Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

is a joint Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces and United States Marine Corps air station located in the Nishiki river delta, southeast of Iwakuni Station in the city of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

History The Japanese government bought a large portion of what is today MCAS Iwakuni in 1938, with the view of establishing a naval air station. They commissioned the new base on 8 July 1940. When World War II started, the Iwakuni Air Station was used as a training and defense base. The station housed 96 trainers and 150 Zero fighter planes on the airstrip. In September 1943, a branch of the Etajima Naval Academy was established here, with approximately 1,000 cadets undergoing training in the Basic, Junior, and Senior Officer's schools at any one time. American B-29's bombed Iwakuni in May and August 1945, concentrating on the oil refinery and Rail Transport Office or train station areas. The last air raid took place just a day before the war was brought to a close.

The first allies to reach Iwakuni at the war's end were a group of U.S. Marines who had signed papers ending the conflict for the Japanese air base. After the end of World War II, various military forces from the United States, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand occupied the base and it was repaired by No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF and designated a Royal Australian Air Force Base in 1948. The Americans first occupied the base in 1950 to use it as a springboard for aircraft heading to the Korean War. In 1952, the base officially became a United States military base.MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. (n.d.). MCAS Iwakuni History. Retrieved 17 March 2010,

Iwakuni had scheduled international service by private airlines from 1952 to 1964, during which time it had the IATA airport code IWJ. This code was later reassigned to Iwami Airport in neighboring Shimane Prefecture.

Nuclear weapons were moved from Okinawa to the base for storage during a brief period in 1966. When U.S. ambassador to Japan Edwin O. Reischauer learned of the presence of the weapons, which was a violation of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, he told the United States Department of State that if the weapons were not removed within 90 days he would resign and go public with the information. The weapons were removed shortly thereafter, and their presence at the base did not become publicly known until 2010.Jiji Press/Kyodo News, "U.S. kept nuclear arms at Iwakuni in 1966: scholar", Japan Times, 17 March 2010, p. 1.

It is currently home to around 10,000 United States Marines, sailors, and family members. The base is detailed for Marine pilot training and air patrol, using F/A-18 Hornet fighter-attack aircraft among others in compliance with the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security obligations to protect Japan. MCAS Iwakuni is also shared with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. MCAS Iwakuni is home to a Department of Defense school, Matthew C. Perry (Elementary, Middle School, and High School).

A new off-shore runway opened at the base on 30 May 2010. The new runway is 2,440 meters in length.Japan Times, "New Offshore Runway at U.S. Iwakuni Operational", 30 May 2010.

On 22 November 2017, a C-2A Greyhound cargo plane with 11 crew and passengers aboard crashed southeast of Okinawa after departing the base for the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. Eight of the 11 on board were rescued.

On 6 December 2018, a F/A-18D Hornet (callsign "Profane 12") belonging to VMFA(AW)-242 collided mid-air with a KC-130 (callsign "Sumo 41") from VMGR-152 during a nighttime training exercise. The crew of Sumo 41 were killed in the collision along with the pilot of Profane 12. The co-pilot of Profane 12 was rescued by JMSDF Search & Rescue in Japanese waters. An investigation into the accident was led by the Marine Corps. ProPublica later conducted their independent investigation after finding the Marine Corps's initial results to be inaccurate.

USN Carrier Air Wing 5 relocation to MCAS Iwakuni Since at least 2005 there had been plans to relocate Carrier Air Wing Five's fixed wing aircraft from Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Kanagawa Prefecture to Iwakuni.Iwakuni to take in Atsugi jets? 4 Jun 2005 Japan Times Retrieved 10 August 2016 Yamaguchi governor Sekinari Nii said there was "no way" Yamaguchi prefecture would accept this.Yamaguchi governor rips Iwakuni move 31 October 2005 Japan Times Retrieved 10 August 2016 In 2006 Iwakuni voters rejected the plan in a plebisciteJohnston, Eric Iwakuni voters reject realignment plan 13 Mar 2006 Japan Times and Iwakuni mayor Katsusuke Ihara urged Tokyo to drop the plan.Drop base plan: Iwakuni mayor 17 March 2006 Japan Times Retrieved 10 August 2016 In 2007 the Japanese government passed legislation to prepare for the relocation of US Forces in Japan including subsidies for local affected areas.Diet enacts law that paves way for U.S. forces realignment 24 May 2007 Japan Times Retrieved 10 August 2016

The move was planned to have been done in 2014, but after construction delays the move was delayed by three years, to 2017.Air wing's move from Atsugi to Iwakuni delayed 3 years 25 January 2013 Stars and Stripes Retrieved 10 August 2016Reducing military jet noise 9 August 2015 Japan Times Retrieved 10 August 2016Suga visits Yamaguchi for consent to transfer U.S. carrier wing to base in Iwakuni 5 February 2017 Japan Times Retrieved 5 February 2017

The move did not include the wing's two helicopter squadrons which remain based at NAF Atsugi. The first CVW-5 squadron, VAW-125 flying the E-2D Hawkeye arrived in January 2017. The Boeing E/A-18G Growlers of VAQ-141 "Shadowhawks" completed relocation in January, 2018. By March 2018, all fixed wing aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 5 had completed relocation from NAF Atsugi.

