Sayonara

Feb. 12, 2009

The last members of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force’s redeployment group departed an air base in Southwest Asia Feb. 10, thus ending Japan’s airlift support of Iraqi reconstruction after almost five years. “I’m proud of our airmen to conclude this historical operation of JASDF,” said Col. Isami Sagae, the redeployment group commander. A total of 3,600 JASDF personnel had worked alongside coalition forces since 2004, providing airlift for the coalition and UN via JASDF C-130 transports. After the mission ended, more than a hundred JASDF personnel had remained behind to restore the facilities that they used and ship equipment back to Japan. The JASDF’s overseas airlift mission was a historic first in terms of duration. Col. Paul Feather, vice commander of USAF’s 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, said the Japanese personnel “played a huge role” in the success of the airlift mission from the base. “They’ve just done an outstanding job,” he added. (386th AEW report by SSgt. Thomas J. Doscher)

Related Content

Air Force Plans New Campaign, Social Media Partnerships to Combat Recruiting Shortfall

March 31, 2023
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…

GAO Tells Congress: Pentagon Still Needs a Portfolio Plan for Tactical Aviation

March 31, 2023
A GAO official told the House Armed Services Committee that the Pentagon still doesn't have a portfolio-wide plan for tactical aviation, which would help itself and Congress identify true priorities and avoid duplication of effort. He also said the agency is worried that the F-35’s engine shortcomings are being addressed…

21 Tankers Line Up for Record-Breaking Launch as McConnell Practices ACE

March 30, 2023
More than 20 tankers lined the runway at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., on March 27, for an “elephant walk” and the base’s largest mass launch of aircraft ever. Sixteen KC-46s and five KC-135s participated in the flush, with aircraft and Airmen from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and the 931st…

F-35s Arrive at Kadena as F-15 Withdrawl Continues

March 30, 2023
F-35 Lightning II fighters arrived on Okinawa in March as the Air Force continues to swap out its permanently deployed F-15 Eagles at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Air Force officials declined to provide the exact number of F-35s at Kadena or say when more F-15s would depart, citing operational security.

It’s Official: ARRW Is Done When All-Up Tests Conclude. What’s Next?

March 30, 2023
The Air Force’s ARRW hypersonic missile program will end after another couple of tests, service acquisition executive Andrew Hunter told the House Armed Services Committee. His written testimony affirmed remarks from Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall that the boost-glide ARRW will be supplanted by the air-breathing Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile.

Collaborative Combat Aircraft Will Join the Air Force Before NGAD

March 29, 2023
The Collaborative Combat Aircraft will be operational in the late 2020s, several years before the Next-Generation Air Dominance family of systems, Air Force officials told the House Armed Services tactical aviation panel. The CCAs will first be “shooters,” then electronic warfare platforms, then sensors, in that order, they added.