404th Tactical Airlift Tanker Squadron (JASDF)

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404th Tactical Airlift Squadron
第404飛行隊
404 Squadron KC-767 (2014)
ActiveMarch 26, 2009
CountryJapan
Allegiance1st Tactical Airlift Group
BranchJapan Air Self-Defense Force
Garrison/HQKomaki Air Base
Aircraft flown
TankerBoeing KC-767J

The 第404飛行隊 (404th Tactical Airlift Tanker Squadron, dai-yon-zero-yon-hikoutai) 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Tail marking (2016)

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

Aircraft operated[edit]

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 404th Tactical Airlift Tanker Squadron (JASDF).
  1. ^ Thompson, Paul JASDF - Order of Battle July 1, 2017 J-HangarSpace Retrieved September 13, 2017
  2. ^ 1st Tactical Air Group Retrieved September 13, 2017 (in Japanese)
  3. ^ RED FLAG ops in high gear Retrieved September 20, 2017
  4. ^ RED FLAG-Alaska 15-3 takes off under cloudy skies Retrieved September 20, 2017
  5. ^ "Exercise Cope North Guam 2013 begins". airforce-rechnology.com. February 5, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  6. ^ http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2013/September%202013/0913north.pdf Cope North September 2013 Air Force Magazine
  7. ^ COPE NORTH 2015: THE JAPANESE PERSPECTIVE March 15, 2015 Retrieved September 20, 2017
  8. ^ Japan Air Self-Defense Force refuel Cope North February 28, 2017 Retrieved September 20, 20178
  9. ^ Unit-to-unit exchange with the Royal Air Force Archived 2017-09-25 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 25, 2017
  10. ^ Yoshida, Reiji Massive SDF dispatch set for Philippine relief mission November 14, 2013 Japan Times Retrieved September 18, 2017
  11. ^ Robson, Seth (November 19, 2013). "WWII foes US, Japan back in Philippines to help storm victims". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 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. ^ Royal International Air Tattoo - Looking Back at 2012 Archived 2017-09-18 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 18, 2017
  14. ^ Royal International Air Tattoo - Looking Back at 2014 Archived 2017-09-19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 18, 2017
  15. ^ Royal International Air Tattoo - Looking Back at 2016 Archived 2017-09-19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 18, 2017
  16. ^ Static displays at the Royal International Air Tatoo July 18, 2017 Archived September 25, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 25, 2017
  17. ^ Airshow 2013 - Aircraft Displays Retrieved September 18, 2017
  18. ^ Report: Australian International Airshow Retrieved September 18, 2017
  19. ^ Australian International Airshow 2017 Aircraft Display Retrieved September 18, 2017
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