3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron (JASDF)

3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron
第3飛行隊
3 Squadron Mitsubishi F-2As (2011)
Active October 1, 1956
Country  Japan
Branch  Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Part of Central Air Defense Force, 3rd Air Wing
Garrison/HQ Misawa Air Base
Aircraft flown
Fighter Mitsubishi F-2
Trainer Kawasaki T-4

The 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron (第3飛行隊 (dai-sann-hikoutai)) is a squadron of the 3rd Air Wing of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) based at Misawa Air Base, in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It is equipped with Mitsubishi F-2 and Kawasaki T-4 aircraft.[1][2]

It is currently the longest-serving JASDF squadron, the 1st and 2nd squadrons having been disbanded.[3]

History

Mitsubishi T-2 (1994)

On October 1, 1956 the squadron was formed at Hamamatsu Air Base in Shizuoka Prefecture as part of the 2nd Air Wing, equipped with the F-86F Sabre. On September 2, 1957 it relocated to Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido Prefecture. On March 5, 1963 it moved to Matsushima Air Base in Miyagi Prefecture and was transferred to the 4th Air Wing. On February 1, 1964, as part of the 81st Air Group, the squadron moved again to Hachinohe Air Base in Aomori Prefecture. On December 12, 1971 it relocated to Misawa Air Base, also in Aomori Prefecture.

On March 31, 1978 it updated from the F-86F to the Mitsubishi F-1 and was transferred to the 3rd Air Wing.[3] From late March 2001 the squadron started replacing its F-1 aircraft with Mitsubishi F-2s. It was the first operational F-2 squadron.[4] On March 19, 2004 it started flying the F-2.[5]

In October 2016 the squadron conducted Exercise "Guardian North 2016" at Misawa. This was a joint exercise with four Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 aircraft of 2 Squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was the first time British and Japanese fighter aircraft had trained together,[6][7] the first time fighters from the two countries had met since World War II,[8] and the first time the JASDF had trained in Japan with non-US military forces.[9]

Tail marking

Tail marking (2016)

The squadron's current tail marking is a samurai's helmeted head. A colorful design was adopted in 1983 when the squadron still operated F-1 aircraft. Since the squadron began operating the F-2s in maritime camouflage the tail marking design has been made smaller and less colorful.[3]

Aircraft operated

Fighter aircraft

Mitsubishi F-1 (1984)

Liaison aircraft

See also

References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Paul JASDF – Order of Battle July 1, 2017 J-HangarSpace Retrieved September 14, 2017
  2. ↑ Misawa Air Base Retrieved September 14, 2017 (in Japanese)
  3. 1 2 3 Thompson, Paul JASDF – Squadron Histories J-HangarSpace Retrieved September 14, 2017
  4. ↑ Japan's F-2 Support Fighter Lockheed Martin Retrieved September 16, 2017
  5. ↑ First F-2 fighter delivered to ASDF September 26, 2000 Japan Times Retrieved September 16, 2017
  6. ↑ RAF and JASDF Make History! October 24, 2016 copybook.com Retrieved September 16, 2017
  7. ↑ Wanklyn, Alistair ASDF, Royal Air Force to conduct first-ever joint drills in Japan amid strengthening security ties October 16, 2016 Japan Times Retrieved September 16, 2017
  8. ↑ Japanese, British fighter planes meet for 1st time since World War II October 23, 2016 Asahi Shimbun Retrieved September 16, 2017
  9. ↑ Japan moves to solidify security relations with British forces November 3 ,2016 Asahi Shimbun Retrieved September 16, 2017
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