404th Tactical Airlift Tanker Squadron (JASDF)
404th Tactical Airlift Squadron | |
---|---|
第404飛行隊 | |
![]() 404 Squadron KC-767 (2014) | |
Active | March 26, 2009 |
Country | Japan |
Allegiance | 1st Tactical Airlift Group |
Branch | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
Garrison/HQ | Komaki Air Base |
Aircraft flown | |
Tanker | Boeing KC-767J |
The 第404飛行隊 (404th Tactical Airlift Tanker Squadron, dai-yon-zero-yon-hikoutai) is a tanker squadron of the 1st Tactical Airlift Group of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force based at Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is equipped with four Boeing KC-767J aircraft.[1][2]
History
[edit]While most JASDF units rarely travel outside Japan, since the squadron's establishment in 2009 its aircraft have travelled outside Japan on exercises, transport missions and displays at airshows on a number of occasions.
Exercises
[edit]Aircraft from the squadron have participated in Red Flag – Alaska including in the 2014-2[3] and 2015-3 editions.[4] They have also participated in the Cope North exercise held in Guam, beginning in 2013[5][6] and including the 2015[7] and 2017[8] exercises. In July 2017 it performed training flights with the Eurofighter Typhoons of the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom.[9]
Operational deployments
[edit]In November 2013 the squadron dispatched an aircraft to the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. The aircraft transported medical equipment and relief supplies from Manila to Cebu.[10][11]
In December 2014 an aircraft of the squadron carried 20,000 protective suits to Accra in Ghana during the Ebola epidemic. Another 680,000 suits were to be delivered by commercial aircraft.[12]
Airshows
[edit]While it has not been common for Japan Self-Defense Force aircraft to appear at airshows outside Japan, The KC-767Js of the squadron have appeared at international air shows on many occasions, usually as a static display.
Japanese KC-767Js have appeared at the 2012,[13] 2014,[14] 2016[15] and 2017[16] editions of the Royal International Air Tattoo in the UK.
The squadron's aircraft have appeared at the Australian International Airshow, marking the JASDF's debut at that show in 2013,[17] and also appeared in 2015[18] and 2017.[19]
Tail markings
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Black_horse_tail_marking_of_a_404th_Tactical_Airlift_Tanker_Squadron_Japan_Air_Self-Defense_Force_KC-767J.jpg/220px-Black_horse_tail_marking_of_a_404th_Tactical_Airlift_Tanker_Squadron_Japan_Air_Self-Defense_Force_KC-767J.jpg)
Aircraft of the squadron bear tail markings of a black horse's head with a flowing yellow mane.
Aircraft operated
[edit]- Boeing KC-767J (2009-)
References
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- ^ Thompson, Paul JASDF - Order of Battle July 1, 2017 J-HangarSpace Retrieved September 13, 2017
- ^ 1st Tactical Air Group Retrieved September 13, 2017 (in Japanese)
- ^ RED FLAG ops in high gear Retrieved September 20, 2017
- ^ RED FLAG-Alaska 15-3 takes off under cloudy skies Retrieved September 20, 2017
- ^ "Exercise Cope North Guam 2013 begins". airforce-rechnology.com. February 5, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- ^ http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2013/September%202013/0913north.pdf Cope North September 2013 Air Force Magazine
- ^ COPE NORTH 2015: THE JAPANESE PERSPECTIVE March 15, 2015 Retrieved September 20, 2017
- ^ Japan Air Self-Defense Force refuel Cope North February 28, 2017 Retrieved September 20, 20178
- ^ Unit-to-unit exchange with the Royal Air Force Archived 2017-09-25 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 25, 2017
- ^ Yoshida, Reiji Massive SDF dispatch set for Philippine relief mission November 14, 2013 Japan Times Retrieved September 18, 2017
- ^ Robson, Seth (November 19, 2013). "WWII foes US, Japan back in Philippines to help storm victims". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
- ^ Kameda, Masaoki ASDF on mission to deliver Ebola suits to West Africa November 28, 2014 Japan Times Retrieved September 18, 2017
- ^ Royal International Air Tattoo - Looking Back at 2012 Archived 2017-09-18 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 18, 2017
- ^ Royal International Air Tattoo - Looking Back at 2014 Archived 2017-09-19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 18, 2017
- ^ Royal International Air Tattoo - Looking Back at 2016 Archived 2017-09-19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 18, 2017
- ^ Static displays at the Royal International Air Tatoo July 18, 2017 Archived September 25, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 25, 2017
- ^ Airshow 2013 - Aircraft Displays Retrieved September 18, 2017
- ^ Report: Australian International Airshow Retrieved September 18, 2017
- ^ Australian International Airshow 2017 Aircraft Display Retrieved September 18, 2017