Kadena (Japan)

America Fest 2023

22 & 23 April 2023

Report and photos by Kenichi Horie-Chippy Ho

At every edition of America Fest, there is a fireworks display, and this time, too, it went off without a hitch. The finale of the event held for the first time in nine years might be the last time you could see ZZ coded F-15s at Kadena as they will return to CONUS. Some will find new homes with other units, others will retire at the 309th AMARG. 

 “America Fest 2023” was held at the US Air Force Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture for two days on April 22nd and 23rd (Saturday and Sunday). It was the first time in nine years since 2014 that the fair was blessed with relatively good weather, and the event was crowded with many visitors. It was sort of a goodby to the F-15C/D Eagles, as the USAF is in the process of bringing home the 48 aircraft once stationed at the base. A permanent replacement has yet to be determined, but in the meantime, other types of fighters will cycle through deployments to the base.  

 A parking lot for visitors was set up on the runway, for many a rare experience of driving a private car on the runway. Besides some civil trafic no demo flights were performed.

The only aircraft with a special livery, specially flown in from South Korea was F-16C 89-2121. It is based at Kunsan Air Base and operated by 80th Fighter Squadron, one of the two squadrons assigned to 8th Fighter Wing, the "Wolf Pack", hence the tailcode WP.

Normally based at Seymour Johnson AFB (NC), 336th FS F-15E 88-1671/SJ arrived at Kadena on 8 April together with a dozen other 4th FW Strike Eagles. They are temporary based here to ensure continued steady-state fighter capabilities in the region.

Twelve 355th FS F-35As from Eielson AFB (AK) arrived at Kadena for the same reason at the end of March, 19-5496/AK was one of them. This is the squadron’s first deployment since reaching full operating capability in February of 2023.

The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit brought four assets to the static of Kadena. AH-1Z Viper 169259/ET-47 has a unit badge on its engine but does not cary any unit ID unlike the UH-1Y Venom, which had HMLA-USA on the tailboom.

Still an awesome sight, the mighty CH-53E 163084/ET-26 dominating this part of the static. Partly hidden behind the Sea Stallion is the fourth member of the 31st MEU family, the MV-22B Osprey.

MH-60M 13-20583 of the US Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment was a nice surprise entry for the static at Kadena. The unit provides aviation support for special operations forces. Its missions have included attack, assault, and reconnaissance, and these missions are usually conducted at night, at high speeds, low altitudes, and on short notice.

Credits: Kenichi Horie

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