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     USAAF c1945  Google Earth 2018 |
Location Lat 35° 27' 17N Long 139° 27' 1E Atsugi Airfield is located at an elevation of 205' above sea level to the east of Atsugi in Kanagawa Prefecture in the Kantō Region on Honshū in Japan. To the northeast roughly twenty miles away is Tokyo. Today known as Naval Air Facility Atsugi (NAF Atsugi). Construction Built prewar as a military airfield with a single 5,000' runway with a parallel taxiway. Wartime History During the Pacific War, used by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) fighters and bombers. During 1944-1945 Atsugi was an important airfield in the defense of the Tokyo area. Japanese units based at Atusgi 203 Kokutai (A6M5 Zero) 302 Kokutai / Yokosuka Kokutai (J1N1 Irving, J2M3 Jack, N1K2, A6M5 Zero) American missions against Atsugi April 19, 1945–August 30, 1945 On August 15, 1945 in the morning, fighters from Atusgi took off to patrol against U.S. planes including A6M5 Zeros and J2M3 Jacks from the 302 Kōkūtai (302 Air Group) that intercepted eleven U.S. Navy (USN) F6F Hellcats from Fighting Squadron 88 (VF-88) and shot down four planes. After the official surrender of Japan, many aircraft were derelict or abandoned at Atsugi Airfield. In accordance with the terms of surrender, the propellers were removed from every aircraft to prevent any unauthorized flying. On August 30, 1945 at 6:00am C-54 Skymasters landed at Atsugi Airfield transporting the U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division led by General Joseph M. Swing (C. O.) to secure the airfield and a three mile perimeter including Yokohama. Meanwhile, the U.S. Marines landed at Yokosuka beginning the American occupation of Japan. During September 1945 occupied by the U.S. Army 7th Squadron Communications, and the rest of the 11th Airborne Division. Days after surrender, the three squadrons of the 49th FG in P-38s arrived at the airfield. Later, the U.S. Navy also used the base. On September 10, 1945 a plane with Major General Robert L. Eichelberger, commander 8th Army landed at Atsugi Airfield who stated: "This is the beachhead where I was supposed to land. General MacArthur gave me this area. I never expected to reach it in a plane without a shot being fired at me." Postwar Used by the U.S. Navy (USN) as Naval Air Station Atsugi (NAS Atsugi). Today Still in use today as Naval Air Facility Atsugi (NAF Atsugi) as a military airfield used by the U.S. Navy (USN). The single runway is oriented 19/01 measures 8,000 x 150' surfaced with concrete. Airport codes: ICAO: RJTA IATA: NJA. References Airfields in the Japanese Empire, Office of Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence. July 1945 CNIC Naval Air Facility Atsugi official website Contribute
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