The C-130H has a greater range than its predecessor the Kawasaki C-1, and since the 1980s Japan's posture has gradually become more outward-looking and the Self-Defense Forces have become more involved in activities beyond Japan's shores. These have included humanitarian relief and evacuation missions, supporting US and Japanese military activities, and participation in multi-national military exercises.
History
The squadron was formed on October 1, 1968, operating the Curtiss C-46D Commando. For ten years previously, between 1958 and 1968, a predecessor squadron had operated. The squadron went on to operate the YS-11 and Kawasaki C-1 before re-equipping with the longer-ranged Lockheed C-130H Hercules in the 1980s. Since that time aircraft of the squadron have deployed overseas on many occasions.
Humanitarian missions
On several occasions in the 1990s Japan dispatched squadron C-130s to prepare for possible evacuations of Japanese nationals. In July 1997 one was sent to Thailand amid upheavals in Cambodia, and in 1998 six were sent to Singapore in case Japanese needed to be evacuated from Indonesia. As it happened neither evacuation was required.[3][4]
Japan did not participate in the Australian-led multinational intervention in East Timor, but in 1999 a C-130 was sent to West Timor in case Japanese citizens needed to be evacuated.[5] From November 26, 1999, to February 1, 2000, three C-130s from the squadron including one backup flew a humanitarian airlift. In 47 rotations the aircraft transported 402 tons of supplies in Kupang, West Timor.[6]
In October 2001 six squadron C-130s transported humanitarian aid (tents, blankets and relief supplies) for Afghan refugees in Pakistan.[7][8]
One aircraft participated in December 2015 edition of the US Air Force's Operation Christmas Drop in the Pacific, along with one RAAF C-130J and three US C-130s.[17][18][19][20][21] The JASDF and RAAF also participated in the 2016,[22] 2017,[23][24] 2018[25] and 2019[26] operations.
Almost half of Japan's C-130s were used in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the US-led campaign against Afghanistan. While not participating in Afghanistan directly they provided support by flying US equipment and personnel to Singapore, Guam and other places. This freed up US resources to focus on the war in Afghanistan.[32]
Japan has taken place in the Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand since 2005. In February 2017 a squadron C-130 was used in a drill for evacuating Japanese and US citizens[33][34] ending with a short flight.[35]
The squadron has participated in the Cope North military exercise on a number of occasions, including in 2009,[37] 2013,[38] 2016[39] and 2017.[40]
In-flight refuelling
From 2010 two of the squadron's C-130Hs (95-1080 and 95-1083) have been equipped with aerial fuel-receiving and refueling functions, making them of KC-130H standard. This provides the JASDF with the ability to refuel the UH-60J search and rescue helicopters of its Air Rescue Wing.[41]
In response to Typhoon Haiyan hitting the Philippines in November 2013 squadron C-130s were deployed, along with other SDF aircraft.[42][43][44][45][46]
In January 2016 after North Korea claimed to have exploded a hydrogen bomb, a squadron C-130, along with three Kawasaki T-4 aircraft, were used to test for radioactive particles. The flights were done for around 14 days.[48][49][50][51] The flights did not detect any radioactive particles.[52]
Tail marking
The tail-marking of the 401st Squadron was a red "Shachihoko", or killer whale, with Nagoya Castle on a blue background and a figure "1", which represented the "1"st Tactical Airlift Group commanding the 401st Squadron. This tail-marking is no longer used on their C/KC-130H aircraft.[53][54]
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