FromthetinyBihoroAviationParkinthefarnorthofHokkaidoPrefecturetotheextensiveJMSDFcollectionatKanoyainKagoshimaPrefectureinthesouth,Japanboastsawiderangeofaviationmuseums.
AseventhemostestablishedmuseumstendtoofferlittleornoinformationinEnglish,thiswebsitewillendeavourtoactasakindofonlineguidebook,coveringnotonlythepermanentexhibitsbutalsotheall-importantaccessinformation.
FollowingthatontheGifu-KakamigaharaAirandSpaceMuseum,anexhaustiveguideontheprivatelyownedTokorozawaAviationMuseuminSaitamaPrefecturehasbeengivenitsownpage.IntheabsenceofadedicatedJGSDFfacilityofsufficientsize,TokorozawaservesasthemainrepositoryforArmytypes.
Here,J-HangarSpaceoffers10AviationMuseumReports:
(PleasebearinmindthatpublicmuseumsinJapantendtobeclosedonMondays,onTuesdaysifaNationalHolidayhappenstofallontheMonday,andfromlateDecembertothefirstweekofJanuary.)
AccessibledirectfromExit2atYotsuya-SanchomeStationontheMarunouchisubwayline,theTokyoFireMuseumcollectionincludesthreeFrenchhelicoptersformerlyoperatedbytheTokyoFireDepartment(TFD,andinJapaneseabove).Twoofthesearevisiblefromoutsidebutareworthacloserlook,andadmissionisfree.
Suspendedfromtheceilinginsidethestreet-levelentranceisSudAviationSE.3160AlouetteIIIJA9020,namedChidori1(Plover1).AplaqueprovidestheinformationthattheTFD’saviationunitwasformedinNovember1966.OperationscommencedinApril1967withthisveryaircraft,whichhadbeenpurchaseddirectfromitsFrenchmanufacturer.Thistraditionhasbeenmaintained,withsubsequentaircraftbeingacquiredexclusivelyfromSudAviation’ssuccessorAérospatialeandfromEurocopter,thenameunderwhichthecompanyoperatedbeforebecomingAirbusHelicoptersinJanuary2014.
Ageneralinformationpanelcoverstheoperationsandequipmentofthesixhelicopterscurrentlyoperatedinthefireattacker,rescue,casualtyevacuationandincidentinformation-gatheringroles.(Thesewillbecoveredonthiswebsite’sFire/DisasterPreventionpage.)
Alater-modelSA.316BAlouetteIIIsisteraircraft,JA9071Kamome(Seagull),issecurelyclampedandtieddownwithtwoofitsthreerotorbladesclipped—Tokyoispronetotyphoonsaswellasearthquakes—ontheroofofthefifthfloor(5FinJapanmeansthefourthfloorelsewhere).Inthiscase,stepsandarampleaduptothecockpit,buttheaircraftisalsosurroundedbymetalrailingsthatsomewhathinderphotography.
Onthethirdfloor,Aérospatiale(SudAviation)365NDauphinIIJA9569Chidorihasbeenconvertedintoa“hands-on”exhibitfortheyoungervisitor,withthespaceintherearofthecockpitmadeavailableforwatchfulparentstorestandliterallytakeabackseat.Devoidofitsmainrotorandrestinginanundignifiedmanneronitsfuselageforeaseofentryandegress,theaircraft’sinstrumentpanel(nowPerspexprotected)andflyingcontrolsarestillinplace.Avideoscreenhasbeeninstalledinasimulator-likefashiondirectlyinfrontofthewindscreentoshowfootageofTFDhelicopteroperations.Theaircraft’sinnovativeFenestronshroudedtailrotor,whichwasdevelopedbySudAviation,hasbeenremovedandplacedonadjacentdisplay,ashasanexampleofitsTurbomécaArriel1C1engine.
TheplaqueatthenoseoftheaircraftstatesthattheTFDadoptedtheAerospacial(sic)DauphinIIasthefollow-onhelicoptertotheAlouetteIII.Thisparticularexamplewasinserviceforatotalof15years,fromApril1982toMarch1997,duringwhichtimeitparticipatedon875rescuemissionsandcarried526people.ThemissionsincludedevacuatingtheresidentsofMiyakejima—partoftheTokyo-administeredIzuislandgroup,110miles(180km)southofthecapital—followingthevolcaniceruptionin1983,the1986KokaigawafloodsinIbarakiPrefecture,andthe1995Hanshin-Awaji(Kobe)Earthquake.
Naturally,themuseumalsocontainsfireenginesandotherequipmentandmakeseffectiveuseofdioramastolookbackatfirefightinginTokyothroughtheages.Inthesummer,thebuildingservesasacool(inbothmeaningsoftheword),informativeoasis.
PhotoGalleryThefollowingphotographgroupingsshoweachofthethreehelicoptersondisplay.
1FSudAviationSE.3160AlouetteIIIJA9020Chidori
3FAérospatiale(SudAviation)365NDauphinIIJA9569Chidori
5FSA.316BAlouetteIIIJA9071Kamome
Itisnoteverydaythatyoucomeacrossajetaircraftparkedontheforecourtofacarmaindealer’sservicecentre.SomedriversunfamiliarwiththelocalemustbemomentarilytakenabackbythatverysightastheypassSaitamaSubaruSakitamaGarden,headingalongtheroadthatfollowstheMusashiCanalinthecityofGyoda.
TheaircraftinquestionwasthelastFujiT-1BjettrainerproducedbyFujiHeavyIndustries(FHI),whichasidefromitsaviationbusinessinterestsmanufacturescarsundertheSubarubrand.KnownbyitsunofficialJASDFnameasHatsutaka(YoungHawk),thetypesecureditsplaceintheannalsofJapaneseaviationhistorybybeingthefirstpostwar,indigenouslyproducedjetaircraft.
Parkedinagardenbytheentrancetothefacility,whichservesasbothgeneralserviceandpre-deliveryinspectioncentre,theaircraft’sred,whiteanddaygloorangecolourschemeremainsashighlyvisiblenowasitwasduringitsservicecareer.ThenameSakitamaGardenincorporatestheoriginalnameforSaitama,anditisperhapsfittingthattheaircraftendedupatacardealerratherthanfallingintothehandsofascrapmetaldealer,particularlyinanareaknownforanearbyparkthatfeaturesancientburialmounds.
LongServiceCareer
ManufacturedattheFHIplantinUtsunomiya,TochigiPrefecture,‘870’rolledofftheproductionlineonMay23,1963—amerefiveyearsaftertheprototype’sfirstflight—andthatJulywasassignedtothe13thFlyingTrainingWingatAshiyaAB,FukuokaPrefecture.Theretheaircraftremained,notchingupjustunder37years’sterlingservicebeforebeingretiredfromactiveflighttrainingoperationsinJanuary2000.InJulyofthatyear,theaircraftwaspassedtothe1stTechnicalSchool(TS)atHamamatsuAB,ShizuokaPrefectureandfromtherequicklyontothe5thTSatKomakiAB,AichiPrefecture,whereitcontinueditstrainingsupportrole,thistimeforthebenefitofJASDFairtrafficcontrollers.BythetimeofitslastflightonSeptember17,2003,theaircrafthadclockedup6,478.9flyinghoursinjustover40years.
SaitamaSubaruCorporationmanagementdecidedthataT-1wouldserveasaperfectsymbolofSubaru’slongaviationpedigreeand,byinference,technicalexpertise.TheassociationisfurtherunderscoredbythepresenceofanFA-200Aerosubarulightaircraftparkedontheothersideoftheentrance.Theparentcompany’slong-standingconnectionswiththeJapanDefenseMinistry—orJapanDefenseAgencyasitwaspriortoJanuary2007—easedtheproceduresforacquiringtheT-1B.Aneight-manJASDFteamassembledtheaircraftinsituoverthecourseofninedaysinJuly2004,andanofficialceremonywasheldtwomonthslater.Tomaximizetheaircraft’spublicrelationsvalue,guidedtourscommencedinOctober2004andhavecontinuedonaregularbasiseversince.
MiniMuseum
Adjacenttotheaircraft,abrightandairy,single-storeywoodenbuildinghousesaninterestingcollectionofphotographsandartifacts.
Exhibitedalongtheleft-handsideasyouenterareapropellerfroma1970s-vintageFujiFA-300businesstwinandarowofbothaircraftandcarengines(picturedabove).ThesenaturallyincludeanexampleoftheIshikawajima-HarimaJ3-IHI-7BturbojetthatpoweredtheT-1B.Japan’sfirstindigenouslyproducedjetpowerplant,theJ3’ssoundhasnotbeenheardsinceatrioofT-1BsshutdowntheirenginesaftercompletingasayonaraflightfromKomakiinMarch2006.ThefarendofthemuseumroomisdevotedtoFHI’sautomotivehistoryandrelatedendeavors,suchasmotorracingandscooterproduction.
Emphasizingtheaviationangle,azig-zagarrangementofpanelsforphotographsandartworkhasbeenpositionedinthecentreoftheroom.Thoseatthefarendontheleftsideprovideoverviewsoftwowartimeaircraft,theKyushuJ7WShiden(MagnificentLightning)fighterandJapan’sfirstjet,theKikka(OrangeBlossom)fighterbuiltbyFHI’spredecessor,NakajimaAircraft.Thesearefollowedbybiosofanumberofaviationpioneers:“birdman”KokuchiUkita(1757–1847),aircraftdesignersChuhachiNinomiya(1866–1936)andSanjiNarahara(1887–1944)aswellasthefirsttwoJapanesepilotstoachievepoweredflightonhometurf,ArmycaptainsKumazoHinoandYoshitoshiTokugawa(seethefirstJapaneseAviationHistorysectionarticleonthiswebsite.)Thetwopanelsnearestthedoorofferasequenceofphotosentitled“FromNakajimaAircrafttoFujiAircraft.”
Ontheright-handside,startingfromthedoor,thefirstfivephotopanels(picturedabove)coverthehistoryoftheT-1.ThesixthisdevotedtotheassemblyandinstallationoftheT-1Bparkedoutside;atthetimeofJ-HangarSpace’svisitsomeofthesephotoshadbeenfadedbythesunthatpoursthroughthewindowsbutwereduetobereplacednextyear(2014).ThesephotosareaccompaniedbyaseriesshowingtheearlydevelopmentoftheJ3jetengine.Infrontofthewindowsontheright-sideoftheroomaredisplaycasescontainingT-1components,includinganejectorseatinitiatorsafetypinandafuelfillercap,andaircraftmodelsaswellasmemorabilia.Inthecornerbythedoorstandsadisplay-standardmodelofaWorldWarIINakajimaKi-43Hayabusa(PeregrineFalcon)fighter.
