304th Tactical Fighter Squadron (JASDF)

304th Tactical Fighter Squadron
第304飛行隊
304 Squadron Mitsubishi F-15s (2008)
Active	August 1, 1977
Country	Japan
Branch	Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Part of	Southwestern Air Defense Force, 9th Air Wing
Garrison/HQ	Naha Air Base
Aircraft flown
Fighter	Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ
Trainer	Kawasaki T-4

The 304th Tactical Fighter Squadron (第304飛行隊 (dai-sann-byaku-yon-hikoutai)) is a squadron of the 9th Air Wing of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. It is based at Naha Air Base, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is equipped with Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ and Kawasaki T-4 aircraft.^[1][2][3]

History

The squadron was founded on August 1, 1977 at Tsuiki Air Base in Fukuoka Prefecture flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ. A number of the early pilots had previously flown the North American F-86F Sabre with 10th Squadron, which had just been disbanded. During this period the JASDF still followed a system in which the numbering of a squadron was dependent on the type of aircraft it operated. Single digit squadrons operated the F-86F, 100-numbered squadrons operated the F-86D, 200-numbered squadrons operated the F-104J and the new squadrons operating the F-4 were numbered in the 300s. The pilots retrained on the F-4 and from 1978 were responsible for Quick Reaction Alert duties around Fukuoka.

In January 2016, the squadron relocated to Naha Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture as part of the newly-formed 9th Air Wing.^[4]

Tail marking

The squadron's aircraft bear the likeness of a tengu on their tails. Tengu are goblin-like creatures from Japanese mythology. Known for their skill with swords and possession of mystical powers, they were said to inhabit Mount Hiko in Fukuoka, located near the squadron's original base at Tsuiki.^[3]

Aircraft operated

Fighter aircraft

• McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ (1977–1990)
• Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ (1990–present)

Liaison aircraft

• Lockheed T-33A (1977–1993)
• Kawasaki T-4 (1991–present)

See also

• Fighter units of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force

References

air staffstructure

Air Defense Command	Northern Air Defense Force 2nd Air Wing 201st Tactical Fighter Squadron 203rd Tactical Fighter Squadron 3rd Air Wing 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron Northern Air Command Support Flight Northern Aircraft Control & Warning Wing Northern Air Defense Missile Group Northern Air Civil Engineering Group Northen Band Central Air Defense Force 6th Air Wing 303rd Tactical Fighter Squadron 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron 7th Air Wing 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron Central Aircraft Control & Warning Wing Central Air Defense Missile Group 4th Air Defense Missile Group Central Air Command Support Squadron Central Air Civil Engineering Group Central Band Iwo Jima Air Base Group Western Air Defense Force 5th Air Wing 305th Tactical Fighter Squadron 8th Air Wing 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron Western Air Command Support Squadron Western Aircraft Control & Warning Wing Western Air Defense Missile Group Western Air Civil Engineering Group Western Band Southwestern Air Defense Force 9th Air Wing 204th Tactical Fighter Squadron 304th Tactical Fighter Squadron Southwestern Air Command Support Flight Southwestern Aircraft Control & Warning Wing Southwestern Air Defense Missile Group Southwestern Air Civil Engineering Group Southwestern Band Air Tactics Development Wing Tactical Fighter Training Group Air Defense Missile Training Group Electronic Warfare Operation Group Base Defense Development & Training Squadron Tactical Air Support Squadron directly controlled units Air Rescue Wing Airborne Warning and Control Wing Air Intelligence Wing Operations Support Wing Reconnaissance Group
Air Support Command	1st Tactical Airlift Group 401st Tactical Airlift Squadron 404th Tactical Airlift Tanker Squadron 2nd Tactical Airlift Group 402nd Tactical Airlift Squadron 3rd Tactical Airlift Group 403rd Tactical Airlift Squadron 405th Air Refuelling Squadron Air Traffic Control Service Group Air Weather Service Group Flight Check Squadron Special Airlift Group Aero Medical Evacuation Squadron
Air Training Command	1st Air Wing 31st Training Squadron 32nd Training Squadron 41st Flight Training Squadron 4th Air Wing 21st Fighter Training Squadron Blue Impulse (11th Squadron) 11th Flight Training Wing 12th Flight Training Wing 13th Flight Training Wing Air Basic Training Wing Fighter Training Group Air Training Aids Group Air Officer Candidate School Technical Schools 1st 3rd 4th 5th
Air Development and Test Command	Air Development and Test Wing Electronics Development and Test Group Aeromedical Laboratory
Air Material Command	Air Depots 2nd 3rd 4th
units controlled by the Defense Minister	Air Communications and System Wing Aero Safety Service Group Air Staff College Air Police Group Central Air Base Group Central Band Space Operations Group

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