Located about 400 miles north of Tokyo on the northeastern corner of Japan's main island of Honshu, in the Aomori Prefecture; Misawa Air Base is home to more than 20,000 American and Japanese military, and their families. Military units representing the four US services (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps) make up the bases defense force. The base is also home to the Japan Air Self Defense Force's (JASDF) Northern Air Defense Force Headquarters.

Misawa Air Base's heritage dates back to 1938 when the Imperial Japanese army built an airstrip here. In late 1941, the Imperial Japanese navy added a communications site to send signals to a combined fleet anchored in nearby Mutsu Bay.

During World War II, the Imperial Japanese navy used the base for research and development of training and fighter aircraft. The base was heavily bombed from July to August 1945 during the last days of the war.  U.S. military members from the 32nd Army Engineering Company occupied the installation starting in September 1945 and began to restore the base. Misawa has maintained an American presence since.

In the Korean War, Misawa Air Base supported jet fighter operations that saw action over the Korean peninsula. Air Force fighter operations ended here in 1971 and didn't resume until the F-16 Fighting Falcons arrived here in 1985.

~ Exerts courtesy of the Misawa Air Base Home Page

Great links for sights around Misawa Air Base:

• Misawa City Homepage

• Sightseeing & Events in Aomori Prefecture

• Hachinohe City Homepage

• Kassai Aomori

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