SaitamaSubaruaretobecongratulatedfortheenterprisetheyshowedbothinpreservinganaircraftthatissosteepedinhistoryandinputtingtogetheraninterestingexhibit.
PartingShot
Locatedaround5kmfromtheMidabashijunctiononNationalRoute17ClosedMondaysandNationalHolidays.Dependingondemand,guidedtoursusuallytakeplaceonceamonthonaSaturdaymorning(10:30–12:00)andafternoon(13:30–15:00).Applicationisviae-mailtohatsutaka@saitama-subaru.co.jp
NOTEInearly2021,theMuseumofNaturalScienceandNatureunderwentrefurbishment,inthecourseofwhichalltheaviation-relatedexhibitswerereplacedbysolelyspace-orienteddisplays.
Accordingtothepacificwrecks.comwebsite,itslastpilotwasEnsignKentaroMiyagoshi,whoranshortoffuelandditchednearCapeLambertonJanuary18,1945.Miyagoshiandhisobserversurvivedandeventuallymadeitbacktobase.
StoredataNationalMuseumofNatureandSciencefacilityinTsukuba,IbarakiPrefecture,duringmuseumconstructionworkin1998,53-122wasplacedbackonpublicdisplayinNovember2004.
WhatGoesAround...
TemporaryExhibits
ThefirsttwoJapanesepilots,ImperialJapaneseArmy(IJA)captainsHinoandTokugawa,passedonthepilotingskillstheyhadacquiredinEurope,resultinginthesettingupofcivilandmilitaryflyingschoolsandthetrainingofpilots.AsmallnumberofpilotstrainedoverseasbeforereturningtoJapan.
Intheabsenceofairfieldsintheearlydays,flatareas,suchasArmyparadegrounds,riverbanksandtidalmudflats,wereusedforflighttrainingandairmeets.Stillonasteeplearningcurveintechnicalterms,accidentswereanotinfrequentoccurrence,butaircraftwererepeatedlyrepairedandreturnedtoairworthycondition,therebyformingthebasisofaviationthatcontinuestothisday.
Banner2:AviationHeritageandPreservationActivities(Positionedontheoppositewall,nexttoapaintingoftheAsahiShimbun-sponsoredMitsubishiKi-15KamikazethatwasflownfromTokyotoLondonin1937.)
Generally,thetermaviationheritagerefersheretoarangeofaviationartifactsanddocumentsofculturalpropertyvalue.Thesecurehandingdownofaviationhistorytofuturegenerationsrequiresthepreservationnotonlyofaircraftbutalsoofawiderangeofperipheraldocuments.
UnlikeitemsproducedwithtraditionalmaterialsupuntiltheendoftheEdoPeriod[in1867],therearemodernmass-producedproductsthataredifficulttopreservewithoutascientificallycontrolledenvironment.Takingacidpaperasanexample,thereremainsthepossibilitythatdocumentswillbelostoveralongperiodoftimeduetodeterioration,makingadeoxidationprocessdesirable.SincetheJAAworksinpartnershipwiththeNationalMuseumofNatureandScienceaswellastheNationalResearchInstituteforCulturalProperties,progressisbeingmadewithactivitiesthatarepreservingJapan’saviationheritage.
TheJAAdeterminesthosehistoricalaviationassetsthataredeemedtobeofparticularimportanceintermsofaviationheritage.Havingsetupanawardssystemin2007,atpresentsixassetshavebeenbestowedwiththeaward,includingthefirstproductionNAMCYS-11thatnowbelongstotheNationalMuseumofNatureandScience.
Banner3:TheIASoJ’sInaugurationandStartofCivilAviationWiththeaimofdevelopingcivilaviationingeneral,theIASoJwasinauguratedasanincorporatedentityin1913.Togenerateinterestamongwidersociety,theIASoJ’sinitialactivitiescoveredthefullgamut,includingthedemonstrationflightsofaircraftimportedtoserveastechnologyexamples,pilottraining,andtheholdingofairpageants.Inadditiontoflyingcompetitionsatwhichattemptsweremadetobreakaltituderecords,mailflightraceswereheldtodemonstratethepracticalityofutilizingaircraftthatcompetedtobeattheflighttimesontheTokyo-OsakaandTokyo-Morioka[IwatePrefecture]routes.Thefirstnon-stopflightacrossthePacificwasrecordedin1929,andanendputtoflyingwithoutJapanCivilAviationBureaupermission.
AsthefeesfromtheofferingofpleasureflightsatairpageantsheldalloverJapanortheprizemoneyfromIASoJ-heldcompetitionsaccountedfortheirmainsourceofincome,Japanesecivilaviationpilotsfoundthemselvesinprecariousfinancialcircumstancesintheearlydays.Inthefullnessoftime,however,newspapercompaniesinauguratedpostalflightoperationsandairlinesformedtocarrypassengersgraduallywidenedtheprofession’sappeal.
ArchiveFootage
Asidefromotherwall-mountedphotos,charts,andmemorabiliaondisplayinshowcases,theexhibitfeaturedevocativearchivefootageprojectedinacontinuousloopontoalargescreen.OnesequenceshowedaHanriotHD-14biplaneundergoingpre-flightchecks,takingoffandlanding;anothershowsdelightednewpilotsbeingawardedtheirlicencesatTachikawa,Tokyo,onJuly15,1929.
PreciseLocation
StraddlingtheSetoInlandSea,AwajiIslandenjoyseasybridgeconnectionswithJapan’smainlandislandofHonshuandwithShikoku.ThesmallporttownofGunge,locatedonthewestcoastoftheisland,hasaresidentpopulationofonlyaround1,000people.
ItwastothishaventhatthecompanynowknownasMitsuSeikimovedin1946.HavingbeenfoundedinOsakaastheMitsuIronWorkstomanufacturepartsforImperialJapaneseNavyshipsin1933,therelocationmarkedthecompany’srebirthinthebusinessofmanufacturingandrepairingmarineengines.Thefabricationofcylindersprimarilyforcarengineswascommencedin1954.
Precision:MitsuSeiki’sMiddleName
Fastforward60yearsandwefindthecompany,stillrunbytheMitsufamily,engagedinadiversifiedportfolioofengineeringbusinesses,withtheemphasisonprecision(theseiinSeiki).TheMitsuSeikigroupofcompaniescurrentlyemploysaround300atitsclusterofthreefactorylocationsonAwaji.TheGroup’soperationsnowencompassthemanufactureofcomponentsforknittingmachines,whichwasstartedin1959,andformedicalaswellasfactoryautomationequipment.
Notsurprisingly,MitsuSeiki’sexpertisealsofoundreadyapplicationsintheaerospaceindustry.Havingcommencedthefull-scalemanufactureofjetenginecasingsandlandinggearcomponentsin1979,thecompanynowcountsKawasaki,IHI,andShinMaywaamongitscustomersfortheseproducts.
AviationHeritage
TheaircraftcollectioniskeptatMitsuSeiki’sTagaWorks,thefirstsectionofwhichwascompletedin1992.Thecompany’sheadofficewasrelocatedtherethreeyearslater,andtheTagaNo.4Factorycompletedin2012.
Theaimofplacingaircraftondisplaywasthreefold:toenhancethequalityoftheaircraftproductsthecompanymanufactures;toencouragethespreadofonaeronauticalscienceeducation;andimprovehowaviationisregarded.Providinghands-onexperienceduringarrangedvisits,theTagafactorycomplexisapopulardestinationforschoolsinthearea.
IndoorDisplayArea
Asiscustomary,visitorsarerequiredtoexchangetheiroutdoorshoesforslippersbeforesteppingontothecarpetinthefoyeroftheadministrativeblock.
Actingasthefocalpointhereisanex-JASDFFujiT-3trainerformerlyoperatedbytheAirDevelopment&TestWingatGifuAB.Thisareaalsohousesanumberofenginesontrestles,somepropellers,apairofF-104JStarfighterexternaltanks,andthenowreplacedweather-ravagedcockpitcanopyofthecollection’sMitsubishiF-1supportfighter.Moreinformationonindividualexhibitsisprovidedinthephotocaptions.(Pleasenotethattheuseofflashphotographywasavoidedasfaraspossibletoproduceatruerimage.)
Ex-JASDFFujiT-3
Thenosewheel(left)andstarboardmainwheeloftheFujiT-3.MitsuSeikihasengagedinthebusinessofsupplyinglandinggearcomponentssince1979.
Ex-JGSDFKawasaki-HughesOH-6D
JetEngines
LoanedPropellers
OutdoorDisplayArea
Wherepossible,photosoftheaircraftdisplayedoutsidehavebeencoupledwiththoseoftheenginesdisplayedinside.
Ex-JASDFMitsubishiF-1andIshikawajimaHarimaHeavyIndustriesTF40-IHI-801Aengine
Ex-JASDFFujiT-1BandRolls-Royce(BristolSiddeley)OrpheusMk.805engine(fromT-1A)
Ex-JGSDFMitsubishiLR-1
Ex-JGSDFKawasaki-VertolKV-107IIA-4andGeneralElectric/IHICT58-IHI-140-1turboshaftengine
Ex-JGSDFFuji-BellUH-1H
HowToGetThere
ByfarthecheapestwayisbyhighwaybusfromKobe’sSannomiyaStationtoGunge.ItsroughlyhourlyoperationsharedbytheAwajiKotsuandShinkibuscompanies,thebusroutelinkshighwayinterchangesandcoastalcommunities.Thereturnfareforthejourney,whichnormallytakesanhouroneway,is2,520yen.
AtaxifromthestanddirectlyacrossfromthebusstopinGungetotheTagaWorkstakesonlyafewminutesandcosts850yen.
VisitingHours
Visitsarepossibleduringofficehours(between8a.m.and5p.m.onweekdays,excludingNationalHolidays)bypriorarrangementonly.Tel:+81(0)799-85-1133/Fax:+81(0)799-85-2602
Asthebusserviceisinfrequent,visitorsshouldaimtobebackatthebusstopinGungeinplentyoftime.ThenearbycoffeeshopIkoi(meaningrelax)providestheperfectwaitingroom.
