The Real Haunted Story Of Kadena Air Base

In Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, the towns of Kadina and Chattan, as well as the city of Okinawa, are home to the United States Air Forces Kadina Air Base. It is frequently referred to as the keystone of the Pacific due to the fact that it is situated in a highly beneficial location.

There are a number of linked units that call this location home, including the 18th wing of the United States Air Force, the 353rd Special Operations Wing reconnaissance units, the first battalion and the first Air Defence Artillery Regiment.

There are around 20,000 Japanese employees, family members and service members from the United States of America who live or work at Kadena Air Base. In April 1945, just prior to the Battle of Okinawa, a local construction company succeeded in completing a small airstrip known as Yara Hiko, which was located close to the settlement of Kadina.

This event marked the beginning of the history of Kadena Air Base. One of the first objectives that the 10th United States Army, 7th Infantry Division went after was the airstrip, which was utilized by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. In the course of the conflict, the United States of America took it away from the Japanese.

What the Americans were able to seize was a stretch of coral runway that was severely damaged and measured 4600 feet 1400 meters in length. The initial work at Kadina was accomplished by the 1900 first Aviation Engineer Battalion, 7th United States Infantry Division, and Naval Construction Battalion Maintenance unit CB MU 624 on April 4th.

The runway was able to accommodate emergency landings by the time nightfall arrived on the same day. A total of eight days later, after approximately 6 inches, 150mm of coral had been placed.

The airfield was proclaimed operational and immediately put into duty by artillery spotter planes. Additional construction was carried out by the 807th Engineering Aviation Battalion in order to enhance the airfield for use by United States Air Force fighters and bombers. This improvement included the installation of fuel tank farms, a new bitumen runway measuring 6500 feet or 2000 meters, and a bomber runway measuring 7500 feet or 2300 meters by the month of August.

Kadena Airfield was initially under the jurisdiction of the 7th Air Force. However, on July 16th, 1945, Headquarters 8th Air Force was transferred from RAF High Wycombe in England to the town of Sakugawa, which is located close to Kadena.

This transfer did not include any soldiers, equipment or combat elements. Following the move, the headquarters part of the organization absorbed the command staff of the 20th Bomber Command, which had been deactivated.

The personnel at the headquarters made advantage of Cadina to fulfill the requirements of the nationalist. Upon its deployment to the Pacific Theatre, the 8th Air Force was given the responsibility of training new B29 Superfortress bomber groups that were arriving from the United States for the purpose of conducting combat flights against Japan.

This duty was allocated to the United States Army Strategic Air Forces. It was anticipated that the 8th Air Force would be responsible for conducting strategic bombing operations from Okinawa during the invasion of Japan that was planned.

The atomic bombings of Japan, on the other hand, resulted in the Japanese surrendering before the 8th Air Force was required to participate in combat in the Pacific theatre. During the Korean War, it became clearly apparent how important it was to keep a naval presence on Okinawa. The Nahar Naval facility of the United States Navy was activated on February 15th, 1951, and it was subsequently commissioned on April 18th, 1951.

On March 8th, 1957, the Ryukyus, which also served as Commander of Fleet Activities, was commissioned. After Okinawa was returned to Japanese rule on May 15th, 1972, the two organizations were merged into a single entity known as Commander Fleet Activities Okinawa when they were reorganised.

Following the transfer of Commander Fleet activities Okinawa to Kadina Air Base on May 7, 1975, the title was subsequently changed to Commander Fleet Activities Okinawa Slash US Naval Air Facility Cade