Metabaru Air Field
Airport in JGSDF Camp Metabaru, Japan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Metabaru Air Field (目達原飛行場, Metabaru Hikōjō) (ICAO: RJDM) is a military aerodrome of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). It is located at JGSDF Camp Metabaru (目達原駐屯地, Metabaru Chūtonchi), in Yoshinogari, Saga Prefecture, Japan.
Japan Ground Self-Defense ForceMetabaru Air Field 目達原駐屯地 Metabaru Hikōjō | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
| Operator | Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | ||||||||||
| Location | JGSDF Camp Metabaru, Japan | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 53 ft / 16 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 33°19′31″N 130°24′49″E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  RJDM Location in Japan | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Source: Japanese AIP at AIS Japan[1] | |||||||||||
History
Metabaru Air Field was opened in 1943 as a branch of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service Tachiarai Training School with the specific task of training pilots for the Japanese Special Attack Units. In 1954, it became a supply depot for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, with the 4th Air Corps relocating from Ozuki Garrison in 1956.The 4th Air Corps became the 4th Squadron, a subordinate unit of the Western Air Corps in 1962. In 1968, the Western Helicopter Squadron was established. This was followed by the 3rd Anti-Tank Helicopter Squadron in 1990. The squadron was equipped with AH-64D Apache from 2010.
On February 5, 2018 an AH-64D Apache based at Metabaru crashed in nearby Kanzaki, Saga. Both crew members were killed in the crash, a local person was injured and a house was destroyed.[2][3][4][5]
