Hōfu Air Field

Hōfu Air Field 防府飛行場 Hōfu Hikōjō
IATA: none ICAO: RJOF
Summary
Airport type	Military
Operator	Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Location	Hōfu, Japan
Elevation AMSL	7 ft / 2 m
Coordinates	34°02′04″N 131°32′47″E
Map
Hōfu Air Field Location in Japan
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 01/19 1,180 3,871 Asphalt 12/30 1,480 4,856 Asphalt
Source: Japanese AIP at AIS Japan

Hōfu Air Field (防府飛行場, Hōfu Hikōjō) (ICAO: RJOF) is a military aerodrome of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Hōfu-kita Airbase (防府北基地, Hōfu-kita Kitchi). It is located 1.1 NM (2.0 km; 1.3 mi) southwest of Hōfu in the Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

History

Hōfu Airfield's origins appear to begin as a World War II airfield, as its runway pattern is indicative of wartime fields built in that era. It was the main Royal Australian Air Force base during the early part of the occupation of Japan and was repaired by No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF. From September 1947 the United States Air Force's 347th Fighter Wing (All Weather) based F-61 Black Widow night fighters at the airfield as part of the air defense of Japan, but moved shortly afterwards to Ashiya Airfield. The 347th later stationed new F-82 Twin Mustangs at the airfield in October 1948, moving them to Ashiya in May 1949. It was apparently placed in reserve status afterwards, the 6134th Air Base Squadron being a housekeeping unit until 31 August 1951.

Tenant squadrons

Fuji T-3 (1994)

Hōfu Air Field provides pilot flight training for the Japan Air Self Defense Force. It reports to JASDF Air Training Command, headquartered at Hamamatsu Air Base.

• 12th Flight Training Wing
  • 1st Flight Training Squadron (Fuji T-7)
  • 2nd Flight Training Squadron (Fuji T-7)

References

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.