Air Transport Squadron 61 (JMSDF)
Air Transport Squadron 61 | |
---|---|
第61航空隊 | |
Active | December 20, 1971 |
Country | Japan |
Branch | Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force |
Part of | Fleet Air Force |
Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Facility Atsugi |
Aircraft flown | |
Transport | LC-90, C-130R |
第61航空隊 (Air Transport Squadron 61, dairokujuuichikoukuutai) (also referred to as VC-61 or Fleet Air Squadron 61) is a unit in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force. It is a part of the Fleet Air Force and is based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Kanagawa prefecture.[1][2] It operates LC-90 and Lockheed C-130R Hercules aircraft.
History
The squadron was founded at Atsugi Naval Air Facility on December 20, 1971 equipped with NAMC YS-11 aircraft. In 1989 it began to operate the LC-90, and in November 2014 the unit began to operate five former KC-130 tanker aircraft of the US Marine Corps. They were stripped of their refueling equipment and redesigned as C-130R aircraft.[3][4] In December 2014 the squadron's YS-11s were retired.
In the past the squadron has also operated Grumman S-2F-U Tracker, Douglas C-27 Skytrain RFD-6 and Beechcraft B65 Queen Air aircraft.
Gallery
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LC-90 landing at Naval Air Facility Atsugi
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Lockheed C-130R landing at Naval Air Facility Atsugi
References
- ^ Japanese Ministry of Defence: Atsugi NAF Squadrons Retrieved August 11, 2016 Template:Ja
- ^ Thompson, Paul JMSDF - Order of Battle February 2016 Retrieved August 11, 2016
- ^ Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force C-130s Retrieved February 12, 2017
- ^ Sale gives new life to excess C-130s March 7, 2013 Archived March 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved February 12, 2017