Metabaru Air Field

Metabaru Air Field

目達原駐屯地

Metabaru Hikōjō
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
Operator Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
LocationJGSDF Camp Metabaru, Japan
Elevation AMSL53 ft / 16 m
Coordinates33°19′31″N 130°24′49″E / 33.32528°N 130.41361°E / 33.32528; 130.41361
Map
RJDM is located in Japan
RJDM
RJDM
Location in Japan
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 660 2,165 Paved
Source: Japanese AIP at AIS Japan[1]

Metabaru Air Field (目達原飛行場, Metabaru Hikōjō) (ICAO: RJDM) is a military aerodrome of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). It is located at JGSDF Camp Metabaru (目達原駐屯地, Metabaru Chūtonchi), in Yoshinogari, Saga Prefecture, Japan.

History

Metabaru Air Field was opened in 1943 as a branch of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service Tachiarai Training School with the specific task of training pilots for the Japanese Special Attack Units. In 1954, it became a supply depot for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, with the 4th Air Corps relocating from Ozuki Garrison in 1956.The 4th Air Corps became the 4th Squadron, a subordinate unit of the Western Air Corps in 1962. In 1968, the Western Helicopter Squadron was established. This was followed by the 3rd Anti-Tank Helicopter Squadron in 1990. The squadron was equipped with AH-64D Apache from 2010.

On February 5, 2018 an AH-64D Apache based at Metabaru crashed in nearby Kanzaki, Saga. Both crew members were killed in the crash, a local person was injured and a house was destroyed.[2][3][4][5]

References

  1. ^ AIS Japan Archived 2016-05-17 at the Portuguese Web Archive
  2. ^ "SDF helicopter crashes, goes up in flames in Saga residential area". Asahi Shimbun. February 5, 2018. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  3. ^ "Japanese Apache helicopter crashes in residential area of Saga Prefecture". Japan Times. February 5, 2018. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  4. ^ "GSDF helicopter had main rotor replaced before crash". Japan Times. February 5, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  5. ^ "Onodera mum on Osprey deployment plan in Saga after helicopter crash". Mainichi Shimbun. February 12, 2018. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.

Media related to JGSDF Camp Metabaru at Wikimedia Commons

Stub icon

This article about a Japanese airport is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This Saga Prefecture location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.