Shimofusa Air Base 下総航空基地 Shimofusa Kōkū Kichi |
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Summary | |||||||||||
Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
Operator | Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | ||||||||||
Location | Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan | ||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 98 ft / 30 m | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 35°47′56″N 140°00′44″E / 35.79889°N 140.01222°ECoordinates: 35°47′56″N 140°00′44″E / 35.79889°N 140.01222°E | ||||||||||
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Location in Japan | |||||||||||
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Shimofusa Air Base (下総航空基地 Shimofusa Kōkū Kichi?) (ICAO: RJTL) is a military aerodrome of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. It is located 5.4 NM (10.0 km; 6.2 mi) east of Matsudo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The base straddles the border between Kashiwa and Kamagaya cities.
JMSDF Shimofusa Air Base is currently the headquarters of the JMSDF Simofusa Air Training Group, which is equipped with Kawasaki-Lockheed P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and NAMC YS-11 training aircraft. It is also host to the JMSDF 3rd Service School and a detachment from the JMSDF Communications Command.
JMSDF Shimofusa Air Base was initially founded as Fujigaya Airfield (藤ヶ谷飛行場 Fujigaya Hikōjō?) for the IJAAF in 1945 during the closing stages of World War II by appropriating the Musashi Country Club Fujigaya Course which was once the premier golf course in the Tokyo area. With the completion of the airfield facility in April 1945, the 116th Airfield Battalion was assigned to Fujigaya to become the base host unit. At that time, the deployment of major IJAAF units in Tokatsu Region of Chiba Prefecture were: