404th Tactical Airlift Tanker Squadron (JASDF) explained

Unit Name:404th Tactical Airlift Squadron
Native Name:第404飛行隊
Dates:March 26, 2009
Country:Japan
Allegiance:1st Tactical Airlift Group
Branch:Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Garrison:Komaki Air Base
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Aircraft Tanker:Boeing KC-767J

The is a tanker squadron of the 1st Tactical Airlift Group of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force based at Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is equipped with four Boeing KC-767J aircraft.[1] [2]

History

While most JASDF units rarely travel outside Japan, since the squadron's establishment in 2009 its aircraft have travelled outside Japan on exercises, transport missions and displays at airshows on a number of occasions.

Exercises

Aircraft from the squadron have participated in Red Flag – Alaska including in the 2014-2[3] and 2015-3 editions.[4] They have also participated in the Cope North exercise held in Guam, beginning in 2013[5] [6] and including the 2015[7] and 2017[8] exercises. In July 2017 it performed training flights with the Eurofighter Typhoons of the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom.[9]

Operational deployments

In November 2013 the squadron dispatched an aircraft to the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. The aircraft transported medical equipment and relief supplies from Manila to Cebu.[10] [11]

In December 2014 an aircraft of the squadron carried 20,000 protective suits to Accra in Ghana during the Ebola epidemic. Another 680,000 suits were to be delivered by commercial aircraft.[12]

Airshows

While it has not been common for Japan Self-Defense Force aircraft to appear at airshows outside Japan, The KC-767Js of the squadron have appeared at international air shows on many occasions, usually as a static display.

Japanese KC-767Js have appeared at the 2012,[13] 2014,[14] 2016[15] and 2017[16] editions of the Royal International Air Tattoo in the UK.

The squadron's aircraft have appeared at the Australian International Airshow, marking the JASDF's debut at that show in 2013,[17] and also appeared in 2015[18] and 2017.[19]

Tail markings

Aircraft of the squadron bear tail markings of a black horse's head with a flowing yellow mane.

Aircraft operated

Notes and References

  1. Thompson, Paul JASDF - Order of Battle July 1, 2017 J-HangarSpace Retrieved September 13, 2017
  2. https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/komaki/info/1taw.html 1st Tactical Air Group
  3. http://www.eielson.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000838753/ RED FLAG ops in high gear
  4. http://www.eielson.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2001280509/ RED FLAG-Alaska 15-3 takes off under cloudy skies
  5. Web site: Exercise Cope North Guam 2013 begins . . February 5, 2013 . airforce-rechnology.com . November 17, 2017 .
  6. http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2013/September%202013/0913north.pdf http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2013/September%202013/0913north.pdf Cope North September 2013
  7. http://www.sldinfo.com/cope-north-2015-the-japanese-perspective/ COPE NORTH 2015: THE JAPANESE PERSPECTIVE March 15, 2015
  8. http://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1098120/japan-air-self-defense-force-refuel-cope-north/ Japan Air Self-Defense Force refuel Cope North February 28, 2017
  9. https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/English_page/news/release/2017/290714.pdf Unit-to-unit exchange with the Royal Air Force
  10. Yoshida, Reiji Massive SDF dispatch set for Philippine relief mission November 14, 2013 Japan Times Retrieved September 18, 2017
  11. News: Robson . Seth . November 19, 2013 . WWII foes US, Japan back in Philippines to help storm victims . . November 20, 2017 .
  12. Kameda, Masaoki ASDF on mission to deliver Ebola suits to West Africa November 28, 2014 Japan Times Retrieved September 18, 2017
  13. http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/visiting/lookingback/2012/spotlight/japanese-kc-767j Royal International Air Tattoo - Looking Back at 2012
  14. http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/visiting/lookingback/looking-back-at-2014/aircraft-in-the-spotlight/japanese-asdf-kc-767j Royal International Air Tattoo - Looking Back at 2014
  15. http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/visiting/lookingback/looking-back-at-2016/aircraft-in-the-spotlight/japanese-air-self-defence-force-boeing-kc-767j Royal International Air Tattoo - Looking Back at 2016
  16. https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/English_page/news/release/2017/290718.pdf Static displays at the Royal International Air Tatoo July 18, 2017
  17. http://www.airshow.net.au/airshow2013/public-airshow/aircraft-display/aircraft-scheduled-2013.html Airshow 2013 - Aircraft Displays
  18. http://thisisflight.net/features/2015-2/report-australian-international-airshow-avalon-2015/ Report: Australian International Airshow
  19. https://www.airshow.com.au/airshow2017/PUBLIC/aircraft-display/military-aircraft.asp Australian International Airshow 2017 Aircraft Display

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