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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 "Katona Airfield". To the northwest was Yontan Airfield. 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 airfield vicinity. Used until the April 1, 1945 American landing on Okinawa Island. Once captured by U.S. forces, Kadena was immediately repaired and expanded into two parallel runways: the first 6,500' x 200' the second runway 7,500' x 200'. By April 9, 1945 U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) F4U Corsairs were the first to operate at the repaired airfield. Used by Marine Air Group 33 (MAG-33) and Marine Air Group 14 (MAG-14) to support the Okinawa campaign flying interception missions and ground support missions. Later during July 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 June 7, 1945 until the end of the Pacific War U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) (7th AF) 319th BG, HQ USA July 2, 1945 (7th AF) 319th BG, 437th BS USA July 2, 1945 (7th AF) 319th BG, 439th BS USA July 2, 1945 (7th AF) 319th BG, 440th BS (A-26s) USA July 2, 1945 (7th AF) 319th BG, 438th BS (A-26s) from USA July 3, 1945 (8th AF) HQ 333d BG, HQ arrive August 5, 1945 (8th AF) 333rd BG, 435th BS arrive August 5, 1945 (8th AF) 333rd BG, 460th BS arrive August 5, 1945 (8th AF) 333rd BG, 507th BS arrive 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 webpage Contribute
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