USMC F-35B aircraft The first aircraft of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 "Green Knights" (VMFA-121) arrived on 18 January 2017. This became the first forward deployed F-35B Lightning II squadron in the United States Marine Corps. They have since flown show of force sorties against North Korea.

Role and operations

MCAS Iwakuni supports transportation of military assets between sea and shore through use of its co-located harbor and airfield.

US Marine Corps

Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) contains the rotary and fixed wing aircraft assets of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. MAG-12 is home to three flying squadrons, an aviation logistics squadron, and a ground support squadron. VMFA-242 "Bats"— one of two permanent forward deployed Marine F-35B Lightning II fighter squadrons. VMFA-121 "Green Knights"- the other permanent forward deployed Marine F-35B Lightning II fighter squadron. VMGR-152 "Sumos" — moved here from MCAS Futenma in Okinawa commencing in June 2014 with their 15 KC-130J Super Hercules. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 (MALS-12) provides logistics support, guidance, and direction to MAG-12 and other commands aboard the Station. Click on the link to the right for more information on the Marauders. Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 (MWSS-171) provides essential Aviation Ground Support to the Station Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS) provides administrative support and conducts training in general military skills for more than 800 Marines and sailors aboard MCAS Iwakuni.Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Combat Logistics Company 36 (CLC-36) Provides logistic support to MWSS-171 and MAG 12.

US Air Force The 374th Communications Squadron provides communications support to H&HS, MAG-12, Branch Medical Clinic Iwakuni, Army Corps of Engineers, and the JMSDF.

Tenant Squadrons USMC/USN Flying units based at MCAS Iwakuni. +InsigniaSquadronCodeCallsign/NicknameAssigned AircraftOperational AssignmentStrike Fighter Squadron 147VFA-147ArgonautsF-35C Lightning IICarrier Air Wing FiveStrike Fighter Squadron 195VFA-195DambustersF/A-18E Super HornetCarrier Air Wing FiveStrike Fighter Squadron 27VFA-27Royal MacesF/A-18E Super HornetCarrier Air Wing FiveStrike Fighter Squadron 102VFA-102DiamondbacksF/A-18F Super HornetCarrier Air Wing FiveElectronic Attack Squadron 141VAQ-141ShadowhawksE/A-18G GrowlerCarrier Air Wing FiveAirborne Command and Control Squadron 125VAW-125TigertailsE-2D Advanced HawkeyeCarrier Air Wing FiveMarine Fighter Attack Squadron 121VMFA-121Green KnightsF-35B Lightning II1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW)Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242VMFA-242BatsF-35B Lightning II1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152VMGR-152SumosKC-130J Hercules1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW)

Based units Flying and notable non-flying units based at MCAS Iwakuni.Air Station Iwakuni - Unit (Japanese)

United States Marine Corps Marine Corps Installations – Pacific

Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron – UC-12W Huron

1st Marine Aircraft Wing

Marine Aircraft Group 12 Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152) – KC-130J Super Hercules Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 (VMFA-242) – F-35B Lightning II Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 (MALS-12) Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) – F-35B Lightning II Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 (MWSS-171)

3rd Marine Logistics Group

Combat Logistics Regiment 35 Combat Logistics Company 36 (CLC-36)

United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)

Fifth Air Force 374th Airlift Wing 374th Mission Support Group 374th Communications Squadron Operating Location Bravo

United States Navy US Pacific Fleet

Naval Air Force Pacific Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25) Detachment 6 – MH-60S Seahawk Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125 (VAW-125) – E-2D Hawkeye Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Composite 40 (VRC-40) Detachment 5 – C-2A Greyhound Electronic Attack Squadron 141 (VAQ-141) – EA-18G Growler Strike Fighter Squadron 27 (VFA-27) – F/A-18E Super Hornet Strike Fighter Squadron 102 (VFA-102) – F/A-18F Super Hornet Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147) – F-35C Lightning II Strike Fighter Squadron 195 (VFA-195) – F/A-18E Super Hornet

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Fleet Air Force Fleet Air Wing 31 Air Patrol Squadron 71 – US-1A and US-2 Air Patrol Squadron 81 – EP-3 and OP-3C Air Patrol Squadron 91 – UP-3D and U-36A Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Squadron 111 – MCH-101

Commercial services

Regular commercial service started from 13 December 2012 with a civilian airport terminal built to accommodate commercial flights. It was initially projected that up to 430,000 passengers would use the airport each year, and in the first seven months of operations the airport handled over 200,000 passengers, with average load factors between Iwakuni and Tokyo exceeding 70% during June 2013.

Since the IATA airport code IWJ, formerly assigned to Iwakuni, was reassigned to Iwami Airport, a new IATA code of IWK was assigned to Iwakuni. The inaugural flight was operated by All Nippon Airways from Haneda Airport. Iwakuni Airport is called by its official nickname "Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport", named after the Kintaikyo bridge near the airport. In the future, the airport plans to serve international flights to China and South Korea as well as more cities within Japan. However, these plans were never made as nearby Hiroshima Airport and Matsuyama Airport already served dozens of these flights.

Airlines and destinations

Friendship Day

Every year on 5 May, Japanese nationals and U.S. service members, government employees and their families officially celebrate their long-standing friendship by opening the gates of MCAS Iwakuni for one of Japan's largest air shows dedicated to enhancing the friendship of the two nations. The event, entitled Friendship Day, hosts an average 250,000 visitors who travel from all over Japan.

See also

List of United States Marine Corps installations List of airports in Japan

References