This month in Misawa Air Base history

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Don Koser
  • 35th Fighter Wing historian
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Feb. 1, 1940: The 35th Fighter Group (Interceptor) activated at Moffett Field, Calif., under General Headquarters Air Force, and trained pilots in P-35, P-36 Hawk, and P-40 Warhawk aircraft. The group was the U.S. Army Air Corps' predecessor to the 35th Fighter Wing.

Feb. 1, 1942: The 35th Fighter Group moved from Hamilton Field, Calif., to Brisbane, Australia, where it flew P-400 and P-38 Lightning aircraft.

Feb. 1, 1942: The 313th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) was activated at Bowman Field, Ky., under the 21st Bombardment Group. The squadron flew B-18 Bolo bombers in defense of the United States during World War II. The Air Force consolidated the histories of the 313th and the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron when the latter activated at Misawa Air Base, Japan, in 1985. This action linked the lineage and honors of the units.

Feb. 10, 1942: Construction of Misawa Air Base began in 1939 and is completed under the direction of the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force. The Misawa Air Group is established under the control of the Ominato Navy Defense Base. Plans to use Misawa as a long-range bomber base never materialized due to prototype failures.

Feb. 1, 1943: The 35th Airdrome Squadron was activated at Walker Army Air Field, Kan. The squadron later became the 35th Operations Support Squadron.

Feb. 5, 1943: The 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron was redesignated as the 14th Photographic Squadron (Light) while stationed at Peterson Army Air Field, Colo. The squadron later became the 14th Fighter Squadron. Peterson AAF was named in honor of Lieutenant Edward J. Peterson who crashed on take-off while assigned to the 14th PS.

Feb. 6, 1943: The 35th Fighter Group scored 17 aerial victories in one day during operations in the Southwest Pacific - three by 2nd Lt. Edwin Schneider of the 40th Fighter Squadron. The 35th would repeat this feat two months later April 12.

Feb. 7, 1944: The 35th Fighter Group moved from Nadzab to Gusap, New Guinea, where they flew P-400, P-47 Thunderbolt, and P-51 Mustang aircraft.

Feb. 1, 1953: The 35th Medical Group moved from Johnson Air Base to Yokota AB, Japan. Its designation changed to the 35th Tactical Hospital 13 months later.

Feb. 6, 1980: The price of gasoline on Misawa increased from $.79 to $1.26 per gallon.

Feb. 1, 1983: The JASDF completed their 10,000th scramble from Misawa when two
F-1s armed with Sidewinder missiles intercepted an unknown aircraft over the Sea of Japan.

Feb. 9, 1986: The American Express Bank opened its new facility in building 320.

Feb. 20, 1991: The 35th Comptroller Squadron was reconstituted and redesignated at George AFB, Calif. The squadron had been inactive since 1949.

Feb. 20, 1991: The 35th Mission Support Squadron was reconstituted and redesignated at George AFB, Calif. The squadron was disbanded in 1945.

Feb. 9, 1996: The 35th Operations Support Squadron hosted the first USPACOM sponsored joint SEAD conference at Misawa.

Feb. 14, 1997: Colonel Bruce A. Wright assumed command of the 35th Fighter Wing from Brig. Gen. Paul V. Hester.

Feb. 26, 1998: Famed members of the Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Herbert Carter and Maj. Carrol Woods visited Misawa as part of the African-American Heritage month celebration.

Feb. 23, 2002: The new 30,000 square foot Mutsu Officers Club opened for business.