404th Tactical Airlift Tanker Squadron (JASDF)

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]

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

History

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

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

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

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
Tail marking (2016)

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

Aircraft operated

References
  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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