Marine Corps Air Station Futenma

File:Futenma Air Base in Okinawa, Japan circa 1945.jpg

Futenma Airfield was constructed by the US military following the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. According to Ginowan City records, the joint population of what was then Ginowan Village (now Ginowan City) was 12,994 in 1944.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} It was initially allocated for Eighth Air Force use to station B-29 Superfortress strategic bombers in the planned Invasion of Japan. With the end of the war, the airfield became a United States Air Force Far East Air Force installation known as Futenma Air Base, and was used as a support airfield for the nearby Kadena Air Base, hosting fighter-interceptor squadrons as part of the air defense of the Ryukyu Islands. The base was transferred to the United States Navy on 30 June 1957 and was subsequently developed into a United States Marine Corps air station by Seabees from USN Mobile Construction Battalion 3 augmented by a detachment from MCB 2.[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/219/137.xml USAF Historical Research Agency Document 00219137][http://airforcehistoryindex.org/search.php?q=Futema++ USAF Historical Research Agency documents for Futenma Air Base][https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/postwwiicruisebooks/NMCB/nmcb3-cruisebooks/NMCB%203_1957-58-59.pdf MCB 3, 1957-58-59 Cruisebook, Seabee Museum Archives, Port Hueneme, Ca] When the Seabees were done they had also made facilities on the base for Navy Communications Unit 37 Futenma to transfer from Kadena. In 1957 the name changed to Naval Security Group Activity Futenma and changed again in 1960 to Naval Security Group Hanza. The group decommissioned on Futenma in 1999.

Each year, MCAS Futenma opens its gates for the Futenma Flight Line Fair, which includes U.S. band performances, entertainment, static displays of all aircraft, military vehicles and demonstrations.{{cite web | url = http://www.japanupdate.com/2013/06/futenmas-flightline-festival-kicks-off-saturday/| title = Futenma's Flightline Fair kicks off Saturday| year = 2013 | author = japanupdate.com| location = Okinawa | access-date = 19 February 2014}}

Futenma's 75 m elevation provides a safe and effective location to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the event of a tsunami, which would render the sea-level Naha international airport inoperable.{{cite news|url=http://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/a00501/|title= Okinawa Base Problem Today|work=nippon.com|author=Eldridge, Robert|date=3 February 2012|access-date=24 January 2014}} The 9,000 ft (2,743.2 m) runway also gives the capability of safely landing the largest commercial and military cargo planes in the world, including the Antonov An-124 Ruslan, which has landed at Futenma multiple times.{{cite news|url=http://www.military.com/cs/Satellite?c=maArticle&cid=1199419949672&pagename=News%2FnwsLayout|title= Giant Plane delivers simulator|work=military.com|author=Flynn, Daniel|date=22 May 2008|access-date=24 January 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mcasfutenma.marines.mil/Photos.aspx?igphoto=2000714019|title= Antenove at Futenma|work=mcasfutenma.marines.mil|author=Rostran, Natalie|date=28 June 2013|access-date=24 January 2014}} Futenma has a high record of safety with well established procedures.

Flying and notable non-flying units based at MCAS Futenma.{{Cite magazine|last=Kaminski|first=Tom|date=2019|title=Aircraft of the US Marine Corps|magazine=US Navy & Marine Corps Air Power Yearbook 2019|publisher=Key Publishing|pages=88–99}}{{Cite web|title=1st Marine Aircraft Wing|url=https://www.1stmaw.marines.mil/|access-date=29 June 2020|publisher=US Marines}}

Marine Corps Installations – Pacific

• Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron – UC-12W Huron and UC-35D Encore

Marine Air Control Group 18

• Marine Air Control Squadron 4 (MACS-4)
• Marine Air Support Squadron 2 (MASS-2)
• Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 18 (MTACS-18)
• Personnel Support Detachment 18 (PSD-18)

Marine Aircraft Group 36

• Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 (MALS-36)
• Marine Medium Tilt-rotor Squadron 262 (VMM-262) – MV-22B Osprey
• Marine Medium Tilt-rotor Squadron 265 (VMM-265) – MV-22B Osprey
• Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 (MWSS - 172)