AnamesynonymouswithJapaneseindustry,Mitsubishifirstbecameofficiallyinvolvedintheaviationfieldin1928,whentheMitsubishiCompanychangedthenameofitsNagoya-basedMitsubishiInternalCombustionEngineManufacturingCo.,Ltd.subsidiarytotheMitsubishiAircraftCompany.Largelyasaresultofa1925technicaltie-upwithJunkersofGermany,MitsubishihadbythenalreadybecomeamajorplayerintheJapaneseaviationindustry.
In1934,thecompanybecamepartofthehugeMitsubishiHeavyIndustries(MHI)conglomeratethatalsoboastedlong-establishedinterestsinshipbuildingandindustrialmachinery.
IntheperiodimmediatelyfollowingtheendofthePacificWar,thecompanysurvivedbyrespondingtotheneedsofthetimesandsupplyingarangeofproducts,fromdomesticappliancestobusbodies.OncethepostwarbanonJapan’saircraftproductionwasliftedinApril1952,Mitsubishimadearapidreturntoitsformerlineofbusiness.
ConstructionworkcommencedonanewMHIaircraftplantrightnexttotheairfieldatKomakiinAugust1952;thefirsthangarwascompletedinDecemberthatyear.ThefirststephadbeentakenonaroadthatwouldleadMitsubishitothelicence-buildingofU.S.typesforallthreeSelf-DefenceForceairarms,priortodesigningandmanufacturingitsownaircraft.
Asyouwouldexpect,theprivatemuseumlocatedinsidetheKomakiSouthcomplexcontainsamassofinformationfromtheearliestdaysofthecompany’sinvolvementinaviation.
OutdoorLineup
ThesignsinfrontofthefouraircraftparkedoutsidethearchivebuildinghelptochartsomeoftheKomakiSouthplant’spostwaractivities.
NorthAmerican-MitsubishiF-86F-40Sabre
Lockheed-MitsubishiF-104JStarfighter
MitsubishiT-2
Sikorsky-MitsubishiHSS-2BSeaKing
IndoorStarAttraction1Komet’sKissingCousin:MitsubishiJ8M1Shusui
Aslightlylargerversionoftheworld’sfirstrocket-poweredfighter,theGermanLuftwaffe’sMesserschmittMe163BKomet,theJ8M1ShusuiwasintendedtodefendthehomelandagainstU.S.ArmyAirForceB-29airraids.
Afterafive-yearrestorationbyvolunteerKomakiSouthengineers,thecollection’sJ8M1wasunveiledonDecember18,2001.Thiswassome40yearsafterthedilapidatedairframe,thenonly25percentcomplete,hadbeenfoundinacaveduringconstructionworkattheJapanAircraftManufacturingCo.,Ltd.(nowNIPPICorporation)factoryatSugita,KanagawaPrefecture,in1961.
HavingbeenpresentedtotheJASDFin1963,thebatteredhulklanguishedoutdoorsatGifubefore“cominghome”toNagoyain1997andbecomingthefocusofrestorationefforts.ItwasnotuntilOctober1999thatthebuildingofmissingpartsandtherestorationoftheairframe,whichreliedheavilyonMHIarchivedrawings,couldbegininearnest.Insomewaysthiswashistoryrepeatingitself,astheoriginalMHIteamunderMijiroTakahashihadbeenforcedtoreverseengineeraircraftandrocketmotorparts,theplansforwhichhadlargelybeenlostaboardtwosubmarinessunkenroutefromGermanytoJapanin1944.AllthatwasavailablewerethedocumentscarriedbyoneofthemilitaryattachessenttoGermany,whohadbeenluckyenoughtopartcompanywithoneoftheill-fatedsubmarinesinSingaporeandcontinueontoJapanbyaircraft.Themodern-dayteam,however,hadtheaddedluxuryofbeingabletovisittheonlyothersurvivingexample,atThePlanesofFameMuseuminChino,California.
BeforeandAfterRestoration
AsNagoyawasthetargetoffrequentairraidsandhadevenbeenstruckbyanearthquakeearlyinDecember1944,theJ8M1designteamwasrelocatedtoMatsumoto,NaganoPrefecture.IncludingJapanAircraftManufacturingandNissanAviationTransportation,potentialairframeproductionsitesweredispersedforthesamereasons.
Usuallytranslatedas“swordstroke”,anMHI-producedhistoryoftheKomakiplantstatesthatthenameShusui(literally“autumnwater”)camefromthepoeticimageofasharplyhonedswordthatisaskeenandunerringasanautumnstream.DepartingfromtheImperialJapaneseNavalAirForce(IJNAF)traditionofnamingitsinterceptorsafterweatherphenomenon,theaircraft’snamewasactuallytakenfromthetitleofatankapoem.ThepoemhadbeenwritteninDecember1944byEnsignKatsutoshiOkanoincelebrationofasuccessfultestflightwhenwiththetrainingunitformedinanticipationofJ8M1deliveries,theYokosukaNavalAirGroupdetachmentbasedatHyakurigahara(todayknownasHyakuri)inIbarakiPrefecture.AsthewordingoftheversecouldbetakentomeanthattheperformanceoftheShusui(poeticallyhere“sharp-bladedsword”)wouldreverseJapan’sbythengravewarsituation,thenamewaslatersubmittedtothecommandingofficeroftheservice’s312thNavalAirGroupandprovisionallyacceptedforanaircrafttheunitwasdestinedtoflyonlyitsunpoweredtraininggliderform.
Intheevent,theShusuiwasnevertoseeoperationalservicebeforetheendofthewaronAugust15,1945,bywhichtimeMitsubishihadcompletedfouraircraft,JapanAircraftonlytheone.Theonlyexampletofly,theprototypesufferedaflameoutresultinginafatalcrashwhenonitsmaidenflightfromthenavalairbaseatOppama,KanagawaPrefecture,onJuly7,1945.
J8M1ShusuiDetailPhotos
IndoorStarAttraction2RepatriatedCombatant:MitsubishiA6M5ZeroModel52
EstimatedtohavebeenbuiltinMarch1944,thedisplayedZerowasoneoffiveretrievedfromColoniaairfieldonthePacificislandofYapbyTokyo-basedbusinessmanNobuoHaradain1980.TherestorationworkwascarriedoutattheKawaguchikoMotorMuseuminYamanashiPrefecture,whichformerracingdriverHaradaowns.
A6M5ZeroDetailPhotos
ElsewhereintheCollection
TheShusuiandZeroaresurroundedbyexhibits,walldisplays,andshowcasesbroadlydividedintoArmy,Navy,civilianaircraft,andSDFsubjectareas.Thefollowingphotosprovidejustatastethecollection’sextensivecontent.
OpeningHoursLocatedacrossfromthemaingate,untilitsclosureinJune2017thecollectionwasopeneveryweekonMondaysandThursdays,9a.m.to3p.m.ToursneededtobereservedthroughtheNagoyaAerospaceSystemsKomakiSouthPlantGeneralAffairsGroup:1,OazaToyoba,Toyoyama,Nishikasugai,AichiPrefecture480-0293Tel:+81-(0)568-28-1112/Fax:+81-(0)568-28-5150
HowToGetThereTaketheMeitetsuInuyamaLinefromMeitetsuNagoyaStationtoNishiharu.Fromthere,takethebusboundforNagoyaAirportbutgetoffattheToyoyamaSocialEducationCentre(ToyoyamachoShakaiKyoikuSenta).YoucanseetheMHINagoyaAerospaceSystemsKomakiSouthplantalongthemainroadfromthebusstop,soit’sjustashortwalktothemaingate,fromwheretheaircraftparkedoutsidecanstill(early2018)beseen.
PrincipalReferenceWorksIntheprocessofaddingorcheckingdetails,J-HangarSpacereferredtoanumberofsources.Toomanytolisthere,chiefamongthemwere:
J-HangarSpacetookadvantageoftheKasumigauraArmyCampopendayeventthatmarkedthe61stanniversaryofthebase’spostwarinauguration.ThevisitcouldhavebeencoveredasaLocationReport,butthebase’sPublicInformationCentercontainsmuchofhistoricalinterest,andotheraspectswillbecoveredinanairfieldhistory.Thisreportisthusdesignedtoprovideanupdateonthecontentofthecenter.
ThePublicInformationCenterHelicopterCollection
Keptoutside,thefour-helicoptercollectionislistedbelow.Inthecaseoftwooftheresidents,aphototakenin2002providesathenandnowcomparison.
Fuji-BellUH-1H
HughesTH-55J
Kawasaki-HughesOH-6J(2002)
OutdoorMemorialZone
HistorybehindMonumentofRemembrancetoWeaponsLogisticsDepot(TranslationofDescriptivePlaque)
TheWeaponsLogisticsDepotwasestablishedatShimo-TachikawaArmyCampinTokyoonOctober15,1952.Aftera[minor]changetoits[Japanese]namethefollowingyear,thedepotmovedtothissite[Kasumigaura]onJanuary20,1954.Despiterepeatedreorganizations,itwasfromherethatthedepotsubsequentlyfulfilledthefunctionoftheJGSDF’slogisticshubforfirearms,vehicles,guidedweapons,aircraft,chemicalequipment,andammunition.However,thereorganizationintotheGroundMaterialControlCommand[GMCC,atJujo,Tokyo]andtheKantoSupplyDepot[oneoffiveregionaldepots,atTsuchiura,nexttoKasumigaura]followingtheconsolidatedcentralizationofoperations,suchasatcentralsupplydepots,broughtdownthecurtainonits47year-longhistoryonMarch26,1998.
Inconnectionwiththedepot’sdisbandment,weerectedherethismonumentofremembrancethatencapsulatesamyriadthoughts;fromthedesirefortheWeaponsLogisticsDepot’soutstandingachievementsandtraditionstoliveonwithinthenewsystem,andforthedepot’snameanditsexistencetobelavishlypreservedforposterity.Thememorialzone,inwhichthismonumentwaserectedasafocalpoint,crystallizestheaspirations,ingenuity,andtoilofallthepeopleinvolved,showsgratitude,andexpressesappreciation.
