page_title: Iruma Air Base
section_title: Transition to JASDF
hierarchical_section_title: Iruma Air Base / History / Transition to JASDF
caption_attribution_description: English: USAF Johnson Air Base, Japan
context_page_description: Iruma Air Base is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base located in the city of Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, north of western Tokyo, Japan.
  It was the airfield for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Academy until 1945, when it became Johnson Air Force base of the United States Air Force during and after the occupation of Japan.
  Currently, Iruma Air Base is home to the Air Defense Command Headquarters Flight Group. Aircraft located at the base include the U-4, NAMC YS-11, T-4, and Kawasaki C-1. Its annual air show on the November 3rd Culture Day holiday is a popular public event.
context_section_description: In August 1958, the JASDF Central Air Defense Force headquarters and Iruma Air Base were established at Johnson Air Base.
  On 30 December 1960, the American facilities on the site of Johnson Air Base were re-designated as "Johnson Air Station".
  In June 1961, Japan-US joint use agreement was established at Johnson.
  In June 1962, the USAF ended its use of the air base, when the 41st Air Division headquarters moved to Yokota AB.
  On 1 January 1963, the buildings of the air station were re-purposed for American family housing in Japan as "Johnson Family Housing Annex". The USAF 6102d Air Base Squadron became the host unit at Johnson, supporting the 6022d USAF Hospital and family housing civil engineering flights.
  In November 1963, the base transitioned from USAF management to the JASDF.
  On 28 June 1973, the USAF support units were inactivated, and most of their associated facilities were transferred back to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The major facilities retained by USAF at Johnson were the telecommunications center, telephone exchange, admin office, Aircom MW relay, electrical power stations, and HF antennas. These facilities were transferred to the control of the 475th Air Base Wing at Yokota AB and continuously operated by the AFCS 1956th Communications Group until MW tower relocated to the USAF Tokorozawa Transmitter Site, approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast from Johnson.
  In September 1978, the last USAF facilities were closed and completely returned to the Government of Japan.
caption: Johnson AB was completely returned to the GOJ in 1978.
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