Air Rescue Wing (JASDF)

Air Rescue Wing
航空救難団
Insignia of the Air Rescue Wing
ActiveJuly 15, 1961
CountryJapan
BranchJapan Air Self-Defense Force
TypeWing
RoleSearch and rescue
Garrison/HQIruma Air Base
Motto(s)That others may live
Aircraft flown
CH-47J, UH-60J, U-125A
Military unit

The Air Rescue Wing (航空救難団, koukuukyuunandan) is a wing of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Responsible for airborne search and rescue, it is headquartered at Iruma Air Base in Saitama Prefecture and controls squadrons and detachments across Japan.[1] The helicopter airlift squadrons were previously under the authority of Air Support Command.[2] It is equipped with CH-47J, UH-60J and U-125A aircraft.[3]

History

UH-60J with refueling probe fitted (2016)

From 2009 the Air Rescue Wing began training in air-to-air refueling with US forces,[4] and from 2010 two of the JASDF's 401st Tactical Airlift Squadron C-130H aircraft were given air-to-air refueling equipment, allowing them to refuel UH-60J helicopters. In June 2017 UH-60JA aircraft of the wing practiced night air-to-air refueling with US forces.[5]

On May 28, 2013 the Air Rescue Wing Naha Detachment rescued the pilot of an F-15C of the US Air Force's 44th Fighter Squadron that had crashed into the ocean off Okinawa.[6][7][8]

On October 17, 2017 a JASDF UH-60J of the Hamamatsu Detachment of the Air Rescue Wing crashed into the sea off Shizuoka Prefecture while conducting night rescue drills. Wreckage was found but the four crew members were not located.[9][10]

On June 11, 2018 the Naha Detachment rescued the pilot of another US F-15C of the 44th Fighter Squadron that had ejected over the sea off Okinawa.[11][12]

Units

Iruma Helicopter Airlift Squadron CH-47J (2015)
Air Rescue Wing UH-60Js in flight

Aircraft operated

Air Rescue Wing U-125A

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air Rescue Wing (JASDF).
  1. ^ "Air Rescue Wing History". mod.go.jp. Retrieved October 28, 2017. (in Japanese)
  2. ^ Thompson, Paul JASDF - Order of Battle July 1, 2017 J-HangarSpace Retrieved October 24, 2017
  3. ^ "Air Rescue Wing". mod.go.jp. Retrieved October 24, 2017. (in Japanese)
  4. ^ Perez, Angelique (April 2, 2009). "33RQS helicopter pilots give air refueling training to JASDF". kadena.af.mil. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  5. ^ "US Air Force Joins Japan Air Self-Defense Force in Nighttime Helicopter Air-to-Air Refueling Exercise". fightersweep.com. June 29, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  6. ^ LaGrone, Sam (May 28, 2018). "Okinawa F-15 Crashes, Pilot Safe". news.usni.org. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  7. ^ Roth, Betty (May 28, 2013). "US Air Force Pilot Survives F-15 Crash Off Okinaw". Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  8. ^ "Officials release report on F-15 accident near Kadena AB". af.mil. January 22, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  9. ^ Takahashi, Kosuke (October 18, 2017). "Four JASDF personnel missing following UH-60J helo crash off coast of Shizuoka Prefecture". janes.com. Jane's Information Group. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  10. ^ "Helmets found in waters off Shizuoka Prefecture where ASDF chopper with four aboard apparently crashed". Japan Times. October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  11. ^ Tan, Michelle (June 11, 2018). "Kadena Air Base F-15 crashes off Okinawa". Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  12. ^ Rogoway, Tyler (June 10, 2018). "A USAF F-15C Eagle Crashed Off Okinawa, Pilot Rescued Alive After Ejection". thedrive.com. The Drive. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  • v
  • t
  • e
air staff
  • Air Staff Office
    • Chief of Staff, JASDF
structure
Air Defense
Command
Northern Air
Defense Force
  • 2nd Air Wing
    • 201st Tactical Fighter Squadron
    • 203rd Tactical Fighter Squadron
  • 3rd Air Wing
    • 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron
    • 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron
    • Northern Air Command Support Flight
  • Northern Aircraft Control & Warning Wing
  • Northern Air Defense Missile Group
  • Northern Air Civil Engineering Group
  • Northen Band
Central Air
Defense Force
  • 6th Air Wing
    • 303rd Tactical Fighter Squadron
    • 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron
  • 7th Air Wing
    • 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron
  • Central Aircraft Control & Warning Wing
  • Central Air Defense Missile Group
  • 4th Air Defense Missile Group
  • Central Air Command Support Squadron
  • Central Air Civil Engineering Group
  • Central Band
  • Iwo Jima Air Base Group
Western Air
Defense Force
  • 5th Air Wing
    • 305th Tactical Fighter Squadron
  • 8th Air Wing
    • 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron
    • 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron
  • Western Air Command Support Squadron
  • Western Aircraft Control & Warning Wing
  • Western Air Defense Missile Group
  • Western Air Civil Engineering Group
  • Western Band
Southwestern Air
Defense Force
  • 9th Air Wing
    • 204th Tactical Fighter Squadron
    • 304th Tactical Fighter Squadron
    • Southwestern Air Command Support Flight
  • Southwestern Aircraft Control & Warning Wing
  • Southwestern Air Defense Missile Group
  • Southwestern Air Civil Engineering Group
  • Southwestern Band
Air Tactics
Development Wing
  • Tactical Fighter Training Group
  • Air Defense Missile Training Group
  • Electronic Warfare Operation Group
  • Base Defense Development & Training Squadron
  • Tactical Air Support Squadron
directly
controlled units
  • Air Rescue Wing
  • Airborne Warning and Control Wing
  • Air Intelligence Wing
  • Operations Support Wing
  • Reconnaissance Group
Air Support
Command
  • 1st Tactical Airlift Group
    • 401st Tactical Airlift Squadron
    • 404th Tactical Airlift Tanker Squadron
  • 2nd Tactical Airlift Group
    • 402nd Tactical Airlift Squadron
  • 3rd Tactical Airlift Group
    • 403rd Tactical Airlift Squadron
    • 405th Air Refuelling Squadron
  • Air Traffic Control Service Group
  • Air Weather Service Group
  • Flight Check Squadron
  • Special Airlift Group
  • Aero Medical Evacuation Squadron
Air Training
Command
  • 1st Air Wing
    • 31st Training Squadron
    • 32nd Training Squadron
    • 41st Flight Training Squadron
  • 4th Air Wing
  • 11th Flight Training Wing
  • 12th Flight Training Wing
  • 13th Flight Training Wing
  • Air Basic Training Wing
  • Fighter Training Group
  • Air Training Aids Group
  • Air Officer Candidate School
  • Technical Schools
    • 1st
    • 3rd
    • 4th
    • 5th
Air Development
and Test Command
  • Air Development and Test Wing
  • Electronics Development and Test Group
  • Aeromedical Laboratory
Air Material
Command
  • Air Depots
    • 2nd
    • 3rd
    • 4th
units controlled by
the Defense Minister
  • Air Communications and System Wing
  • Aero Safety Service Group
  • Air Staff College
  • Air Police Group
  • Central Air Base Group
  • Central Band
  • Space Operations Group
history & traditionother topics


Stub icon

This article about the military of Japan is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e