March26,199826thWeaponsLogisticsDepotCommander,GeneralKurushima
Kirameki(Sparkle)(TranslationofDescriptivePlaque)
AsanarmycampsupportingtheEasternArmyunitsnecessaryforitsmissionofdefendingTokyo,thenameKirameki(Sparkle)encapsulatedthehopethatKasumigaurawouldaccomplishthetransformationintoan“armycampgarrisonthatsparklesfromwithin.”
Inauguratedin2003tomarkthe50thanniversaryofKasumigauraArmyCamp
PresentedbyShigeruNagaoka
MonumentMarkingVisitbyAirshipGrafZeppelin(TranslationofDescriptivePlaque)
OnAugust19,1929,theworld’slargestairship,theGermanGrafZeppelin,arrivedduringitsroundtheworldflightatwhatwasthentheKasumigauraNavalAirGroup.Around400,000peoplecametoseetheGrafZeppelinoverthefivedaysofitsstay,duringwhichtimeaspecialtrainservicewasoperatedfromUeno[inTokyo]to[nearby]Tsuchiura.ThevillageofAmihara(today’sAmimachi)wassaidtohavebeeninundatedwithpeople.Measuring240metres(790feet)inlength,thehangarusedhadformedpartofthereparationsGermanypaidtoJapanafterWorldWarI.
In1931,CharlesLindberghandhiswife[Anne]alsoflewintoKasumigaura,whichwasthenaglobalairport.
In1974,thediscoveryofatetheringstoneandanchortargetmarkermadeitlikelythattheGrafZeppelin’sarrivalpointwasnearhere,andresultedinthismonumentbeingerectedin1975.In1993,themonumentwaschosenasoneofthepointsofinterestinAmimachi.
Asthenumbersofvisitors[toAmimachi]havebeendeclininginrecentyears,themonumentwasmovedanddisplayedatitscurrentlocationsothatthehistorybehindthevisitoftheGrafZeppelinwillnotbeforgotten.
GeneralFujino,33rdBaseCommander,JGSDFKasumigauraArmyCampJune18,2008
History(TranslationofDescriptivePlaque)
OnAugust19,1929,theGrafZeppelin,atthattimetheworld’slargestairship,arrivedsafelyatAmihara[IbarakiPrefecture],itsfirststoponthewayfromitsGermanhomeland,havingunprecedentedlytraversedtheskiesoverSiberiainoneleginherbidtosetthefastesttimeforaflightcircumnavigatingtheworld.Overthefivedaysofitsstay,theGrafZeppelinreceivedlocalhospitality,amongotherthingscooperationthatwentfarbeyondthatoftheKasumigauraNavalAirGroupinsqueezingtheGrafZeppelinintoanenormoushangar;cooperationthatplayedamajorroleandcontributedtothesubsequentachievementofthecentury.FromtheGermansidealso,manylocalGermanresidentscametoexchangecourtesies,includingtheGermanambassadortoJapan,turningAmiharaintopreciselythespotwhereJapanese-Germanfriendshipbegan.
Severalyearshavepassed,andnowthereisbarelyanythingtoevokeintheworld’shistoricalconsciousnesstherolethissiteplayed;thesitewhereitemssuchasthis,theGrafZeppelin’stetheringstoneoncestood,seemsdesolate.
Thereasonforerectingthismonumenthereistoensurethepassingonofthat[senseof]pride.
ThePublicInformationCenter(1F/GroundFloor)
Havingchangedfromoutdoorfootwearintotheslippersprovided,visitorsarefreetowalkaroundthetwolevelsofthecenteritself.
Thelowerlevelismainlyoccupiedbyseatingforavideoscreeningarea.Extendingaroundtwowalls,horizontallydivided,colour-codedpanelsprovideapostwarchronology.ThischartskeyeventsinKasumigauraArmyCamphistory,includingthere-startofitsutilizationasanairfieldin1956,abovemajoreventsinJapanandoverseas.Thepanelrepresentationisaccompaniedbyphotosshowingscenesfromthemid-1950s.
ThePublicInformationCenter(2F/FirstFloor)
Theupstairsroomcontainsacentralrectangleofshowcasesaccompaniedbyotherdisplaysaroundthreewalls.Thefarendtothelefthasaconvenientseatingarea.
IntheshowcasedirectlyaheadareartefactsfromtheNo.1NavyArsenalera.Startingfromtheleft,theseincludegroupphotosand,attheendofthisside,acollectionofmanuals,allofwhichareunfortunatelyclosed.
Continuingaroundtheshowcaseattheend,themostprominentdisplayherecoverstheonlyaircrafttoattacktheU.S.mainlandduringthePacificWar.LaunchedfromthesubmarineI-29,aKugishoE14Y1(Glen)floatplanecrewedbypilotWarrantOfficerNobuoFujitaandobserverChiefPettyOfficerShojiOkudadroppedbombswiththefailedintentionofstartinganextensivefireinanareaofnationalforestinOregon,onSeptember9,1942.BackinJapan,thestorymadethefrontpageheadlinesoftheAsahiShimbunonSeptember17.
Thelongshowcaseonthesidefurthestawayfromthestairscommenceswithadisplay,inartefactsandphotos,oftheheavyfightingthattookplaceontheJapaneseislandofIwoJimaearlyin1945.Onalighternote,thenextdisplaycontainsmoreGrafZeppelinmemorabilia,thoughnotdirectlyconnectedwithher1929visittoKasumigaura.
Ageneraldisplayonmodern-daydomesticandoverseasSDFoperationsleadsvisitorstothemodelsoftankshousedintheendshowcase.
Thisbringsyouroundagaintothestairs,fromwherecontinuingonanotheranti-clockwiselaparoundtheouterwalldisplayscommenceswithtwosections,inphotosandaircraftmodels(shownonthiswebsite’shomepage),devotedtotheKasumigauraNavalAirGroupandtheNo.1NavalAirArsenal.
Themajordisplaytotherightprovidesmoredetailsconcerningthetragicstoryalludedtobyawornmonumentoutside.BeforethePacificWar,inNovember1940,TamikoFujita(norelationtothepilot)committedsuicidebythrowingherselfintoawellattheArmyFlightRadioOperatorsSchoolatMito,alsoinIbarakiPrefecture.Shewas22.Hersuicidenote,whichcontainedtwoself-pennedsongs,statedshehadwantedtolaydownherlifetobringanendtothespateofflyingaccidentstheschoolhadsufferedsinceopeningthatAugust.
AshrinetotheGoddessoftheSkies,comprisingakaihi,amonumentinscribedwitha31-syllabletankapoem,andabustwaserectedinFujita’shonourattheschool.TheshrineitselfwasdestroyedduringthewarandthebustremovedduringtheOccupationasitwasdeemedtofallwithintheremitofthepolicyoferadicatingmilitarism.Placedbrieflyinafarmer’sbarn,theobjectswereclaimedbythefamilyandkeptattheirhome.
WantingtohavetheseartefactsdisplayedinapublicplaceatanSDFairfield,awriternamedTakushiJinkotsuwasinstrumentalinresurrectingthislong-forgottenstory,havingapproachedthefamilytofindoutwhethertheyknewofthebust’swhereabouts.
Theculminationhisefforts,andthoseofothervolunteers,cameonApril13,2013.Thatday,arequiemserviceforTamikoFujitawasheldatthePublicInformationCentertomarktheplacingofthebustonpublicdisplayindoorshereandtheplaqueoutside.
PartingShots
AsthevisitcoincidedwithaneventtomarkKasumigaura’s61yearsofpostwarservice,J-HangarSpacewillbecoveringotheraspectsofthebase’shistoryinanupcomingreport.Asataster,thedisplayedphoto(above)showsaviewlookingacrosstotheKasumigauraNavalAirGrouphangarsinMay1945.Parkedinthecentre,themostnotableaircraftisarareType2Land-basedIntermediateTrainer(WatanabeK10W1/Oak).Fastforwardnearly70years,andthebaseishometothreetypesofattackhelicopters,includingtheBoeingAH-64DApacheLongbow(below,left)andtheKawasakiOH-1.
ThenearesttrainstationisArakawaoki,aboutanhouralongtheJRJobanLinefromUenoStationinTokyo.Fromthereit’sjustashorttaxiridetothebasemaingates.(ApublicroadseparatesthepartofthebasecomplexthatincludesthePublicInformationCenterfromtheairfieldside.)
JGSDFKasumigauraArmyCampPublicInformationCenterTours
JGSDFKasumigauraArmyCampPublicInformationGroup
2410,Migimomi,Tsuchiura,IbarakiPrefecture300-0837
Tel.:+81(0)29-842-1211,extension2217
OpeningTimes
MondaytoFriday,09:00to12:00;13:00to16:30(ExcludingNationalHolidaysandotherweekdaysonwhichtheCenterisclosed)
Althoughthereisnosetlimitonvisitornumbers,groupsof10ormoreneedtomakereservationsinadvanceviaaformontheJapanese-languagewebsite:
OntheHansa-BrandenburgW.29inIJNAFserviceandtheType2Land-basedIntermediateTrainer(Oak)InthenowoutofprintIssue7(September-December2007)ofArawasiInternationalmagazine
ZeroFighterMuseum(KawaguchikoAviationHall)Narusawa,YamanashiPrefectureAugust29,2014
Locatedaround60miles(100km)westofTokyo,inthewoodedFiveLakesregionofYamanashiPrefectureatthebaseofMountFuji,theZeroFighterMuseumisthebrainchildofformerracingdriverandcarimporter/exporterNobuoHarada.Firstopenedin2001,theaviationcollectionsharesthelocationwithitssisterfacility,theKawaguchikoMotorMuseum,whichdatesbackafurther20years,to1981.
LongassociatedwiththefighterfromwhichittakesitsEnglishname,theKawaguchikoHikokan(literallyAviationHall)currentlycontainstwocompleteexamplesandanothercockpitsectionwithitswingsinexposed,skeletonform.In2002,thecollection’sformerZeroModel52(c/n4240)wasmovedtothethennewlyrefurbishedYushukanattheYasukuniShrineinTokyo.
Thecurrentstarattraction,therestoredfuselageofaMitsubishiG4M2(Type1Land-BasedAttackAircraftModel22,Betty)bomber,providesa(literally)shiningexampleoftheeffortsHaradaandhisteamhavemadeovertheyears.
Thefuselageisactuallyacompositestructure,madeupofanoriginalrearfuselage—extendingbackfromtheframejustforwardofthewaistgunnerposition—andameticulouslyreverse-engineeredfrontsection.
