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JASDF (Japan Air Self-Defense Force)

  July 1954 to present

  Japan

TYPE: Air force

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Tokyo

OTHER NAMES: JASDF (Japan Air Self-Defense Force), Koku Jieitai

FATE: Active

Following World War II in 1945, the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy were disbanded. Japan's new constitution, drafted by the United States in 1947, did not allow Japan to have a regular military. However, rising Cold War tensions along with the advent of the Korean War prompted both American and Japanese governments to review their position on the issue. On 1 July 1954, Japan organized a Self-Defense Force in accordance with the 8 March 1954 Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement signed with the USA. The force comprised ground, sea and air branches, de facto an army, a navy and an air force. On 6 January 1955, the USAF Far East Air Force turned over 85 aircraft to the fledgling JASDF.

Two batches of Commandos were purchased:

  • 36 C-46Ds between January 1955 and October 1957, registered 51-1101 to 71-1131 and eventually assigned to the 401st and 402nd Tactical Airlift Squadrons;
  • 9 C-46As in 1959 from the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF), registered 91-1137 to -1139 and 91-1141 to -1146, all converted to C-46D standard;
  • 3 C-46Ds also in 1959 from ROCAF, registered 91-1140, -1147 and -1148.

Several JASDF Commandos were modified in service. 51-1119 became a 22-seat VIP machine, and 61-1129 was similar but had 24 seats; 91-1139 became a navigational trainer - these three for Air Transport Wing use. All of the Commandos operated by the Air Transport Wing were retired by 1977. 91-1140, 91-1143 and 91-1145 were converted to ECM trainers for the HQ Squadron's ECM Training Flight. 71-1133 became a radar test aircraft with the Air Proving Group. The Flight Check Group had 51-1101, 51-1108, 51-1114, 91-1138 and 91-1146 as navaids calibration aircraft. The last batch of non-transport C-46 (91-1138, -1143 & -1145) were retired on 11 March 1978.

The following Commandos were operated by the JASDF, unit unknown:

  • Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: 91-1137
  • Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando: 91-1144
  • Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando: 51-1119, 61-1129, 91-1147, 91-1148
  • Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando: 51-1103, 51-1104, 51-1124, 71-1131, 71-1132
  • Other Commandos: 51-1105, 51-1107, 51-1109, 51-1110, 51-1111, 51-1112, 51-1113, 51-1115, 51-1116, 51-1117, 51-1118, 51-1120, 51-1121, 51-1122, 51-1123, 51-1125, 61-1127, 71-1130, 71-1134, 71-1135, 91-1139

The JASDF transport aircraft were operated by the Air Support Command. The latter used a total of 48 Commandos between 1954 and 1978. The following squadrons operated Commandos: