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 USMC April 9, 1945  U.S. Army April 1945 |
Location Lat 26° 21' 20N Long 127° 46' 3E Kadena Airfield is located at an elevation of 143' above sea level to the south of Kadena on the western coast of Okinawa in Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan. Sometimes misspelled as Katona Airfield. To the northwest was Yontan Airfield. Still in use today as Kadena Air Base (Kadena AB). Construction Built by the Japanese as a single runway oriented northeast to southwest with taxiways and revetments on each side. Wartime History Kadena Airfield was used by the Japanese as a military airfield. The area was defended by light, medium and heavy anti-aircraft guns in the vicinity. On April 1, 1945 the U.S. lands on western Okinawa and that same day XXIV Corps, 7th Division, 17th Inf on left and 32d on right, capture Kadena Airfield that was immediately repaired. On April 2, 1945 ready for emergency use. When fully repaired, Kadena Airfield was fully repaired and expanded with a second parallel runway built. When completed, the first runway measured 6,500' x 200' the second runway measured 7,500' x 200'. By April 9, 1945 U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) F4U Corsairs were the first to operate from Kadena Airfield. First used by Marine Air Group 33 (MAG-33) then Marine Air Group 14 (MAG-14) to support the Okinawa campaign flying interception missions and ground support missions. Later, during July 1945 and August 1945, used by U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) aircraft until the end of the Pacific War. American units based at Kadena U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Marine Air Group 33 (MAG-33) VMF-312 (F4U) Marine Air Group 14 (MAG-14) VMF-212 (F4U-4) Samar arrives June 7, 1945 until the end of the Pacific War U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) 7th Air Force (7th AF) 319th BG, HQ USA arrives July 2, 1945–July 21, 1945 departs Machinato 319th BG, 437th BS (A-26s) USA arrives July 2, 1945–July 21, 1945 departs Machinato 319th BG, 439th BS (A-26s) USA arrives July 2, 1945–July 21, 1945 departs Machinato 319th BG, 440th BS (A-26s) USA arrives July 2, 1945–July 21, 1945 departs Machinato 319th BG, 438th BS (A-26s) USA arrives July 3, 1945–July 21, 1945 departs Machinato (8th AF) HQ 333d BG, HQ arrives August 5, 1945 8th Air Force (8th AF) 333rd BG, 435th BS (B-29) arrives August 5, 1945 333rd BG, 460th BS (B-29) arrives August 5, 1945 333rd BG, 507th BS (B-29) arrives August 5, 1945 Postwar Kadena Airfield continued to be used by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and renamed as Kadena Air Force Base (Kadena AFB). During 1952-1954 when Naha Air Base (Naha AB) was closed for repairs and refurbishment, flights used Kadena AFB instead. Today Still in use today as Kadena Air Base (Kadena AB) as a military airport with two runways. The first runway is oriented 23L / 05R 12,100' x 200' surfaced with concrete. The second runway is oriented 23R / 05L 12,100' x 300' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes: ICAO: RODN. IATA: DNA. References Kadena Air Force Base (Kadena AFB) official website Contribute
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