TheAirMuseum/PlanesofFameinChino,California,containstheremainsofaBetty(aG4M1Model11)thatwasbuiltinApril1942andinvolvedinaforcedlandingatBaboairfield,inwhatisnowIndonesia.Displayedasanas-founddioramathatfaithfullyrecreatesthecrashsite,anaccountofits1991recoveryisincludedinHiddenWarbirdsbyNicholasA.Veronico(Zenith,2013).
LocatedinSilverHill,Maryland,theU.S.NationalAir&SpaceMuseum’sPaulE.GarberrestorationandstoragefacilityhousestheforwardfuselagesectionandenginesfromaG4M3Model34.ThisexamplewascapturedatYokosuka(OppamaNavalAirStation)attheendofthewarandshippedtotheUnitedStatesfortechnicalevaluation.Thatmakesatotalofjustthreemajorassembliesinexistence,fromthetotalofmorethan2,400aircraftbuilt.
Coincidentally,designoftheG4Mcommencedin1937,theyearHaradawasborn.Therestorationprojectwouldhavebeenimpossiblewithoutthehelpfromthreeprincipalsources:originaltechnicaldrawingssuppliedbyMitsubishi;thestudyofphotosofanenginelessG4M1(Model11,c/n2806)thatwasabandonedonBalalae,oneoftheSolomonIslandschain;andtheadviceandrecollectionsofveterancrewmembers.
Writtenofffollowingarunwayoverrun,theaircraftwasdiscoveredinthejungleclosetowhatisnowYapInternationalAirportin1984.Havingensuredtheabsenceofanyunexplodedordnanceorammunitionandreceivedthenecessarypermission,therecoveryteamattachedacableandhauledtherearfuselagefreefromthejungle’sclutches.
JoiningtheaircraftthatHaradahadalreadycollected,therearsectionwasfinallyhoistedbycraneandsafelydepositedonatrolleyatitsnewhomeinAugust1987.Inadditiontotherearfuselage,whichstillborepatchesofred-colouredprimer,therecoveryteamhadalsobroughtbacktheverticalandhorizontaltailsurfacesaswellastwoengines.AstheworkwouldbeofassistancetowhatwasthenthepriorityprojectofrestoringsomesimilarlyrecoveredZeros,asmallteammadeastartontheBettyprojectfrompremisesinTokyothatsameyear.
TherearfuselagewascompletedinAugust1995andfollowedbya13-yeargapbeforeworktoconstructanewforwardfuselagewascommenced;thiswaswheretheinformationfromthethreeabovementionedsourceswastoproveinvaluable.(AtimelinefortherestorationappearsaftertheselectionofBettyfuselagephotosbelow.)
Twoweeksintothisyear’smonth-longmuseumopeningseason,HaradawasinterviewedbythelocalYamanashiNichiNichinewspaper.Theresultingarticle,whichappearedonAugust17,2014,reportedthatthenumbersofvisitorstothemuseumwasalreadyshowingsignsofayear-on-yearincrease.Haradathoughtthistobeevidenceofthegrowinginterestinmilitarysubjects,evenamongwomenandchildren,likelybroughtaboutbythepoliticaldebatesonthequestionofJapan’srightofcollectiveself-defence.Notsurprisingly,thistopiccausessomeuneaseamongthegeneralpublicwithregardtowhatanychangetoJapan’sconstitutionmightinvolve.
Fromapurelyaviationhistorypointofview,themuseum’sactivitiesarelikelytocontinuegeneratinginterestformanyyearstocome,particularlynowthatthemainprojectattheZeroFighterMuseumistherestorationofaprodigalHayabusa.
AircraftDisplayedOutsideBuildingHousingCollection
FormerJMSDFGrummanS2F-1Tracker
LockheedT-33A(51-5639)
NorthAmericanF-86FSabre(“02-7960”)
NorthAmericanF-86FSabre(02-7970)
NorthAmericanT-6G(52-0098)
SikorskyH-19C(40012)
InsidetheHangar
MitsubishiA6M2ZeroModel21(c/n91518)
MitsubishiA6M5ZeroModel52(c/n1493)
MitsubishiA6M2ZeroModel21(skeleton)
(Above)AnotheroftheaircraftbroughtbackfromYap,thisexamplewaslargelycannibalizedforsparesfortheotherModel21present(c/n91518).Theremainingmaincomponentswerematedin2010andturnedintoaninterestingexhibitshowingtheZero’sstructure.(Below)LabelsonthewinginformthevisitorthatthisaircraftwasaModel21(c/n92717)builtbyNakajimaAircraftinApril1944.
Thisyear,themuseumreleasedasecondeditionofitsbookZero-senyoYomigaere(BringtheZeroBacktoLife)abouttherestorationprojectsandalsohadonsaleaseriesoffiveDVDs.(Seenoteintextboxatendofthisreport.)Threeofthelatterdocumenttheworkinvolvedinthethreeprojectsshownabove,whiletheothertwocovertheaircraftnowondisplayattheYasukuniShrineandconversationswithpeopleconnectedwiththeZero.
FromReverse-EngineeredNosetoRestoredTail:MitsubishiG4M2(Betty)Fuselage(c/n12107)
(Aboveandbelow)Thefuselageinteriorisbecomingmorecompletewitheverypassingyear.Themostrecentworkhasfocusedoninstallingthenosemachinegunandgunsightaswellasthepilots’seatsandcontrolcolumns.Theclose-upphotobelowshowsthattheframeofthebombaimer’sseatisalreadyinposition.
TimelineofMitsubishiG4M2c/n12107
1944(May)The17thG4M2manufacturedatMitsubishiAircraft’sMizushimafactoryinKurashiki,OkayamaPrefecture
1945(Dateunknown)OverranrunwayatYapairbase,CarolineIslands
1984WreckfoundandrecoveredfromjungleclosetowhatisnowYapInternationalAirport
1987(Aug.15)WreckarrivesatPortofYokohama,transportedfromtherebyroadtoKawaguchikoMotorMuseum
1995(Aug.)Restorationofrearfuselagecompleted
2008(Sept.)Usingpurpose-builtassemblyrig,constructionofforwardfuselageframecommenced
2009(Dec.)Fuselageframeworkcompleted
2010(Aug.)Publicdebutofnatural-metalforwardsection
2011(Dec.)Forwardfuselagesectionrolledout
2012PaintedforwardandrearfuselagesectionsmatedintimeformonthofmuseumopeninginAugust
NakajimaKi-43HayabusaExhibits
PiperL-19BSuperCub(12045)
AslightlycheaperoptionforreachingKawaguchikoistotakeahighwaybusfromtheterminalatShinjukuStation,ajourneythatisscheduledtotake1hour45minutes,trafficconditionspermitting.
J-HangarSpacedecidedtoarriveinstyleandtooka15-minute,2,000yentaxiridefromKawaguchikoStationtothemuseum.Thiswasoffsetbymakinguseofaninfrequentbutfreecommunitybusforthejourneybacktothestation.Thebusstopislocateddirectlyinfrontoftheentrancetothemuseumcarpark,ontheoppositesideoftheroad.Abusscheduleispostedonthewallinsidetheentrancetothebuildingcontainingthecollection.
ZeroFighterMuseum(KawaguchikoAviationHall)
Marusawa-mura,FujizakuraKogen,Minamitsuru-gun,YamanashiPrefecture401-0320
Tel./Fax.:+81(0)555-86-3511
ThemotorandaviationmuseumsareonlyopeninAugust(10:00to16:00everyday)
Adultadmissionfee(validforaviationmuseumonly):1,000yen(August2014)
PhotographyRestrictionsVisitorsshouldbeawarethatphotographyinsidethepremiseswithanyequipmentotherthanmobilephonesisnotpermitted.Camerabagsandboxesarealsoforbidden.
Publications/DVDsPleasenotethatthebooksandDVDsmentionedinthisreportareonlyavailabledirectfromthemuseum.
KisarazuArmyCampMuseumKisarazu,ChibaPrefectureSeptember10,2017
ItwasonFebruary25,2017,ontheoccasionofthe48thanniversaryofthefoundationoftheJGSDFgarrisonatKisarazuandits44thairshow,thataribbon-cuttingceremonywasheldtomarktheofficialopeningofanew,purpose-builtaviationmuseum(below).
Hungonthewalltotherightofthehelicopterarephotosdepictingaselectionoftheresident1stHelicopterBrigade’sfar-flungdisasterreliefoperations—inSumatra(2005),Pakistan(2010)andthePhilippines(2013)—placedoverashowcaseofcommendationsforandmementoesfromitsmanyoverseasmissions.MentionismadehereofthesupporttheunithasprovidedforthesummitmeetingsthathavebeenheldinJapan,mostrecentlyattheIse-ShimaG7SummitinMay2016.
Opposite,behindapropellerfromaFujiLM-1,aType627.62mmmachinegunandsomemodels,aremorephotosofdisasterreliefandrescueoperations,thistimeinJapan:theKobeandKumamotoearthquakesof1995and2016,respectively;thevaliantbutfutileeffortstocoolthetsunami-strickenFukushimareactors(2011);andrescueeffortsfollowingtheJALFlight123airdisaster(1985)andtheeruptionofMt.Ontake(2014).Reflectingthemuseum’spublicrelationsandrecruitmentroles,otherpaneldisplaysaredevotedtomodern-dayJGSDFequipmentandoperations.
OntheoppositesideoftheKV-107,nexttoanareaequippedforvideopresentations,isawall-mounteddescriptionofKisarazu’stimeasanIJNAFbase.AchartprovidesatimelineofimportantdatesinthehistoryofthebaseanditsthenresidentNavalAirGroupagainstothereventsinandoutsideJapanfrom1934to1945,alongwiththenamesandranksofthecommandingofficersduringthatperiod.
Beyondthesepoints,andincertainotherwell-markedareas,photographyoftheexhibitsisunfortunatelynotpermitted.Thathadapparentlybeenthecasewiththepreviousfacility,where,unlikehere,noattemptwasevermadetoseparatetheitemsthatweredeemedoutofcameralensbounds.ThisreportdoeshowevercontainlinkstosomegeneralviewstakenontheopeningdayinFebruary2017,apparentlybeforeanybodyhadthoughttoputthenecessarysignsinplace.AtthetimeofJ-HangarSpace’svisit,JGSDFpersonnelwereonhandtopolitelytellanyonewhohadsomehowfailedtonoticethesignstoimmediatelydeleteanyimages.
