Metabaru Air Field
Metabaru Air Field (ICAO RJDM) is an active military air base in Japan, operated by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. It has 1 runway (660 m). Home to the 4th Air Corps, the 4th Squadron, Western Air Corps, Western Helicopter Squadron and 1 other unit.
Facility Details
33.3253Β°N, 130.4136Β°E · 16 m elevation
| Operating Country | π―π΅ Japan |
| Location | π―π΅ Japan |
| Status | Active |
| Usage | Military only |
| Year built | 1943 |
| Operating Organization | Japan Ground Self-Defense Force |
| Units |
4th Air Corps4th SquadronWestern Air CorpsWestern Helicopter Squadron3rd Anti-Tank Helicopter Squadron
|
| Elevation | 16 m (52 ft) |
| ICAO code | RJDM |
| Runways |
04/22 · 660 m (2,165 ft) · Paved
|
- 63 km Εmura Air Base Fleet Air Wing 22
- 66 km Ashiya Air Field 13th Flying Training Wing
- 68 km United States Fleet Activities Sasebo Commander Amphibious Squadron 11
- 68 km Camp Takayubaru Western Army Aviation Group (Headquarters)
- 71 km Tsuiki Air Field 8th Air Wing
- 100 km Ozuki Air Field 201st Air Training Squadron
Description
Metabaru Air Field is a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) aerodrome located at JGSDF Camp Metabaru in Yoshinogari, Saga Prefecture. The facility was established in 1943 as a branch of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service Tachiarai Training School, where it functioned as a training site for pilots assigned to Special Attack Units. Following the establishment of the JGSDF, the location became a supply depot in 1954. The 4th Air Corps relocated to the base from Ozuki Garrison in 1956 and was subsequently redesignated as the 4th Squadron, a subordinate unit of the Western Air Corps, in 1962.
Current operations at the installation are conducted by the Western Helicopter Squadron, established in 1968, and the 3rd Anti-Tank Helicopter Squadron, established in 1990. The 3rd Anti-Tank Helicopter Squadron operates AH-64D Apache helicopters, which were introduced to the unit in 2010.
In February 2018, an AH-64D Apache based at Metabaru crashed in a residential area of Kanzaki, Saga. The incident resulted in the fatalities of both crew members, an injury to a civilian, and the destruction of a residential structure.
- AUG 132026 Updated Runway designations, surfaces and lengths recorded
- JAN 172026 Updated Secondary name removed
- JAN 122026 Created Page created: Metabaru Air Field; then secondary name, construction year and 2 more fields added