Air Rescue Wing Hamamatsu Detachment (JASDF)

Air Rescue Wing Hamamatsu Detachment
浜松救難隊
Detachment UH-60J
Country	Japan
Branch	Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Part of	Air Rescue Wing
Garrison/HQ	Hamamatsu Air Base
Motto(s)	That others may live
Aircraft flown
UH-60J, U-125A

The Air Rescue Wing Hamamatsu Detachment (浜松救難隊 (hamamatsu-kyūnan-tai)) is a unit of the Air Rescue Wing of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. It is also known as the Hamamatsu Air Rescue Squadron. Responsible for airborne search and rescue, it is based at Hamamatsu Air Base in Shizuoka Prefecture.[1] It is equipped with UH-60J and U-125A aircraft.[2][3]

History

On October 17, 2017 UH-60J 58-4596 of the detachment crashed into the sea off Shizuoka Prefecture while conducting night rescue drills. Some wreckage was found but the four crew members were not located.[4][5] Major searches continued with SDF assets and other parts were recovered.[6][7] A private salvage company started work from November 2 and located part of the fuselage.[8][9] In November parts of the aircraft were recovered including the Flight Data Recorder (black box) from a location approximately 31 kilometers south of Hamamatsu Air Base.[10][11] On November 29 the body of one of the crew members was discovered in the wreckage.[12][13]

Tail markings

Detachment UH-60J aircraft do not have special markings. JASDF aircraft usually have unit markings on their tail, but U-125A aircraft of the Air Rescue Wing have a marking on their fuselage, usually with a sticker below showing which base they are assigned to.

Aircraft operated

• UH-60J
• U-125A

References

1. Thompson, Paul JASDF - Order of Battle July 1, 2017 J-HangarSpace Retrieved October 26, 2017
2. "Air Rescue Wing". mod.go.jp. Retrieved October 26, 2017. (in Japanese)
3. "Air Rescue Wing History". mod.go.jp. Retrieved October 28, 2017. (in Japanese)
4. Takahashi, Kosuke (October 18, 2017). "Four JASDF personnel missing following UH-60J helo crash off coast of Shizuoka Prefecture". janes.com. Jane's Information Group. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
5. "Helmets found in waters off Shizuoka Prefecture where ASDF chopper with four aboard apparently crashed". Japan Times. October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
6. "防衛大臣記者会見概要". mod.go.jp. October 20, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017. (in Japanese)
7. "浜松救難隊UH-60J、陸自ヘリが海岸線捜索 無人探査機で海中捜索も検討". flyteam.jp. October 21, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017. (in Japanese)
8. "防衛大臣記者会見概要". mod.go.jp. November 11, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017. (in Japanese)
9. "航空自衛隊、11月17日から浜松救難隊UH-60Jの機体引き揚げに着手". flyteam.jp. November 20, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017. (in Japanese)
10. "浜松基地所属ヘリ（ＵＨ－６０Ｊ）のレーダー航跡消失について（第４報）" (PDF). mod.go.jp. Japan Ministry of Defense. November 26, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
11. "浜松救難隊のUH-60J、海底からフライトデータレコーダーを回収". flyteam.jp. November 27, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
12. "浜松基地所属ヘリ（ＵＨ－６０Ｊ）のレーダー航跡消失について（第６報）" (PDF). mod.go.jp. December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
13. "浜松救難隊UH-60Jの海中捜索、搭乗員とみられる1名を収容". flyteam.jp. December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.