Tsuiki Air Field

Tsuiki Air Field Trúc thành phi hành tràng Tsuiki Hikōjō
IATA:none ICAO:RJFZ
Summary
Airport type	Military
Operator	Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Location	Tsuiki, Fukuoka,Japan
ElevationAMSL	55 ft / 17 m
Coordinates	33°41′06″N131°02′25″E
Map
RJFZ Location in Japan
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 07/25 2,400 7,874 Concrete
Source: JapaneseAIPatAIS Japan

JASDF 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron Mitsubishi F-2 at Tsuiki

Tsuiki Air Field(Trúc thành phi hành tràng,Tsuiki Hikōjō)(ICAO:RJFZ) is a military aerodrome of theJapan Air Self-Defense ForceTsuiki Airbase(Trúc thành cơ địa,Tsuiki Kichi).It is located in on the northeast coast ofKyushumand its borders straddle the municipalities ofTsuiki,Yukuhashi,andMiyako,Japan.The runway extends from west-southwest to east-northeast, with a portion protruding approximately 300 meters into the Gulf of Suo at the western end of the Seto Inland Sea. TheJR KyushuNippō Main Lineruns along the southern border of the base. Since March 2008, the base handles most of theair traffic controloperations atKitakyushu AirportandYamaguchi Ube Airport.

History

Tsuiki Airfield was originally built by theImperial Japanese Army Air Force(IJAAF) duringWorld War IIand was opened on October 1, 1942. In 1945, it was used forOperation Kikusuikamikazeoperations usingYokosuka P1Y"Ginga" bombers. On August 9, 1945, ten fighters scrambled from Tsuiki unsuccessfully attempted to intercept the USAAFB-29 Superfortressbomber en route to theatomic bombing of Nagasaki.The airfield was attacked byUnited States Army Air Force'sFifth Air ForceB-24 LiberatorandA-26 Invaderbombers on 7 August 1945.

Not rebuilt in the immediate postwar era, the old IJAAF airfield was pressed into use during the early days of theKorean War,when theUnited States Air Force(USAF)8th Fighter GroupmovedF-51 Mustangsto Tsuiki in mid-August 1950 for operations over the South KoreanPusan Perimeter.When airfields became available in South Korea, the unit moved toSuwon Air Baseto conduct ground support operations. In addition, the35th Fighter Group,one of the first USAF units deployed to South Korea, pulled out of the line for F-51 replacement aircraft and personnelR&Rat Tsuiki in mid-August. In October, it returned to the South Korean battlefield, moving with the 8th FG to Suwon AB.The 18th FBG also used Tsuiki for F-86 aircraft overhaul and inspections. After its reactivation, Tsuiki Air Base became a second-line USAF facility for the remainder of the Korean War, hosting several weather squadrons, with the 6169th Air Base Squadron being the main host support unit, and supervising construction of new runways and support buildings. After thecombat in Korea endedin 1953, it remained a reserve base until being returned to Japanese control in June 1957.

Even before its return to Japanese control, the fledglingJapan Air Self-Defense Forcebegan using Tsuiki from January 1955 for pilot training, using theLockheed T-33andNorth American F-86.In 1957, the JASDF 3rd Pilot School was formed. This was renamed the 16th Flight Education Group in 1959 and became the 8th Air Wing, consisting of the6th Squadronand 10th Squadron (both equipped with the F-86F) in December 1964. The 10th Squadron was abolished in April 1977 and reactivated as the new 304th Squadron in August of the sale year with theF-4EJ Phantom.The 6th Squadron transitioned to theMitsubishi F-1in 1981 and the 304th Squadron to theF-15EJin January 1990. The 6th Squadron transitioned to theMitsubishi F-2in August 2004. On September 11, 2008 an F-15EJ of the 304th Squadron crashed into theSea of Japandue to a power system failure during training. The pilot successfully ejected, but the accident ended the 304th Squadron's 38 years without a single major accident. The 304th Squadron was transferred toOkinawain 2016 and replaced by the8th Tactical Fighter SquadronfromMisawa Air Basethe same year.

Tenant units

Japan Air Self-Defense ForceWestern Air Defense Force

• 8th Air Wing
  • 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron(F-2A/B)
  • 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron(F-2A/B)
• 2nd Air Defence Missile Group
  • 7th Anti-Aircraft Squadron (MIM-104 Patriot)

References

This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theAir Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-89201-092-4.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-912799-12-9.

External links

• Tsuiki Air Base