Japan Air Self-Defense Force History

T-1 of 13 Hiko Kyoikudan. Aircraft is still in a white scheme but orange/day-glow areas were added during 1973-74 and therefore the tail mks changed colour from yellow to white.

Ashiya 8 March 1973

Years before the Kawasaki T-4 took over basic jet-training, Fuji T-1s on the flight-line at Ashiya.

Ashiya 1994, Stefan Goossens

F-104DJ Starfighter of Koku Jikkendan or Air Proving Wing.

Gifu 22 May 1975

FST-2 of Hiko Kaihatsu Jikkendan

Gifu 31 October 2002, Maurice Hendriks

33 Hikotai operated the T-33A in the intermediate training role, the aircraft had various tail-tip colours to indicate which maintenance team was responsible for a particular aircraft.

Hamamatsu 18 December 1975, Akira Watanabe

Showing of its high visibility coat of paint, this Kawasaki KV-107 visited the airshow at Iruma. The Koku Kyunandan badge on the forward rotor hub has the unit name on a sticker below, Hamamatsu!

Iruma 3 November 2002, Maurice Hendriks

Fourteen RF-4Es were delivered in 1975 and 1976. Two have been lost in accidents since. In addition to the remaining RF-4Es seventeen surplus F-4EJs have been converted for the reconnaissance role. These aircraft lack the typical recce nose but can carry three different pods for a variety of recce tasks. RF-4E 57-6906 on this picture was last seen active November 2007 and then disappeared from view. It resurfaced August 2010 as a gate guard at Hyakuri in full 501 Hikotai markings including sharkmouth.

Hyakuri, Marcel J. van Bielder

For a while, all front-line Phantom units operated from Hyakuri, making it the place to be for Spook lovers. The bird badge of 302 is a very stylised representation of the Hikotai number, head and body being the '3', the white tail '0' and the blue wings the '2'.

Hyakuri November 2008, Marcel J. van Bielder

Denshi Kunrentai operated three C-46s, converted to ECM trainer. This unit was part of Koku Sotai Shireibu Hikotai or HQ Squadron.

Iruma 27 November 1973

The first eight years of their operational life, the Kawasaki C-1s were flying unpainted as this C-1 of 402 Hikotai shows. From late 1978 they adopted the current camo pattern.

Iruma 18 February 1979

When this picture was taken, 402 Hikotai was still part of Yuso Kokudan. Only the YS-11s carried this blue 402 Hikotai badge on the tail.

May 1975

The last unit to retire the venerable T-33 was the Sotai Shireibu Hikotai at Iruma with the last seven aircraft being retired on June 29th 2000. They were replaced by the Kawasaki built T-4. The tri-color finflash symbolizes the three different Air Defence Forces (Northern- Central and Western) controlled by the Sotai Headquarters.

Iruma 1994, Stefan Goossens

Probably captured during a TAC Meet, this 303 Hikotai F-4EJ received orange areas on fuselage and drop-tanks.

Komatsu October 1981

F-4EJ Kai of 306 Hikotai.

1994, Stefan Goossens

T-33A of 35 Hikotai.

Matsushima 18 April 1975

T-2 of 21 Hikotai.

Matsushima 22 October 2002, Maurice Hendriks

F-1 of 8 Hikotai.

8 June 1982

F-1 of 8 Hikotai with Panther badge.

1994, Stefan Goossens

Used for training ATC personnel, 5 Jyutsuka Gakko operated a few T-33As. During 1982 these were replaced by the Fuji T-1.

Komaki 13 August 1980

First couple of C-130H Hercules were delivered in the USAF "Vietnam" scheme. All were delivered to 401 Hikotai.

29 May 1988

202 Hikotai F-104J

internet

F-15DJ of 202 Hikotai.

11 October 1993

F-86F of 6 Hikotai.

3 December 1979

F-1 of 6 Hikotai.

Tsuiki 29 October 2002, Maurice Hendriks

Photographed at the static of the Iruma airshow, this 11 Hiko Kyoikudan T-34A has the old badge with the stylized 'S', the initial letter of Shizuhama.

Iruma 3 November 1969, Akira Watanabe

Probably visiting on a fuel stop, T-34A of 11 Hiko Kyoikudan.

Iruma 2 August 1976,