Ontheoppositelongwall,aboveshowcasesofmodelsandswords,aremorephotos,includingsquadronphotosandindividualtypes,suchastheR2YKeiun,theJ9NKikka,andthecivilianGasudenKokenlong-distanceresearchaircraft.
KisarazuConnections
Fortoday’s49thanniversaryofthefoundationoftheJGSDFgarrisonatKisarazuandits45thairshow,theKV-107wasadornedwithapennantmarkingthemuseum’s10,000thvisitor,whowaspresentedwithacertificate.
AdjacenttothemuseumbuildingaretheKisarazuAviationShrine(above)andaclusterofthreemonuments.
Accordingtotheadjacentinformationpanel,thedecisiontoerectaShintoshrinewastakenupontheKisarazuNavalAirGroup’sreturnfromsupportingmilitaryoperationsinChinainApril1938.Havingselectedanemptysitetothesideoftheunit’smainbuilding(onthenorthsideofwherethemuseumnowstands),aground-breakingceremonywasheldthatsamemonth.Thankstotheunitmembers’efforts,themainbuildingwascompletedthefollowingmonthandtheKisarazuShrinepurificationritualheldonMay26,1938.
FollowingthearrivalofPrinceAsaakiraKuninomiya(1901–1959)totakecommandoftheKisarazuNavalAirGroup(onNovember1,1940),thesoulsofthosewhohadlosttheirlivesinthelineofaviationdutyorbeenkilledinactionwereenshrinedtogether.Fortunately,theshrinebuildingescapeddemolitionfollowingtheendofthewar.
荒鷲の碑WildEagleMonument
Thewordingontheinformationpanelstatesthat,inJuly1937,theKisarazuNavalAirGroupdeparteditshomebaseandreorganizedatOmura(inNagasakiPrefecture).OnAugust15thatyear,theunit’sfullcomplementof20(Type96Nellbomber)aircraftdepartedOmuraandmadeitswaythroughtyphoonweatherconditionstowardthetarget,Nanking,adistanceofaround2,000km.For40minutesfrom14:50hours,theunitseparatelybombedtargetsthatincludedMinggugongairfieldandsufferedthelossoffouraircraftandmanycrewmembersfromChineseAirForcefightercounterattacks.
Recallingtheyoungairmen—likeallairmenoftheeraknowncolloquiallyas“wildeagles”—linedupinfrontofthehangars,expressinggratitudefortheirhaving“wonpeaceandprosperitythroughprecioussacrifice”andincludingthewordsofasongcommemoratingtheairraid,themonumentwaserectedonAugust15,1941.
行幸記念碑MonumentCommemoratingImperialVisit
ThemonumentcommemoratingthevisitEmperorShōwa(1901–1989)madetoKisarazuonAugust11,1938,wasbuiltunderthewrittenordersofViceAdmiralMichitarōTozuka(1890–1966).Themaintextcomprisesanewspaperaccountofthevisit,takenfromthefollowingday’sYomiuriShimbun.(AphotoofTozukaappearsontheEarlySDFHistorypageofthiswebsite.)
追悼の碑MonumentErectedinMourning
Lastly,thereisthismonumenttocomfortthespiritsofKisarazu-basedJGSDFpersonnelwhodiedonactiveservice.
ThecolumnalsobearsthenameofKeikichiMasuhara(1903–1985)andlikelydatesfromthesecondtimeheheadedtheJapanDefenseAgency(nowMinistryofDefense),fromJuly1972toNovember1973.(Masuharahadalsoheldthepostforamonthinmid-1971.)
Thelargegranitemonumentontherightliststhenames,ranksandagesof12JGSDFservicemenandthedatesoftheirfatalaccidents.
Thecircumstancesofthefirstincident,whichoccurredonMay27,1969,areunknown,butin1971twoKV-107crashesclaimedthelivesoffivemen.Twowerekilledwhenacrewwasforcedtoditch51723inTokyoBayonMarch1,theotherthreewereonboard51706whenitstruckamountainintheKumadistrictofKumamotoPrefectureonNovember12.
TwocrewmemberswerelostineachoftheaccidentsonMarch10,1992(involvingKV-10751740),August21,1997(OH-6D31206),andFebruary14,2001(OH-6D31260/AH-1S73463).
TotheleftsideofthemonumentthereappearsthewordingofanOathofSafety:We,theentireKisarazugarrison,sincerelyprayforthehappinessinthenextworldofthosewhoseliveswerecutshortand,inexchangefortheirprecioussacrifice,pledgethatwewillkeepfirmlyinmindthelessonslearnedandworktoensurethatabsolutelynoaccidentsoccur.
AccessAbusservicerunsfromstop5onthewestsideofKisarazuStation,whichisontheEastJapanRailwayCompany(JREast)UchiboLine,torightinfrontofthebase.Onbaseopendays,thebuscompanyoperatesadditionalservicesfromthestationtoatemporarystopatthemaingatefortheone-wayfareof180yen.Thealternativesareafive-minutetaxirideora20-minutewalk.
JGSDFTachikawaArmyCampMuseumTachikawa,TokyoNovember23,2017
Visitorstothe45thTachikawaDisasterPreventionAviationFestivalthatwillbeplannedforNovember2018shouldnotmisspayingavisittothiscollection.
Ateveryevent,visitorsarecheckedthroughthesamesecuritygateandproceedstraightdowntheperimeterroad.PassingtheholdingareasfromwherewinnersofalotterywillawaittheirflightinoneoftheChinooksthatshuttlebackandforthalongtherunwayduringtheafternoon,thethrongisthenguidedtofollowtheroadaroundtotheright.Inthisdirectionliethedisplaysofemergencyvehiclesandequipment,rowsofmerchandiseandfoodstandsaswellastheairfieldcontroltowerandhangars.
UnlikethelatestJGSDFmuseumatKisarazu(seepreviousreport),whichalsocontainsprivatelydonatedexhibits,therearenorestrictionsonphotography.Theonlyhazardstophotographyarethereflectionoftheroomlightsand,dependingonthetimeofdayandtheweather,sunlightthroughthewindows.Raininthemorninghadcausedthecancellationofpartoftheflyingdisplayandreducedattendance,thusonlyatrickleofvisitorscameintothemuseumduringJ-HangarSpace’svisit.
Laidoutintheshapeofan“M,”the“maze”inthemainroomcontainssomeamazingphotosandexhibits,whichhavebeenbroadlydividedintofivedistinctchronologicalzonesbelow.AroomoppositeprimarilyhousesenginesfromanL-19,UH-1B,OH-6JandH-13,andthedividingcorridorispartlydecoratedwiththeposterdesignsusedtoadvertisepreviousfestivals.
Thefollowinggivesjustatasteofwhat’sinstore;otherinformationandphotoswillappearinduecourseinaTachikawabasehistory.
Zone1:TheEarlyYears
Theopeningsectionincludesphotos(mountedintheframesbehindthedoor)datingbacktotheconstructionofthehangarsin1922andthecompletionofthefirstbuildings.Tachikawahadbeenselectedinthepreviousyearasthesiteofthecapital’sfirstArmyairfield,followingthatatTokorozawa,inneighbouringSaitamaPrefecture,whichhadbeenbuiltin1915andwasbythensufferingfromspacelimitationsfollowingtheformationofitssixthflyingunit.
IncludingflightformationsfromandaerialviewsofTachikawaairfield,thephotosmountedhighontheright-handwallforthemostpartdonotlendthemselveswelltophotographybecauseoftheceiling“lightpollution”.However,thethreephotoframessecuredtothewallabovetheshowcasescontainthefollowingphotos:
Left,centre(photoabove):5thFlightRegimentpersonnelcommemoratingaflightthenationalistpoliticalleaderMitsuruTōyama(1855–1944)madewiththeunitin1926.
Left,bottom:GroupphototakenatthetimeofavisitmadebystudentsandteachersoftheTokyoMusicSchooltothe5thFlightRegimentinthesummerof1931.
Centre:TheaftermathofacrashinvolvinganArmyType2Model1ReconnaissanceAircraft(Salmson2A2)inFebruary1926.Theaircraft’sleftwinghadclippedalargetreeintheprecinctsoftheYasakaShrine,ontheKōshūkaidōhighwayinHino,beforecrashingontoahouseandtragicallyclaimingthelifeofaninfant.
Right:Elementarycoursecollegestudentsduringatourof5thFlightRegimentfacilitiesinMay1931.
CentrephotoframeToprow:Standingoutamongtheaviation-relatedphotoshereareimagesofthecarsthatcompetedinaraceheldatTachikawaairfieldinApril1924,oneoftheeventsthatmarkedthegrantingoftownstatustowhatmusthaveoncebeenthetranquilhamletofTachikawa.
Secondrow,fromlefttoright(photoabove):Ararephotoofanaircraftfuselagedeliveredbyrentedcart;thefirstaccidentatTachikawaairfield(Dec.1923);TypeIHeavyBomber(FiatBR.20),importedfromItaly;regimentalfuneralservice
Bottomrow,fromlefttoright:TheterribleviewinthedirectionofYokohama,KanagawaPrefecture,onSeptember1,1923,thedaytheGreatKantōEarthquakestruckTokyoandthesurroundingarea;thesimilarsightintheTokyodirectiononthesameday;civilaircraftquicklymovedtoTachikawafromTokyo’sSusakiairfield,whichhadbeenrenderedunusablebytheearthquake;aircraftoperatedbyTheAsahiShimbunCompanyfollowingthepost-earthquakerestartofoperations.(NoteHucksstarterbeingattachedtonearestaircraft.)
Right-handphotoframe
Toprow,fromlefttoright:Theplannedsiteoftheairfieldduringsurveyingwork(photoabove,ArmyType2Model1ReconnaissanceAircraft[Salmson2A2]inflight,centreleft);(photowithnocaption);TachikawaairfieldduringtheTaishōperiod(1912–1926);(photowithnocaption)
Secondrow,fromlefttoright:TheTakamatsuchōareaofTachikawafromtheairinthelate1920s;5thFlightRegimentaircraftparkedattheairfield;Tachikawaairfieldin1933;anaerialviewinthevicinityofthe5thFlightRegimentpartoftheairfield.