{{Main|U.S. military presence in Japan}}

The airbase has become a focal point of various political controversies in recent years. Due to population growth and encroachment around the base, concerns surrounding flights over residential areas causing noise, air pollution and endangering public safety also became controversial issues in Ginowan City, as the airport is surrounded all around by residential areas, very similar to Hong Kong's old airport before relocation in 1998.{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Dijitaru daijisen |title=普天間飛行場 (Futenma Hikōjō) |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=25 May 2012 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=25 August 2007 }} Safety concerns were raised after the August 2004 crash of a Marine Corps CH-53D transport helicopter on the campus of Okinawa International University after the aircraft suffered mechanical issues. Three crew members had minor injuries, but there were no injuries on the ground.Takahashi 2004. The Guardian has stated that the location of MCAS Futenma in Ginowan "would be like having F22s landing in Hyde Park [in London]."{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/07/okinawa-japan-military-tension|title=Second battle of Okinawa looms as China's naval ambition grows|last=Hearst|first=David|date=7 March 2011|website=the Guardian|language=en}}

Local residents also became concerned over pollution and ground water and soil contamination caused by the base's activities: for example, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kris Roberts (USMC) told The Japan Times that his base maintenance team unearthed leaking barrels of Agent Orange at the base in 1981.Mitchell, Jon, "[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2012/06/15/national/agent-orange-at-base-in-80s-u-s-vet/#.U2p9oB-zbb8 Agent Orange at base in '80s: U.S. vet]", Japan Times, 15 June 2012, p. 1 The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) states that Agent Orange was never present on Okinawa, and an investigation commissioned by the DoD found no evidence that Agent Orange was ever on Okinawa{{cite web |url = http://www.denix.osd.mil/shf/HerbicideOrange.cfm |title = Investigations into Allegations of Herbicide Orange on Okinawa, Japan |last = Young |first = Alvin L. |publisher = Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (I & E) |date = January 2013 |access-date = 14 March 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130303082312/http://www.denix.osd.mil/shf/HerbicideOrange.cfm |archive-date = 3 March 2013 |url-status = dead }} (See Agent Orange: Okinawa, Japan for more details.) In 2019, high levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were found in the waters near the installation as well as in Ginowan residents' blood but the USMC did not grant permission to Okinawa Prefectural authorities to inspect the base.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/on-japans-okinawa-us-military-blamed-for-contaminating-environment-with-hazardous-chemical/2019/05/24/ca3ba342-7c84-11e9-b1f3-b233fe5811ef_story.html|title=On Japan's Okinawa, U.S. military is accused of contaminating environment with hazardous chemical|last=Denyer|first=Simon|date=24 May 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

File:Seen from the KAKAZU height park observatory, Nogiwan, Okinawa.JPG

Special interest groups, including supporters and protestors, often gather outside the gates of Futenma. Local Okinawan citizens clean vandalism and debris left by protest groups weekly.{{cite news|url=http://www.mcipac.marines.mil/NewsCenter/NewsArticleDisplay/tabid/1144/Article/140793/okinawa-us-strengthen-friendships-via-cleanup-efforts.aspx|title= Okinawa, US strengthen friendships via cleanup efforts|work=mcipac.marines.mil|author=Case, Elizabeth|date=4 April 2013|access-date=24 January 2014}}

Mayor Atsushi Sakima of Ginowan City and Col. James G. Flynn, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, signed a bilateral agreement 26 June 2013 at MCAS Futenma specifying procedures for the evacuation of Okinawa residents in the event a natural disaster and provisions for evacuation drills to maintain readiness.{{cite news|url=http://www.mcipac.marines.mil/NewsCenter/NewsArticleDisplay/tabid/1144/Article/532166/ginowan-futenma-officials-sign-agreement-specifying-disaster-preparedness-proce.aspx|title= Ginowan, Futenma officials sign agreement specifying disaster preparedness procedures|work=mcipac.marines.mil|author=Case, Elizabeth|date=27 June 2013|access-date=18 July 2015}} Immediately before, during or following a natural disaster, especially a tsunami, MCAS Futenma can use the procedures to open one or more of the station's gates to allow evacuees immediate and direct passage to higher ground or shelter. This agreement comes after thorough collaboration between Ginowan City and MCAS Futenma and signifies the importance that the city and air station place on mutual safety and cooperation, said officials.{{Cite web|last=Case|first=Lance Cpl. Elizabeth|title=Ginowan, Futenma officials sign agreement specifying disaster preparedness procedures|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/109327/ginowan-futenma-officials-sign-agreement-specifying-disaster-preparedness-procedures|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Defense Visual Information Distribution Service|language=en}}

