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| united states military bases in japan | |
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HISTORY Kadena Air Base history dates back to just before the United States invasion of Okinawa during World War II . A local construction firm completed a small airfield near the island's village of Kadena. The airfield, used by Japanese warplanes, was one of the first targets of the U.S. Tenth Army . By August 1945 , repairs were made and an additional runway was built and the original runway lengthened and improved to accommodate bombers. The surrender of Japanese forces in the Ryukyu Islands came 7 September the same year. General Joseph Stilwell accepted the surrender in an area that would later become Kadena's Stearley Heights housing area. Although Kadena originated as a fighter base, a B-29 organization -- the 316th Bombardment Wing -- was the first element responsible for operating the base. The 19th Bombardment Group arrived from Andersen Air Force Base , Guam to fight in the Korean War . In August 1950 , the 307th Bombardment Group arrived at Kadena from MacDill Air Force Base , Florida , adding to the base's growing bomber force. When the Korean War ended, the B-29 s departed and, by 1954 , had been replaced with F-86 fighters. In March 1955 , the 313th Air Division was activated at Kadena. During the Vietnam War Kadena acted as a host base for B-52 s conducting Arclight and Operation Linebacker bombing missions in Southeast Asia, for A-12 and SR-71 strategic reconnaissance aircraft, and for the KC-135 tankers which provided Aerial Refueling support for them. MISSION The 18th Wing's mission is to defend U.S. and Japanese mutual interests by providing a responsive staging and operational airbase with integrated, deployable, forward-based airpower. The wing is composed of five groups: operations, maintenance, mission support, Civil Engineer and medical. The wing provides facilities for U.S. Navy , Marine Corps , Army and other forces assigned to or transiting Kadena. Approximately 7,000 military members are assigned to the wing. The total base population of 23,000 from five major commands also includes family members, U.S. civilians, Japanese base workers, and contractors. The wing manages $6 billion in resources, including nearly 80 F-15 , KC-135 , E-3 and HH-60G aircraft valued at more than $4 billion. Other equipment and capital assets are valued at approximately $2 billion. NOTABLE AREAS
SOURCE This article incorporates information from the 18th Wing Public Affairs Office's Web site . EXTERNAL LINKS AND REFERENCES |
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