Wakkanai Air Station

Wakkanai Air Station, located in Hokkaido, Japan, was established by the United States Air Force during the early years of the Cold War. Activated in 1956, the station operated as part of the 6920th Security Wing under the United States Air Force Security Service (USAFSS), serving as a critical signals intelligence (SIGINT) and radar surveillance outpost monitoring Soviet military activities in the region. Its strategic position at the northern tip of Japan made it an essential component of the U.S. and allied early warning network during heightened tensions with the Soviet Union. The station was returned to Japanese control in 1972, following the reorganization of U.S. military facilities in Japan.