Hōfu Air Field (Hōfu-kita Airbase (Hōfu-kita Kitchi))
Summary
| Operating Country | 🇯🇵 Japan |
| Location | 🇯🇵 Japan |
| Status | ◉ Active |
| Usage | Military only |
| Operating Organization | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
| Units |
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Description
Hōfu Air Field is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force aerodrome located 2.0 kilometers southwest of Hōfu in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The facility dates to World War II. It served as the primary Royal Australian Air Force base during the early occupation of Japan, during which the No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF conducted repairs to the airfield. In September 1947, the United States Air Force 347th Fighter Wing (All Weather) stationed F-61 Black Widow night fighters at the airfield for the air defense of Japan. The wing later deployed F-82 Twin Mustangs to the site in October 1948 before relocating to Ashiya Airfield in May 1949. The installation was subsequently placed in reserve status under the 6134th Air Base Squadron until August 1951.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force operates the facility as Hōfu-kita Airbase. Its mission is pilot flight training, and it reports to the Air Training Command headquartered at Hamamatsu Air Base. The base hosts the 12th Flight Training Wing, which comprises the 1st Flight Training Squadron and the 2nd Flight Training Squadron. These units operate Fuji T-7 trainer aircraft.