Kadena Air Base

Kadena Air Base is the largest American airbase in Asia. It is located on Okinawa Island, and was captured from the Japanese by American forces early in the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. The 18th Wing is the host unit.

Kadena AB high resolution base map

History

Kadena Air Base history dates back to just before the United States invasion of Okinawa during World War II. A local construction firm completed a small airfield near the island's village of Kadena. The airfield, used by Japanese warplanes, was one of the first targets of the U.S. Tenth Army.

By August 1945, repairs were made and an additional runway was built and the original runway lengthened and improved to accommodate bombers. The surrender of Japanese forces in the Ryukyu Islands came 7 September the same year. General Joseph Stilwell accepted the surrender in an area that would later become Kadena's Stearley Heights housing area.

Although Kadena originated as a fighter base, a B-29 organization was the first element responsible for operating the base. The 19th Bombardment Group arrived from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam to fight in the Korean War. In August 1950, the 307th Bombardment Group arrived at Kadena from MacDill Air Force Base , Florida, adding to the base's growing bomber force.

When the Korean War ended, the B-29s departed and, by 1954, had been replaced with F-86 fighters. In March 1955, the 313th Air Division was activated at Kadena.

During the Vietnam War Kadena acted as a host base for B-52s conducting Operation Arc Light and Operation Linebacker bombing missions in Southeast Asia, for A-12 and SR-71 strategic reconnaissance aircraft, and for the KC-135 tankers which provided aerial refueling support for them.

Mission

The 18th Wing's mission is to defend U.S. and Japanese mutual interests by providing a responsive staging and operational airbase with integrated, deployable, forward-based airpower.

The wing is composed of five groups: operations, maintenance, mission support, civil engineer and medical. The wing provides facilities for U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army and other forces assigned to or transiting Kadena.

Approximately 7,000 military members are assigned to the wing. The total base population of 23,000 from five major commands also includes family members, U.S. civilians, Japanese base workers, and contractors. The wing manages $6 billion in resources, including nearly 80 F-15, KC-135, E-3 and HH-60G aircraft valued at more than $4 billion. Other equipment and capital assets are valued at approximately $2 billion.

Rumor and Myth

There currently exists a long running, and popular story detailing the retreat of all 18th Wing officers via their aircraft from a forward deployed air base in Korea sometime in November of 1950, while leaving behind all ground crews to the mercy of the invading Korean and Chinese army. The story claims that the deserted ground crews were all either shot, or hung from the rafters of the aircraft hangars with safety wire. Some even go so far as to claim that the safety wire still hang there today.

This story is often used to explain the reasoning why all members of the 18th Wing stationed at Kadena AFB are required to wear a patch on their uniforms depicting a black chicken with its wings erected high against a yellow field (Black representing death, Chicken with wings held high against a yellow field for cowardice).

18th Wing Patch

There are many discrepancies with the story. First is the fact that the casualty reports for those months do not list any members of the 18th Wing as having been MIA (Missing in Action) or KIA (Killed in Action). Another fact which puts discredit to the story is that the black chicken has been worn proudly by the 18th Wing since the 1930's when the wing was stationed stateside. Another point of note is the absence of information regarding supposed incident in any credited History book or online article.

It is true that Kadena AFB does have a make-shift air field somewhere in South Korea used for contingency plans, and the exercise of those contingency plans. It is designed to be set up quickly, and taken down just as quick in case of retreat. That is about the only circumstantial "evidence" that can be offered in support of the story.

In conclusion it can be said that despite wether the story is true or not, it has indeed become part of the binding tradition that all men and women serving at Kadena AFB share and furthermore Anyone (military or civilian) would be hard pressed to find a single high ranking NCO or Officer stationed at Kadena AFB that would doubt its truth. CMSgt's have been quoted as claiming government conspiracies before admitting the story could be false. Yet despite many military members insistence on its truth, the below quote is taken word for word from the 18th Wings internal secure socket Wing Staff page.

"A popular rumor claims the wing patch has a chicken and is yellow because of an alleged act of cowardice during the Korean War. The fact that the patch has been worn since 1932 certainly disproves this rumor and should dispel any doubts about the record of the 18th Wing. The wing patch has undergone some changes since it first appeared in 1931. However, the "fight until you prevail" attitude is as strong today as it was over 60 years ago"

Kadena Air Base: Encyclopedia BETA

Contents

Kadena Air Base

History

Mission

Rumor and Myth

Notable Areas

Source

External links and references