Bottomrow,fromlefttoright:AerialviewofthetownofTachikawain1933;(outofchronologicalorder)UnitedStatesAirForceTachikawaAB,circa1962;twoviewsofmodern-dayTachikawaArmyCamp
Theshowcasesbelowcontaintextbooksandmanualsfromthe1930sand’40saswellasacollectionofphotoslabelled5thFlightRegimentPeople.Ashowcasetotherightcontainsamapshowingthelayoutoftheairfieldduringthe5thFlightRegimentera,whichhadbeenformedinMay1925byrenamingthe5thFlightBattalion.AnothershowcaseontheleftasyouentercontainsIJAAFuniforms,nexttowhichistheorganthatwasonceusedinthe5thFlightRegiment’sofficers’club.
Zone2:InterwarYears
Inthiszone,themainphotosonthewalldepicttypesthatwerebeingdevelopedfororalreadyoperatedbytheIJAAFatthattime.OthersareinrightfulsupportofTachikawa’sclaimtobethebirthplaceofJapanesecivilianaviation.
Thepicturesmountedinaframeontheshowcaseshowscenesfromthoseearlyciviloperations,includingthoseoftheresidentflyingschoolsandJapanAirTransport,whichhadbeenfoundedin1928andcommencedservicesbetweenTachikawaandOsakaonJuly15,1929;thefarewas30yen,apparentlyequivalenttoupwardsof120,000yenwhenthephotosweremounted.Twophotosshowthe40womenwhohadgatheredtotaketheexamtobecomeflightattendantsin1929;thesecondpartofthetestwasconductedonafloatplaneonthecoastofAomoriPrefecture,innorthernJapan.
Abovethepropellersisanotherframedcollection(above)ofcivilaviationphotos.Toprow,fromlefttoright:ThefoundersoftheforerunnerofTachikawaAircraftCo.,Ltd.,theIshikawajimaAircraftManufacturingCompany;sportinghistrademarkpropellermoustache,popularaviationfigureGen.GaishiNagaoka(1858–1933)andpilotSeijiYoshihara(sometimeswrittenasYoshiwara)seeoffU.S.-boundpilotZensakuAzuma(1893–1967);theJunkersA50Junior,sponsoredbytheHochiNewspaperCompany,whichYoshiharahadflownfromBerlintoTokyoin1930andusedtomakethefirstattemptatatrans-Pacificflightthefollowingyear;YoshiwarainfrontoftheA50atTachikawa,August30,1930.
Secondrow,fromlefttoright:CelebritykabukiactorsKōshirōMatsumotoandBaikōOnoewith(again)Gen.GaishiNagaokaattheopeningceremonyoftheImperialAeroClub;outsideahangaratTachikawaisMissVeedol,theBellancaCH-400inwhichClydePangbornandHughHerndonmadethefirstnonstopflightacrossthePacificinOctober1931;anenlistmentscene;soldiersofftothefrontatthetimeoftheso-calledShanghaiIncident(early1932).
Bottomrow,fromlefttoright:Ascenefromthetroops’triumphantreturn;twophotosofaFairchildFC-2;RyanNYPlong-rangeaircraftoperatedbyTokyoNichinichiShimbun(TokyoDailyNews).
AframedphotoandnewspaperaccountsrecordEmperorHirohito’svisittotheIJAAF’sTechnicalHQatTachikawaonMay8,1933.
Theshowcasesholdanalbumofwhataredescribedas“snaps”fromthelate20sandearly30saswellasitemsofequipment.Theseincludeanaero-enginegeneratoraswellasaType2gunsightproducedbyNipponKōgakuKōgyōK.K.(JapanOpticalIndustryCo.,betterknowntodayastheNikonCorporation)andbelievedtohavebeenfittedtotheNakajimaKi-43-IIHayabusafighter.
Zone3:DuringWorldWarII
OnAugust31,1938,the5thFlightRegiment,whichwasthenflyingKawasakiKi-10fighters,fellintolinewithanIJAAFreorganizationthatincludedthere-designationofhikōrentaiashikōsentai(literallyflightcombatunit,thoughusuallystillreferredtoinEnglishasflightregiment).
Datingbacktoitsformationasahikōdaitai(flightbattalion)atKakamigahara,GifuPrefecture,in1921,the5thhadbeenresidentatTachikawaasareconnaissanceunitsince1925.
Althoughthereareanumberofreferencestothe1938,nowfighterversionoftheunitatthemuseum,itsassociationwithTachikawawasshort-lived,comingtoanendinJune1940withrelocationtoKashiwa,ChibaPrefecture,andtransitiontotheNakajimaKi-27.Asawall-mountedhistoryrelates,from1942,theKawasakiKi-45Toryū-equipped5thledatypicallyperipateticexistenceasthemilitarysituationdemanded,seeingcombatbothathomeandoverseas.Theunitwasre-equippedwiththeKi-100justamonthbeforetheendofhostilities.
Prominentinthissectionofthemuseum,perchedaboveshowcasescontainingflyingclothingandequipmentthatrangesfromagasmasktoapockettorch,isaframedphotoentitled“AirWarHero”withabriefbioofthefighterpilotMaj.Gen.TateoKatō(1903–1942).OnthewallisanoilpaintingofalineupofsevenKi-61Hienpilotsabouttoknowinglyembarkonaone-waymission.
Zone4:PostwarU.S.AirForceEra
Awholestoryinitself,TachikawawasaU.S.militarybasefrom1945to1977.ItsproximitytoTokyoprovedidealforitsinitialroleofmilitaryairtransporthubfromassoonastheairfieldcouldbemadeoperational,inJanuary1946.
TheKoreanWar(1950–1953)sawTachikawa’salreadyhighlevelofoperationsshiftintooverdrive,butitwasthelimitationsofthebase’slocationandrunwaylengththatcontributedtoitsdemiseasafull-fledgedairbase.Inthemid-1960s,theprocessoftransferringmajoroperationstowhatwastobecomeYokotaAirBasewascommenced.
Havingformanyyearsservedonlyasasupportbase,U.S.operationsatTachikawaceasedonSeptember30,1977.
Inthemuseum,photosmainlyrecordthebuildupofU.S.facilitiesin1946andthehugevarietyofaircrafttypesflownfromTachikawaduringitsheyday.
Zone5:Self-DefenseForceEra
TheJapanesegovernmentformallytookbackcontrolofthethenonlyrecentlyvacatedbaseonNovember30,1977,andaceremonytomarktheopeningofthenewJGSDFbasewasheldonMarch1,1982.
AshowcasefullofmodelsofWorldWarIIandSDFaircrafthasbeenplacedcenterstageamongwalldisplaysthatcoverthekeyrolethebase,co-locatedwithpoliceandfireserviceairunits,nowplaysindisasterresponseinJapanandoverseasaswellas,onatleastoneoccasion,asafilmset(MidnightEagle,2007).
Formingalinkwiththephotoofthe1933event,thissectionincludesaframedphotoofavisitthecurrentEmperorAkihito,whoispreparingtoabdicateinApril2019,madetoTachikawainApril1989.HewasenroutetoaceremonytoofficiallyrenameasGreeneryDaythenationalholiday(April29)thathadpreviouslybeenusedtomarkhislatefather’sbirthday.(Since2007,thatdayhasbeenknownasShōwaDay,andGreeneryDaymovedtoMay4.)
PartingShots:OutsideMonumentsandMemorials
飛行第五戦隊記念碑and(現駐屯地)竣工記念碑Commemoratingthe5thFlightRegiment(1938–1945)andCompletionofTachikawaArmyCampPositionedinfrontofamonumenttothepost-19385thFlightRegiment,thereverseofwhichbearsaninscriptiondatedMay29,1983,isthemarkerreportedlyerecteduponcompletionofthecurrentArmyCampin1980(althoughitlooksalotolder).
(昭和天皇)行幸記念(MonumentCommemoratingImperialVisit)Amonochromephotoofthismonument,whichisdatedMay4,1933,isondisplayinthemuseum.Apparently,themonumentisjustdiscernibleinthedistanceofthephoto(includedearlier)lookingacrosstheairfieldthatday.Thereisalsoasimplemarbleobelisk,closetothenearbypond,whichbearstheinscription安全の樹(TreeofSafety).Theponditselfisintheshapeofaboomeranginthewishforsafereturnstobase.
UnderadirectiveissuedduringtheAlliedOccupationinDecember1945,designedtohelpliberatetheJapanesepeoplefromthenation’smilitaristicideology,itwasevenforbiddenforthephrasetobeusedinofficialdocuments.
OpeningHours/Access
Althoughformingpartofguidedtoursofthebasethatareorganizedforlocalgroups,themuseumisnormallyonlyopentothepubliconceayear,onthedayoftheTachikawaDisasterPreventionAviationFestivalinNovember.ContacttheTachikawaArmyCampPROffice:Tel:+81(0)425249231E-mail:eaavngp-ea@inet.gsdf.mod.go.jp
BuiltbytheAichiprefecturalgovernmentatareportedcostofaroundfivebillionyen(US$45million),theAichiMuseumofFlightwasofficiallyopenedtothepubliconNovember30,2017.
ThefacilityisasomewhatmoregrandioseversionofandworthysuccessortotheNagoyaAirportAirandSpaceMuseum(orAeroMuseum),locatedonthethirdlevelofthedomesticterminal,whichwasopenfromJuly1985toOctober31,2004.
Accordingtoapamphletpublishedpriortotheopening,thefacilitywasdesigned,inpoeticterms,toawakenaspirationstoreachfortheskyand,morepractically,tooffervisitorsthechancetolearnaboutandgainsomehands-onexperienceofwhatitmeanstofly.Conceptually,athree-prongedapproachwasadopted:toconveyinformationonthedevelopmentoftheaviationindustry;toenhanceaviation-basedindustrialtourism;andtoencouragetheeducationofthosewho,asitsemployeesandmanagers,willbeartheresponsibilityforJapan’saviationindustryintheyearstocome.TheEnglish-languagepamphletprovidedcurrentlybearstheslogan:ReachtheSky,FlytotheFuture.
Thetwo-levelexhibitionareafeaturesathird,observationdecklevel,completewithhammocks,whichoffersvisitorsapanoramicviewofaircraftmovementsatNagoya-Komakiairport—alsohometotheMHIplantthatisproducingtheF-35AandfrequentedbytheSDFtypesoverhauledthere—andatJASDFKomakiABonthefarside.Around90metres(300feet)wide,22metres(72feet)highandextendingback58metres(190feet),themuseumbuildingcovers5,600sq.metres(60,300sq.ft.)andhasatotalfloorareaof7,800sq.metres(84,000sq.ft.).
