Naha (Japan)

Churashima Air Festival

10 December 2023

Report and photos by Reinier Schreurs

This 9 Kokudan F-15J 42-8945 had special decals applied for the Air Festa, featuring a shisa, a lion-like Ryukyuan god native to Okinawa. The F-15J is operated by 304 Hikotai but its badge is covered by the colourfull sticker.

Mixed formation of all 9 Kokudan units making a pass overhead Naha. Quite challenging for Air Traffic Control to mix airshow traffic and busy Naha civil traffic, even with the second runway now available.

Refitted with eight bladed props, E-2C 34-3460 is caught taxying to the runway to start its display. The Hawkeye unit at Naha is 603 Hikotai, however aircraft are frequently rotated with those at Misawa so they do not carry the Hikotai badge. 

Naha is one of four JASDF bases with a permanent presence of CH-47J/LR Chinooks. The Naha Herikoputa Kuyutai was also part of the flying display, 07-4499 performed the demo. Not so long ago there was a sticker below the badge on the tail with the base name on it, so the exact unit could be confirmed. Now most JASDF Chinooks fly without the sticker.

Naha is the only Japanese Self-Defense Force base with all four services (including the Coast Guard) being local residents. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has a relatively small presence here called 15 Herikoputatai carrying the XVH code. The unit is attached to 15 Ryodan (15th Brigade) and operates some UH-60JAs and CH-47JAs plus one LR-2 (Beech 350). Reinier Schreurs caught 23053/XVH while taxying out for its display.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's display team Blue Impulse performs at most JASDF open houses and is always a great crowd pleaser, at least for the Japanese public. The team performs with six T-4s and always brings one spare along. Blue Impulse #6, being 16-5666 is turning hard right in one of the display routines.

Credits: Reinier Schreurs, Internet

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