Members of the 44th Aircraft Maintenance Unit prepare to ‘safe’ the F-15 Eagle of Lt. Col. Joel Carey, 44th FS Commander, foreground, as he taxis to park on the ramp on a rainy day at Chitose Defense Base, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. The arrival of six F-15s today officially started the two-week Kadena Aircraft Training Relocation to Chitose Air Base. A total of 12 jets are scheduled to arrive and about 180 Airmen are here to support the ATR. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Tateishi

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Lt. Col. Joel Carey, 44th Fighter Squadron commander, responds to a media question during the arrival press conference. Approximately 30 members of the press attended the event and asked questions about the importance and expectations of the Aircraft Training Relocation along with questions on Kadena Airmen involvement with the local communities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Tateishi

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Staff Sgt. Arthur Branham, 44th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, collects oil from a recently arrived F-15 Eagle at Chitose Air Base, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. The oil is sent to the National Defense Institute for analysis as part of the Joint Oil Analysis Program. The oil is checked after the first flight of each day’s sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Tateishi)

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Members of the Japan Air Self Defense Force at Chitose Air Base, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, line the taxiway near the parking spots of arriving Kadena F-15 Eagles. Later, when Detachment and 44th Fighter Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. Joel Carey walked by they applauded and cheered to show their support of the Aircraft Training Relocation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Tateishi)

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Kadena's ATR

Sayaka Higa, center, translates a response to a reporter’s question about the Kadena Aircraft Training Relocation that Ed Gulick, left, had just responded to. Both are from 18th Wing Public Affairs. Meanwhile, Kazushi Muraoka, Hokkaido Defense Bureau waits to translate the next question. About 80 local community leaders and 30 media representatives attended the event held at Chitose Defense Base in Chitose, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. Members of the HDB and 18th Wing gave informational briefings about the purpose and importance of the ATR along with responding to questions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Mike Tateishi)

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'Vampire Bats' arrive in Hokkaido for Aviation Training Relocation

Published Nov. 8, 2010
18th Wing Public Affairs

CHITOSE AIR BASE, Hokkaido, Japan -- The first six of 12 F-15 Eagles arrived at the northern Japan Air Self Defense Force base of Chitose today to kick off an Aviation Training Relocation.

Tech. Sgt. Mike Tateishi was on hand to capture the first images of the event and the crowd of JASDF Airmen and Japanese media members who were there to welcome the "Vampire Bats" to Hokkaido.

This ATR is the largest and longest of its kind for Kadena Air Base. In the past, Kadena Airmen have participated in Type 1 ATRs, which consist usually of about six jets for a week. This one, considered a Type 2, is twice as long, allowing not only for more bilateral training with JASDF counterparts, but also reducing some of the jet noise in Okinawa.

In total, 12 F-15s and nearly 200 Airmen are deployed for the ATR.

Kadena's ATR