Dominatingthemainexhibitionhallisanex-JASDFNAMCYS-11P(above)thatwascompletedatthenearbyMHIfactoryearlyin1965andmadeitsfinalhomecomingflightfromMihoAB,TottoriPrefecture,toadjoiningKomakiABonMay29,2017.
TheaircraftnowformsthecenterpieceofadisplaythatcoversaircraftmanufacturinginJapanintheearlystagesofWorldWarII.
TheMitsubishiconnectioncontinueswiththetwootherfixed-wingaircraftondisplay.Althoughbotharecivilregistered,theydohavelinkswithJASDFtypespastandpresent.
InitiallydesignedanddevelopedbyMHI,theMU-300Diamond1businessjetdidnotliveuptothesalesexpectationsthatfollowedtheprototype’sfirstflight,nownearly40yearsago,inAugust1978.However,itsproductionrightshavingbeensoldtothefamousU.S.companyBeechcraft,theJASDF—influencedbythetype’sadoptionastheU.S.AirForce’sT-1AJayhawk—endedupacquiring12likewiseformultienginejettrainingastheT-400between1994and2002.AlthoughMitsubishihadreportedlycompleted92airframes,thelargeU.S.AirForceorderboostedU.S.productionto859examples.
ThemuseumalsohousesanMU-2B-36thatformerlyservedasMHI’scorporatetransport.ThisaircraftwaspreviouslyondisplayalongsidetheZeroattheKomakiSouthPlant.TheJASDFflewfourMU-2Js,basedonthisvariantandspeciallyequippedfortheflightcheckrole,from1975to1995,butnonewerepreserved.
TwoMH2000helicopterscompletethemainexhibits.Whereasoneisintact,theother(thesecondprototype,datingfrom1998)isinadisassembledstatetorevealtheintricaciesofitsinnerworkingsandtobetterpiquethecuriosityandinterestofyoungvisitorsinparticular.
Atthetimeofitsdevelopment,MHIhadheldhopesofsellingabout100ofthistwin-enginedhelicopter,whichfellinthemedium-weight(AS365N,S-76)category,inthefirst10years.Thatwouldhavelikelyledtoitsadoptionbyprefecturalfirefightingandpoliceunitsandthedevelopmentofabeefed-upversionfortheSDForJapanCoastGuard—atechnologydemonstrator,theMitsubishiRP-1,wasahighlymodifiedS-76,atypesubsequentlyadoptedbytheJapanCoastGuard.ThefirstoftwoprototypeshavingflownforthefirsttimeinJuly1996,basiccertificationwasreceivedfromtheJapaneseCivilAviationBureauinthesummerofthefollowingyear.
WiththeexceptionoftheMH2000s,allthemainaircraftexhibitsareofficiallyonloan;theYS-11PfromtheJASDF,theZero,MU-2BandMU-300fromMHI.TheZerodescriptionstatesthattheaircraftwilleventuallybemovedagain,tothenewhomebeingplannedfortheentireMHIcollectionatthecompany’sOeplant.
Aftercompleting“check-in”and“boarding”procedures,“passengers”enterthemuseumatthesecondlevel,wheretheyaregreetedbyadisplay,entitled100FamousAircraftandfeaturing1/25thscaleprecisionmodelsinfiveshowcases.Extendingalongthewall,timelinesgivebilingualdetailsofmilestonesinworldandJapaneseaircrafthistory.
Alsoonthislevelareafilmtheatrewitha3Dscreen,onwhichisshownavideoofthehistoryofaircraftmanufacturing,andascienceclassroomequippedforchildrentolearnhowaircraftflybyconductingexperimentsthemselves.
ThesmallcaféattheendoverlookstherampinfrontoftheNagoya-Komakiairporthangarsfromwhichhelicopteroperationsareconducted,includingthoseoftheAichiPrefecturalPoliceAviationUnitandNagoyaMunicipalFirefightingAviationUnit.(Themuseumpamphletrequeststhatvisitorsrefrainfromtakingphotosoftheotherairporthangars.)
Postscript
OpeningHoursMonday,WednesdaytoSunday:10:00to19:00(lastadmission18:30)(IfanationalholidayfallsontheregularTuesdayclosureday,themuseumclosesonthefollowingdayinstead)
Admission:(Adult,perperson)1,000yen(visitorshavealsobeengivencouponsfortheAirportWalkNagoyashoppingcomplex)
Asthemuseumonlyhasparkingforlargebuses,visitorsarrivingbycarareadvisedtousethemultistoreyparkingattheairport.Abluelightaircraft(aRockwellCommander112)hasbeenplacedatthenearbyjunctionasalandmark.
HowtoGetTherefromJRNagoyaStation
Themuseum’swebsitequotes20minutesfortheservice,operatedbytheAoibuscompany,fromMidlandSquareatJRNagoyaStationtoNagoyaAirport.
ThemoreroundaboutMeitetsubusroutefromtheMeitetsuBusCenteratNagoyaStationtoNagoyaAirporttakes40minutes.
Havingwalkedbacktotheterminal,J-HangarSpacecaughtaMeitetsubusboundforNishiharu,theclosestMeitetsustation,onlytofindoutthatthefirststopwasoutsidetheAirportWalk,oppositethemuseum!
GoingBackinTime:NagoyaAirportAirandSpaceMuseum,October2000
Asmentionedinthemaintext,theNagoyaAirportAirandSpaceMuseum—thelow-keypredecessorofthenewlyopenedAichiMuseumofFlight—wasshoehornedintoaspaceonthethirdlevelofthedomesticterminalfromJuly1985toOctober2004.
Likeitsswankymodern-dayversion,theformerfacility—operatedbyNagoyaAirportTerminalBuildingCo.,Ltd.—boastedaZerofighterandanMU-2,thethirdMU-2Abuiltthathadpreviouslybeendisplayedontheterminal’sroof.Asidefromanautogyro,thesolerotorcraftondisplaywasaKawasaki-Hughes369previouslyoperatedbytheregionalChunichinewspapercompany.
FoundatthesiteoftheformerairfieldonTaroa,oneoftheMarshallIslands,in1979,theaircraftwastransportedtoSaipanbyitsfirstownerinaroundDecember1979andlatersoldtoaJapanesenon-profitorganization,theFukuokaAirandSpaceAssociation.ItsarrivalbackonJapanesesoilonMarch5,1983,wasmetwithmuchmediafanfare.IthadspentsometimeonhangardisplayinFukuokabeforebeingmovedtotheNagoyafacilityonlytoreturntoFukuokaafteritsclosure.HavingbeenplacedondisplayatamusichallafteritsreturntotheFukuoka-basedassociationinOctober2004,Y2-128wasdisassembledandmovedtotheaforementionedTachiaraiPeaceMemorialMuseuminFebruary2009andplacedondisplayeightmonthslater,inOctober2009;theaircraftiscurrentlyguardedbytheMH2000helicopter.
BackatNagoya,theformermuseumalsofeaturedalargecollectionofaircraftmodels(above),presumablythesamethatisnowondisplayattheAichiMuseumofFlight,andaspectatorobservationdeckoverlookingtheairport.Althoughprimarilydesignedasawaitingareawhereairportuserscouldkillsometime,aninterestingcollectionhadbeenamassed.Otheraircraftexhibitsincludedengines(theloanedJ79wasreturnedtotheJASDF)andcockpitinstruments,aflightsimulatorandaYS-11cockpittraineraswellaszonesdevotedtoairtrafficcontrolandthehistoryofJapaneseaviationasseenthroughnewspapers.
Preemptingaperiodofliteralterminaldecline,thedecisiontoclosewasmadeaheadofthetransferofseveralflightservicestoChubuCentrairInternationalAirport,whichopenedinFebruary2005;presumablynothoughthadbeengiventowhatwouldhavebeenthenovelideaofincludingalocalaviationhistorymuseuminthenewairport’sdesign.
AviationArtifactCorner
JASDFShizuhamaBaseMuseum
Asignincludestheinformationthatoneoftheaircraft’stwo-mancrewwasastudentnamedKobayashi,whosurvivedthewar.OnApril2,1945,theyhadsufferedenginefailurewhenonapproachtotheIJNAF’sFujiedaairbase,today’sShizuhama,theaircraftcrashingintothemouthoftheTochiyamaRiver.Lyingatadepthofsevenmetres,thisrelichadpresentedahazardtofishingboatnetsandwasthussalvagedinApril1982.
TheSuiseiisthesubjectofabookrecommendedontheBookstallcarouselatthefootofthiswebsite’shomepage.
Announcements
JASDFAirShowsin2025Mar.2KomakiNov.3Iruma
AirShowsin2024Jan.20Iruma(Cancelled)Mar.3KomakiMar.24KumagayaMay19ShizuhamaMay26MihoJune2Hofu-KitaAug.25MatsushimaSept.8MisawaSept.15ChitoseSept.23KomatsuOct.6AshiyaOct.27HamamatsuNov.3IrumaNov.17GifuNov.24TsuikiDec.1NyutabaruDec.8HyakuriDec.8Naha
JGSDFAirShowsin2025Jan.12Narashino(paratroopdisplay)
AirShowsin2024Jan.7Narashino(paratroopdisplay)Apr.6KasuminomeApr.6UtsunomiyaApr.13SomagaharaMay19TakayubaruJune1Kita-UtsunomiyaJune30OkadamaSept.29TachikawaOct.5KisarazuNov.10AkenoNov.24Yao
JMSDFAirShowsin2025May4Iwakuni(JointFriendshipDay)
AirShowsin2024Apr.20Atsugi(USNavy/JMSDF)Apr.28KanoyaMay5Iwakuni(JointFriendshipDay)July21TateyamaJuly28HachinoheSept.29OzukiOct.26ShimofusaNov.2Tokushima
POSTERGALLERY
JASDF2023
Miho
JASDF2022
Misawa
Komatsu
Gifu
Tsuiki
Hyakuri
JASDF2019
Somagahara
Okadama
Kanoya
JMSDF2022
Omura
Tateyama
(Pleasenotethatairshowdatesaresubjecttochange/cancellation.)