402nd Tactical Airlift Squadron

  February 1955 to present

  Japan

TYPE: JASDF unit

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Tachikawa AB (1955), Miho AB (1955-1958), Kisarazu AB (1958-1968), Iruma AB (1968-present)

FORMER NAME: Nil

FATE: Active

The 402^nd 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 moved to Iruma AB, Japan on 1 June 1968 with Commandos and YS-11. From 1973, the Kawasaki C-1 was introduced. In 1978, the squadron was reorganized under the 2^nd Tactical Airlift Group.

Today, the 402^nd is still active, operating the Kawasaki C-2.

September 1955* to May 1977*

• Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando: 51-1102, 61-1126, 61-1128