401st Tactical Airlift Squadron

  October 1958 to present

  Japan

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TYPE: JASDF unit

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Tachikawa AB (1955), Miho AB (1955-1978), Komaki AB (1978-present)

FORMER NAME: Nil

FATE: Active

The 401^st Tactical Airlift Squadron has its origins at Tachikawa AB, Japan when that base was still under US military control. The Group was formed as the Tachikawa Provisional Air Group on 1 February 1955 with freshly received C-46Ds. It became the Tachikawa Air Transport Group on 1 March 1955, and the Miho Provisional Air Group upon moving to Miho AB, Japan on 6 June 1955. The unit was renamed the Air Transport Wing on 1 October 1958, with two Commando-equipped squadrons: the 401^st Tactical Airlift Squadron based at Miho AB and the 402^nd Tactical Airlift Squadron at Kisarazu AB, Japan.

The squadron received its first YS-11 sometime between March 1964 and December 1969, as a lead-in to a Commando replacement, and ceased to operate the Commando either early in 1977 or in 1978. The first Kawasaki C-1 possibly arrived in March 1973, but it was reportedly April 1975 before regular “milk run” JASDF base supply operations were commenced. On 31 March 1978, the squadron moved to Komaki AB, and it was reorganized under the 1^st Tactical Airlift Group.

Today, the 401^st is still active, operating the Lockheed C-130H Hercules.

December 1959* to February 1977*

• Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando: 91-1141
• Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando: 91-1139
• Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando: 91-1142