A little history might be a fitting tribute to NAF Atsugi, now the U.S. Navy's largest and most important carrier base in Asia.
The 1,249 acres of Naval Air Facility Atsugi lies in the heart of the Kanto Plain on the main island of Japan, Honshu. The base was originally built in 1938 by the Japanese Imperial Navy as Emperor Hirohito's Kamikaza Naval Air Base. The base handled 48 carrier fighters who flew out to ships ported at Yokosuka and 12 night fighters used to defend the skies over the Kanto Plain. This base was used to train the Emperor's pilots, the 302nd Naval Aviation Corps, who flying their Zero and Gekko fighters, were the most formidable factor in Japan's air defense during World War II, as was the 1st and 2nd Sagamino Naval Air Group. The Atsugi Airdrome, as it was called then, under Commander Yasuna Kozono, was the top aviation base in Japan and only the best pilots flew from here. But despite their efforts on August 15, 1945 Emperor Hirohito announced to the world that Japan would surrended unconditionally. Hearing this, Kozono and the Kamikaze pilots, who vowed to defend mainland Japan "to the end," revolted and held the base captive for seven days. Realizing that surrender was a reality the Kamikaze pilots took off in 33 planes for their final destination known only to themselves and God.
General Douglas MacArthur landed at the Japanese Imperial Navy's "Atsugi Airdrome" in August 1945, bringing the occupation troops to the Japanese mainland. Atsugi then came under the control of the U.S. Army and endured a five-year period of virtual disuse. The Eighth U.S. Army's small Replacement Training Center, closed in 1949, was about the only thing going.
But then the North Korean communists invaded the Republic of Korea in June 1950. NAF Yokosuka was closest to the scene of battle. The Yokosuka runway had belonged to the Navy after the Japanese surrender, but the buildings, hangars and landing area had gradually been turned over to the U.S. Army. By 1950, the Yokosuka site was nothing more than a beachhead for a few seaplanes. In all of Japan, there was no Naval aviation installation. Something had to be done - and quickly,
Prodded by Korea, the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet quickly chose Atsugi as the one major United States Naval air station in the Far East. In October, Navy Mobile Construction Battalion Two arrived. Lieutenant Commander W.J. McFarland, MCB-2's commanding officer, and his 12 men found a dilapidated base. The runway, of poor construction to begin with, was potholed and useless. The 220 buildings on the 1200-acre base were in a shambles.
By November, elements of Fleet Aircraft Squadron 11 joined MCB-2 here and began constructing a 6000-foot runway atop the former airstrip. The configuration of the base is the same today as it was during WWII.
NAF Atsugi was formally commissioned Dec. 1, 1950, and Patrol Squadron Six became the first unit to operate from here. Soon after, a detachment of Fleet Aircraft Squadron 120, based near Yokosuka, was ordered to Atsugi. Commander Fleet Air, Japan, Rear Admiral G.R. Henderson, moved his headquarters from Tokyo to Atsugi in April 1951. Squadrons in the VP, VU and VS categories began rotating in and out.
Atsugi mushroomed into a true military aviation community with the completion of a new photo lab, control tower and parachute loft. By November 1951, the first family members arrived. Recreational facilities were added, including a bowling center, a station theater and a swimming pool - all still in use today.
During 1953 and 1954, a large number of units moved to Atsugi to provide necessary fleet services. They included Marine Aircraft Group 11 which moved into the East Camp, returned to the Japanese in 1971, East Camp is now a Japanese park outside the East Gate. By September 1955, MAG-11 had 94 aircraft and over 2,000 officers and men.
In November 1954, Rear Admiral J.M. Carson, who wore two hats as Commander Fleet Air Japan and Commander, Naval Air Bases Japan, picked up a third "cover" when Commander, Fleet Air Western Pacific was established and headquartered at Atsugi. That position still exists, but has been downsized.
In early 1955, additional units of the First Marine Aircraft Wing were withdrawn from Korea and based at Atsugi. By this time, the total on-board count was 4,745. At one point there were as many as 250 aircraft here. By comparison, CARRIER AIR WING FIVE, the USS KITTY HAWK's air wing and today's major tenant, has about 78 aircraft.
The station remained the same for a few years, with the U.S. Marines slightly outnumbering Navy people. The biggest change came in 1957 when high-performance jet aircraft replaced older models. New planes included the F3H Demon, F4D Skyray, F8U Crusader, FJ-4 Fury and F11F Tiger. Mobile arresting gear provided an option for stopping aircraft when the runway was wet. Aviation activity remained basically unchanged until July 1965, when MAG-11 was officially transferred to MCAS Iwakuni.
In September 1966, a milestone was recorded when Ground Controlled Approach Unit 26 talked down its 150,000th aircraft here. The landing was made by a Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 21, Atsugi Detachment C-1A. Around this time, Atsugi was also home to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SEVEN, whose aviators won numerous awards during the Vietnam Conflict, including the Congressional Medal of Honor.
As the '60s closed, the NAS was phasing down and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) was moving in. It was agreed that the base would be shared by aviation elements of both nations. Atsugi became a naval air facility in 1971, but is actually larger than many Stateside naval air stations. At that time, JMSDF planes, mostly patrol, began to account for a large number of flights. The airstrip was and remains today under the administrative control of the JMSDF. Incidently, the JMSDF has no carriers and no carrier borne planes.
The pace at Atsugi quickened when carriers pulled into Yokosuka. Many of the embarked aircraft flew to NAF Atsugi for maintenance. In 1973 when the USS MIDWAY was home-ported at Yokosuka, Atsugi became a support base for her planes. Simultaneously, the area around Atsugi, originally wooded farmland, begin to undergo a population explosion as the area became a full-fledged suburb of Yokohama,10 miles away.
When the USS INDEPENDENCE replaced the MIDWAY in 1991, Atsugi became the home of Indy's air wing. Also, in 1991, faced with mounting community opposition to the noise of field carrier landing practice, FCLP was moved to the island of Iwo Jima, 700 miles away. The bulk of FCLP now occurs there. Today, with CVW 5 here, the base population is around 8,000 people. The air wing's assets include F/A-18C Hornets, A-6 Intruders, EA-6B Prowlers, S-3B Vikings, E-2C Hawkeyes, F-14 Tomcats and SH-60F helicopters. When Subic Bay and NAS Cubi in the Philippines closed, NAF Atsugi, once a sleepy hollow, emerged as the premier Naval air base remaining in the Pacific.
In August 1998, USS KITTY HAWK replaced USS INDEPENDENCE. NAF Atsugi provides much for the Sailors, family members and employees who come aboard. We strive each day to foster good relation and friendships while maintaining freedom we all enjoy.
It's currently under the command of Captain Kevin P.McNamara. (adapted by Mrs. Geralyn S. Noah, Public Affairs Officer, NAF Atsugi from historical documents.
