The Air Rescue Wing Naha Detachment () is a unit of the Air Rescue Wing of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. It is also known as the Naha Air Rescue Squadron. Responsible for airborne

search and rescue Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...

, it is based at Naha Air Base in

Okinawa Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city o ...

. It is equipped with UH-60J and U-125A aircraft.

History

On May 28, 2013 an F-15C of the US Air Force's

44th Fighter Squadron The 44th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force, part of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. The 44th Pursuit Squadron was activated on 1 January 1941 and assigned to the 18th Pursuit Group. The 44th Fighter S ...

crashed into the ocean off Okinawa. The pilot ejected and was rescued by the detachment. On June 11, 2018 the detachment rescued the pilot of another US F-15C from the

based at Kadena Air Base that ejected over the sea off Okinawa.

Tail markings

Detachment UH-60J aircraft do not have special markings. JASDF aircraft usually have unit markings on their tail, but U-125A aircraft of the Air Rescue Wing have a marking on their fuselage, usually with a sticker below showing which base they are assigned to.

Aircraft operated

* UH-60J * U-125A

References

Units of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force {{Japan-mil-stub