Tachikawa Airfield

Tachikawa Airfield is located in the city of Tachikawa in western Tokyo. Established on March 14, 1922, the facility was originally constructed under the direction of the Imperial Guard to provide aerial defense for Tokyo. Early stationed units included a balloon squadron and a flying squadron operating Farman III aircraft. From 1929 to 1933, the airfield hosted Japan’s first scheduled commercial air service before civil aviation moved to Haneda. During World War II, the site functioned as a military airfield and a manufacturing center for the Tachikawa Aircraft Company, which produced over 6,000 aircraft. The Imperial Japanese Army also operated the Tokorozawa Army Aviation Maintenance School at the site from 1939.

Following the 1945 surrender of Japan, the United States occupied the airfield and designated it a primary transport base. The 1503d Air Transport Wing served as the host organization, supporting logistics and medical evacuations during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Attempts to extend the runway in 1957 led to the Sunagawa Riots, contributing to the eventual relocation of heavy transport operations to Yokota Air Base. The United States officially returned the facility to the Japanese government in 1977.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) currently operates the airfield. Camp Tachikawa, located on the western portion of the facility, hosts the Eastern Army Aviation Group. This unit operates squadrons of UH-1J Iroquois, Kawasaki OH-6D, and OH-1 helicopters. The base also commands anti-tank helicopter units stationed at Camp Kisarazu.

The site incorporates the 115-hectare Tachikawa Disaster-Preparedness Base, which houses emergency medical facilities, supply stores, and Japan's National Emergency Response Center. This center is situated within an underground bunker and tunnel complex capable of supporting 5,000 personnel for one year. The airfield also hosts Camp Higashi-Tachikawa (JGSDF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Tachikawa Depot. Annual operations include a late-year air show featuring helicopter displays from the JGSDF, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and the Tokyo Fire Department.