NAF ATSUGI

• Oldest Naval Air Facility in Japan: NAF Atsugi is the oldest U.S. naval air facility in Japan, with its origins dating back to 1938 when it was first constructed by the Imperial Japanese Navy. • Post-WWII Occupation: After World War II, Atsugi was occupied by Allied forces and played a key role in the occupation of Japan, serving as a base for American and British forces. • MacArthur’s Arrival: General Douglas MacArthur landed at Atsugi Airfield on August 30, 1945, marking the beginning of the Allied occupation of Japan. • John Glenn’s Test Flights: Astronaut and senator John Glenn flew F9F Panthers from Atsugi as a Marine test pilot in the early 1950s. • Lee Harvey Oswald’s Posting: Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy, was stationed at Atsugi while serving as a U.S. Marine radar operator from 1957 to 1958. • Cold War Intelligence: Atsugi was a key site for U-2 spy plane operations, conducting reconnaissance flights over the Soviet Union and China during the Cold War. • Joint U.S.-Japanese Use: The base is home to both U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force units, symbolizing close U.S.-Japan military cooperation. • Critical Disaster Response: NAF Atsugi played a major role in Operation Tomodachi, providing humanitarian support and disaster relief after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. • Carrier Air Wing Five: The base is known as the home of Carrier Air Wing Five, the only forward-deployed carrier air wing in the U.S. Navy, supporting the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). • Environmental and Community Relations: The base has faced environmental and noise concerns from surrounding Japanese communities, leading to ongoing efforts to improve relations and implement noise abatement measures.