO) is a dual Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and United States Air Force (USAF) base located in Fussa, Tokyo, Japan. It occupies portions of Akishima, Fussa, Hamura, Mizuho, Musashimurayama, and Tachikawa.

Type of Facility and Operations:

• Host Unit: The 374th Airlift Wing is the host unit, primarily conducting airlift missions throughout East Asia.
• Tenant Units: Yokota hosts several tenant units, including the 515th Air Mobility Operations.
• Headquarters: It houses the headquarters of United States Forces Japan and the JASDF Air Defense Command Headquarters.
• Airlift Hub: Yokota is primarily a United Nations Command (UNC) airlift hub.
• Aircraft: The 374th Maintenance Group maintains C-130J, C-12, and UH-1N aircraft.
• Personnel: Approximately 14,000 personnel are stationed at the base.
• Runway: It has a 3,353 m × 61 m (11,001 ft × 200 ft) concrete runway.
• AMC Passenger Terminal: The base features an Air Mobility Command (AMC) Passenger Terminal offering Space-Available flights to various destinations.

Notable Features or History:

• Construction: Built in 1940 by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) as Tama Airfield, it served as a maintenance training base and secret aircraft test and evaluation center.
• Post-WWII: After Japan's surrender in 1945, the United States Army 1st Cavalry Division arrived, and the base was renamed Yokota Army Airfield. It became Yokota Air Base when the USAAF became the USAF in 1947.
• U.S. Forces Japan Headquarters: The headquarters of United States Forces Japan is located at Yokota.
• JASDF Air Defense Command: The JASDF Air Defense Command Headquarters moved to Yokota in 2012.
• Civilian Use Proposal: The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has advocated for opening Yokota to civilian flights to relieve traffic at Haneda and Narita Airports, with a broad agreement on civil-military use reached in 2005.

Current Status:

• Yokota Air Base is operational.
• It is controlled by Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).

*Sources researched: yokota.af.mil, en.wikipedia.org, military.com*