Itazuke Air Force Base (Fukuoka)

Japan / Fukuoka / Shime / Fukuoka
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ex- Major US Air Force base. Largest on Kyushu. Numerous annex sites around Kyushu Island.
In 1971 it was announced that Itazuke would be returned to Japanese control, and the USAF facilities were closed on 31 March 1972.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukuoka_Airport
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   33°35'5"N   130°26'46"E

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  • I was stationed at Itazuke AFB from 1962 thru 1965.
  • Anyone know Setsuko Hora?
  • I was in the USN and our ship ported there in 1962. A couple of AF guys took us to the base and I saw a U2 Airplane land and was towed to a separate hangar. I didn't know what it was and the Airmen explained that it was a spy plane. They also said the AF had a special unit that guarded the plane and hangar and they were the only ones allowed in that hangar. The plane was surrounded by armed guards after it landed and while being towed to the hangar.
  • Ed Stark, Same as Airman Fitch, 1962 until 105s moved to Yakota, 8th A & E
  • I am searching the location of FEN Kyushu broadcasting station. I have a map of ITAZUKE AIR BASE. But there is no mark about FEN's building.If anyone knows it,please write it. From Fukuoa, 65 years jJapanese old man
  • Ed Stark ,,july 61- july63..8th A & E then changed to 8th MMs...46150 worked off base on top of mountain T O F. F100's when I got there..F 105's when I left..
  • Eli Larkin, I was at zuke from Jan. 1963-1964 then went to Yakota with the F105's, I was in the 35th TFS I the Gun shop working on the M61 I was at Yakota until No. 1965, than I went to Seymour Johnson N.C
  • I went to Itazuke in early 1959 assigned to the 6308th A&E, later became 8th A&E, stayed there 2 years and looking back I loved the place. We had F-100s in those days, the 105s came after I transferred. I was a 462 AFSC and while clearing a M-39 after gunnery I had a 20mm explode in the gun bay, got burned pretty good on exposed skin, a piece of shrapnel in one arm and blown out ears, other than that I was fine and no damage to the A/C. Memories, wow. As punishment the AF sent me to Torrejon, and wasn't that just more than a young man could stand. Had B-47s on a regular schedule and a few B-52s that we practiced on. Got out in June of 1962 right after the Cuban scare.
  • I was stationed at Zuke 1961-1963, & was attached to the 8th FM Aircraft Hydraulic Shop
  • 9-1957 to 9-1958. stationed at cheju-do. r&r in fukuoka via itazuke. cannot remember the name of village outside of base that we walked through to get to rail station to get to fukuoka. sisters still have gifts i sent them when on two r&rs.
  • Facebook has several groups devoted to Itazuke Air Base. BTW all overseas AF bases are termed Air Base probably because the word "Force" is polically Incorrect. I'm currently ressurrecting the itazuke.org website. It won't have as much content as the old one and is targeted to the dependents school.
  • Maybe you knew my Dad, Sgt. Donald Wood?
  • Maybe you knew my dad, Sgt. Donald Wood
  • If you were at the annex ( base housing) then you walked through either Shirakibaru or Kasugabaru.
  • that was it. shirakibaru. thats the village?town?? we walked through to get to train.
  • Does anyone know where the hospital was at Itazuke Airforce Base?
  • Does anyone know where the hospital at Itazuke Airforce Base was?
  • When I was there in 1968-69 there wasn't a hospital at the base. The hospital used was at Sasebo naval base. My son was born there and about a week before the women's due date, they would be transported from Itazuki to Sasebo.
  • Hi Harley, I was born there at Itazuke in late '68. My father was stationed at the USASA 14th Field Station. My parents have told me about the weekly Sasebo bus, but apparently I arrived a bit early. Do you happen to know where other US military wives gave birth if not Sasebo? Would it have been off-base, or do you think that the military hospital closed soon before your son's birth? My birth certificate says Itazuke and my parents describe it as a hospital. I'm planning a trip there this summer and trying to track down any landmarks that might still exist. Thanks! Jennifer
  • My son was born at Itazuke hospital which was at the administrative annex in 1962. There was no hospital at the air strip which is now the Fukuoka Airport.
  • Itazuke AFB in 58-59 was a great place for a dependent. Base housing was at Sharakibaru Station, about a mile alk to the front gate(many bars). The school was at the top of a central hill. The commissary to the left off the main drag. The Hospital was about a half mile to the right, past the base pool and then left. I spent an interesting week there with pneumonia. w jones
  • There was a hospital/infirmary on the right coming in K-bar gate, and there were some births there, Sasebo was a pretty long trip, some expecting came early...our's was born at Sasebo though...about $5bucks.
  • I was born at Itazuke in January '69. My parents described it as an infirmary. Said there was a flu outbreak at the time. My father was a firefighter. Do have an older brother born in Sasebo in early '67.
