About this Unit
COMFAIRWESTPAC (Commander, Fleet Air Western Pacific), Atsugi, Japan, has served as a pivotal U.S. Navy aviation command in the Western Pacific since the post-World War II era. Established to oversee and coordinate the operations, training, and maintenance of naval aviation units in the region, COMFAIRWESTPAC played a crucial role during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, providing logistical and operational support. Stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, the command acted as a hub for carrier air wing deployments and maritime patrol missions, contributing to regional security and U.S. interests in Asia. Over the decades, COMFAIRWESTPAC adapted to evolving strategic priorities before its eventual disestablishment and the realignment of its functions under new command structures.
Historical Facts
• Origins and Mission: Commander Fleet Air Western Pacific (COMFAIRWESTPAC) was established to provide operational control and support for U.S. Navy aviation assets operating in the Western Pacific region, with its headquarters at Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan.
• Cold War Role: COMFAIRWESTPAC played a crucial role during the Cold War, coordinating anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and reconnaissance missions against the Soviet Pacific Fleet.
• Vietnam War Operations: Aircraft squadrons under COMFAIRWESTPAC at Atsugi frequently deployed to Southeast Asia, supporting combat operations during the Vietnam War.
• First Jet Aircraft in Japan: NAF Atsugi, home to COMFAIRWESTPAC, was the first base in Japan to host U.S. jet aircraft after World War II, marking a technological leap in regional air operations.
• Gary Powers and the U-2: In 1960, Francis Gary Powers’ U-2 spy plane, shot down over the Soviet Union, had previously operated out of Atsugi, highlighting the base’s covert intelligence-gathering missions.
• Home of Forward-Deployed Carrier Air Wings: Atsugi has long served as the home base for forward-deployed carrier air wings, providing rapid response capabilities across the Asia-Pacific.
• Earthquake and Disaster Relief: Units under COMFAIRWESTPAC have provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, notably after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
• Joint U.S.-Japan Operations: COMFAIRWESTPAC has fostered close coordination with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force units, strengthening the U.S.-Japan security alliance.
• Aircraft Variety: Over the decades, COMFAIRWESTPAC has hosted a wide variety of aircraft, including P-3 Orions, E-2 Hawkeyes, F/A-18 Hornets, and helicopters for ASW, surveillance, and logistics.
• Transition and Deactivation: COMFAIRWESTPAC was disestablished in the 1990s as part of Navy organizational restructuring, but its legacy continues through its successor commands and ongoing U.S. naval aviation operations at Atsugi.
