Yokota Air Base
Encyclopedia : Y : YO : YOK : Yokota Air Base
, a base of the United States Air Force, is located in the city of Fussa and nearby communities in the suburbs of Tokyo, Japan. The base serves as the headquarters for United States Forces Japan, and is currently used for airlift missions throughout East Asia. It houses 14,000 personnel. The base occupies a total area of 136,413 m² and has a 3,350 m runway. It is the home of the Fifth Air Force and the 374th Airlift Wing. Among its facilites are the broadcast center for the American Forces Network Tokyo radio service and a detachment of PACAF's Band of the Pacific.
History
The facility which houses Yokota Air Base was originally constructed by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1940 as Tama Airfield, and used as a flight test center. It was taken over by U.S. forces on September 4, 1945 and later expanded, reaching its current size around 1960.
Yokota housed combat aircraft for many years. During the Korean War it was used for B-29 missions, and during the Vietnam War it was used for ferrying B-52s to Southeast Asia. In 1971 all combat squadrons were transferred to Kadena AFB and Misawa AFB.
The base was the setting of Almost Transparent Blue, a best-selling novel written by Ryu Murakami and published in 1976. It is also the setting of parts of The Yokota Officers Club : A Novel by Sarah Bird.
In 2005, the Japanese government announced that the headquarters of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force would be moved to Yokota.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has advocated opening Yokota to civilian flights, as a method of relieving traffic at Haneda and Narita Airport.
Friendship Festival
Each year in August, Yokota Air Base opens the gates to the Japanese community for its annual Friendship Festival. For two days between 0900 and 2000 hours local residents can learn about Yokota. Food and events are provided for all ages. Roughly 200,000 visitors show up each year.
For those 2 short days visitors are able to examine many types of aircraft and even go inside some of the large cargo planes.
AMC Passenger Terminal
The newly renovated AMC Passenger Terminal is located on the main part of base next to the flight line. It is a 5-7 min walk from the kanto lodge (See Below) and Space A flights going to various destinations such as Singapore, Korea, Hawaii, Guam, and State Side.
Hotels And Lodging
Kanto Lodge - DSN (315) 224-2000
The Kanto Lodge is one of PACAF's largest hotel operations. Each year over 130,000 personnel are housed in the Kanto Lodge's eleven, on-base facilities. The new, 125 room TLF facility opened in the summer of 2001
Dialing Directions
US to Yokota When calling from United States using a commercial phone use 011-81-31175 then last 5 digits of the DSN number.Off Base to Yokota When calling from Off Base to Yokota AB use (042) 552-2510 to get the Yokota AB Directory then last 5 digits of the DSN number.
Yokota to US When calling from Yokota to US use 98-001-1+ area code and number
Yokota to Off Base When calling from Yokota to Off Base use 99 wait for second dial tone then enter the desired number.
Units
Present
- Headquarters United States Forces Japan
- Fifth Air Force
- 374th Airlift Wing
- 730th Air Mobility Squadron
- 315th Intelligence Squadron
- 20th Operational Weather Squadron.
Aircraft
Yokota Air Base is home to 3 major types of aircraft as listed below, but also it is not uncommon to see a C-5, KC-10, DC-8, C-17, L-100 and Cargo 747's. Aircraft belonging to Yokota and the 374th AW have the tail code of YJ
External links
- [Official Yokota AB Website]
- [Official 374th Services Sq Website]
- [List of USAF Tail Codes]
- [Picture Tokyo] Much of the info from this page can be found here in depth.
- [Yokota High School Alumni Directory]
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