The 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron was founded on at Hyakuri Air Base on December 1, 1981 with F-4EJ aircraft. The squadron was the successor to the Lockheed F-104J/DJ Starfighter-equipped 205th Tactical Fighter Squadron. It was the sixth and final squadron of the JASDF to be equipped with the F-4. One of the aircraft (17–8440) was the last of the 5,195 F-4 Phantoms to be produced. It was manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on May 21, 1981. "The Final Phantom" later transferred to the 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron.[3] In 1989 the squadron's aircraft were upgraded to F-4EJ Kai standard. In 1997 it converted from the F-4 and became the eighth and final of the F-15J squadrons existing at that time.[1]
The squadron has participated in overseas exercises with US and other forces. 306th squadron aircraft have taken part in the Red Flag - Alaska exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in the United States on a number of occasions, including 2012–2,[4] 2013-3,[5] and 2015-3.[6] It also participated in Cope North including in 1986, 2015[7] and 2016.[8]
In July 2018 aircraft of the squadron trained in Japanese airspace with US B-52 bombers.[9][10][11]
Tail marking
Tail marking (2016)
The squadron's aircraft carry a golden eagle as their tail marking, inside a stylized "6" indicating the 6th Air Wing [ja]. The golden eagle can be found in the mountains near Komatsu air base, and is also the prefectural bird of Ishikawa.[2]
Aircraft operated
F-4EJ Kai. This aircraft was the very last of the 5,195 F-4s produced worldwide (1994)