  • Three wonderful years at this base! Base Operations: 1965-1968. Bill
  • I was on the last ship carrying American dependents from Gimpo AFB, Korea, August 15, 1948. We went to Itazuke AFB (Occupied Japan) and lived in a barracks-type housing area apartment for 18 months. My father, Lee Strecker, and the rest of his squadron, were preparing for P52 (I think) sorties Into Korea.
  • Jennifer, you won't find any thing now with maybe one exception being the Kasugabaru gate which the Japanese Defense (JASDF) uses. I was there in 2001 and there were a couple of buildings right inside that gate and that was all that remained of Itazuke. SAD
  • Hey Dennis, do you remember Tom Morrell, x-ray tech, i think at the hospital during you time there. I am in contact with him, shot skeet with him at skeet range. He was also into photography and still is and darn good at it also.
  • Was your father in the army and named SMSgt Paul Smith and shot skeet at the skeet range, I hope so because I have been looking for him for years. Very difficult to find someone named Smith.
  • I was on TDY to Naha AB in Okinawa. A Russian Bear Recon. AC would come over to Japan and take pictures. In May of 1965 ,they sent 3 F4C AC to Itazuke to intercept it and take pictures of it. 2 mechanics from the engine shop had to go too. Later a pilot told me that they really a picture of an antenna on the Bear that was used to tract US submarines. I enjoyed talking with some girls there from a local college in Fukuoka. I remember taking a train to the city
  • I spent a lot of time there, Shirakibar, 66-69. Was a medic in ER-clinic.
  • I remember Tom Morrell, good guy.
  • The hospital was there, but only about 10-20 beds? I worked the ER-clinic 66-69, also manned the "Crackerbox" at the strip in that period...
  • I am a curator of the museum. I need the informations about FEN Kyushu. Especially about the location of the FEN's broadcasting station in Itazuke Air Base. If anyone knows them,please send me following address. kmax007xamk@yahoo.co.jp .....TAKAYAMA Keitaro
  • Hi Ed! Do you know about the location of FEN's broadcasting station in the Itazuke air base? I'm working in the museum and researching about the FEN. TAKAYAMA keitaro FUKUOKA 20180215
  • My daughter was born at the "infirmary", definitely not a hospital, on September 30,1963. My husband was in the Air Force. His name was John Hopkins, now deceased. He was an avid skeet shooter. We lived in Shirakibaru prior to moving on base, and returned to the US October 1965.
  • I was stationed in A battery of the 37th AAA gun battallon located near a small village not far from Itazuki AFB. I was there from some time in 1955 until August 1956 when my tour ended. We were set up in defense of the air base. There was a Japanese bar about one hundred yards down the road from our spot. Even on night duty we could go down to the bar so long as we would race back for an alert, SFC Sam Means (ex) ion located in a small village
  • We (wife and daughter) were stationed at Itazuke 1965-1968. I was at the Air Defense Control Center (ADCC) working the air defense of Kyushu with the Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF). We went to eat in Shirakibaru and had some great gyoza. My daughter was three in 1965 and we sent her to a Japanese school and had a wonderful experience. In fact our whole tour in Japan was sort of magical.
  • I was based at Itazuke from Dec 69 to June 1971 - air traffic controller. I sold my Honda 350 to a Billie Loope - was that you ?? Mike Javor
  • My Dad was in USAF and we were stationed at Itazuki and also lived in Shirakibaru before moving on base.
  • what was a the base mascot name?
  • what was the base mascot name?
  • My dad was also stationed at Itazuke AFB from 64 - 67. We lived in Shirakibaru (S-Bar as we called it) before moving on base. I had Miss Drozd in the 5th grade.
  • david Dozois I was stationed at the zuke from 1968 to 1970..my carrier 42450 fuel systems . worked at the air base tank farm re-building fuel tanks for air craft. also lived in shirakibaru .
  • I was a tech controller (30750) living at the annex and working in the 1955 Comm Sq facilities at the air strip. I was there from Apr 69 to Jun 73. Annex was closed circa 1972, and we who stayed were PCS'd to Hakata Air Station across Fukuoka Bay. I continued to live in Shirakibaru (loved the Orange Door chicken) after the move to Hakata. Our comm site at the air field along with comm center building and Aeroport facilities were fenced in and the rest went back to JASDF. I married my wife in 1973 before leaving, and we live in Las Vegas today. We visit several times a year including this past Xmas to visit her 97 yo father who recently passed. My best friend at itazuke was Yasutaro (Jack) Fujita who was head of translators for maintenance of our NEC microwave systems providing the comm links that we managed. He was a 2Lt pilot near the end of WWII and selected as a kamakaze pilot but they ran out of planes. He ended up working for USFJ for over 30 years and we traded letters (and even met once again in 1987 during a vacation) until his death from lupus in 1992. Great friend and great memories.
  • I was stationed at Itazuke AFB from 65-67. I was A veterinary Spec. At the 6010th Hospital. Dennis Tates
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This article was last modified 12 years ago