The base, along with its impact on families living nearby and local cultural heritage, are the subject of the short story collection To Futenma by Okinawan author Tatsuhiro Oshiro.{{cite web |url = http://tenthousandthingsfromkyoto.blogspot.com/2012/09/okinawan-author-tatsuhiro-oshiro.html |title = Okinawan author Tatsuhiro Oshiro: Okinawa and disaster-struck Tohoku region sacrificed for Tokyo |last = Nakazawa |first = Yudai |publisher = Mainichi Shimbun |date = 16 March 2012 |access-date= 1 November 2016 }}

{{Main|Relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma}}

There have been various plans to relocate Marine Corps Air Station Futenma base—first off the island and then within the island—however, {{as of|2014|11|lc=y}} the future of any relocation is uncertain with the election of base-opponent Onaga as Okinawa governor.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30074445 | title=Okinawa US base move in doubt after governor elections | publisher=BBC | date=16 November 2014 | access-date=17 November 2014}} Onaga won against the incumbent Nakaima who had earlier approved landfill work to move the base to Camp Schwab in Henoko. However, Onaga has promised to veto the landfill work needed for the new base to be built and insisted Futenma should be moved outside of Okinawa.{{cite web|url=http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/u-s-base-relocation-opponent-elected-okinawan-governor |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141116233518/http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/u-s-base-relocation-opponent-elected-okinawan-governor |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 November 2014 |title=U.S. base relocation opponent elected Okinawan governor |publisher=Japan Today |date=17 November 2014 |access-date=17 November 2014 }} In August 2015, the Japanese government agreed to halt construction activities temporarily while talks with Okinawan officials continued.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33876269 | title=US military helicopter crashes off Okinawa in Japan | work=BBC | date=12 August 2015 | access-date=14 August 2015}} US sources insist nothing about their approach has changed.[https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2015/07/244957.htm#JAPAN2 15 July 2015 – JAPAN], Daily Press Briefing

• Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler
• List of United States Marine Corps installations
• List of airports in Japan
• United States Forces Japan

:A.{{Note|A}}In the Japanese language MCAS Futenma is formally known as: {{Nihongo||海兵隊普天間航空基地|Kaiheitai Futenma Kōkū Kichi||}}, more commonly as: {{Nihongo||普天間飛行場|Futenma Hikōjō||}}, and is commonly abbreviated in speech and writing as: {{Nihongo||普天間基地|Futenma Kichi||}}.{{cite web | url = http://www.futenma.info/mcas.html | title = Futenma Hikōjō no kinō to yakuwari (普天間飛行場の機能と役割) | language = ja |trans-title=Funtenma Airport, functions and duties | access-date = 25 May 2012}}

:B.{{Note|B}}The text version gives a runway {{convert|2740|by|45|m|abbr=on|0}} and the aerodrome chart gives {{convert|9000|by|150|ft|abbr=on|0}}.

{{Reflist}}

{{Marine Corps}}

{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

• Bulldozers and Bayonets, Office of Historiography, Department of Archives Administration, Okinawa Prefectural Culture Promotion Foundation (ed.), (1998), Naha
• {{cite web|url=https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42645.pdf|title=Report by the American Congress research service about Futenma, January 2016}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://dc-office.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/E-all.pdf What Okinawa Wants You to Understand about the U.S. Military Bases(PDF)] from [http://dc-office.org/ Okinawa Prefectural Office Washington DC]
• [http://www.mcasfutenma.marines.mil/ MCAS Futenma's website]
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/futenma.htm Futenma Marine Corps Air Station] at GlobalSecurity.org
• The Futenma relocation issue Detailed list of events on the Japanese Wikipedia.
• {{NWS-current|ROTM}}

{{US Marine Corps navbox}}

{{Japanese airports}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Futenma}}

Category:Ginowan, Okinawa

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Category:Installations of the U.S. Department of Defense in Japan

Category:Airports in Okinawa

Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Occupied Japan

Category:United States Armed Forces in Okinawa Prefecture

Category:Military airbases established in 1945

Category:1945 establishments in Japan