306th Tactical Fighter Squadron (JASDF)

The 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron was founded on at Hyakuri Air Base on December 1, 1981 with F-4EJ aircraft. The squadron was the successor to the Lockheed F-104J/DJ Starfighter-equipped 205th Tactical Fighter Squadron. It was the sixth and final squadron of the JASDF to be equipped with the F-4. One of the aircraft (17–8440) was the last of the 5,195 F-4 Phantoms to be produced. It was manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on May 21, 1981. "The Final Phantom" later transferred to the 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron.^[3] In 1989 the squadron's aircraft were upgraded to F-4EJ Kai standard. In 1997 it converted from the F-4 and became the eighth and final of the F-15J squadrons existing at that time.^[1]

The squadron has participated in overseas exercises with US and other forces. 306th squadron aircraft have taken part in the Red Flag - Alaska exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in the United States on a number of occasions, including 2012–2,^[4] 2013-3,^[5] and 2015-3.^[6] It also participated in Cope North including in 1986, 2015^[7] and 2016.^[8]

In July 2018 aircraft of the squadron trained in Japanese airspace with US B-52 bombers.^[9][10][11]

The squadron's aircraft carry a golden eagle as their tail marking, inside a stylized "6" indicating the 6th Air Wing. The golden eagle can be found in the mountains near Komatsu air base, and is also the prefectural bird of Ishikawa.^[2]

• McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ (1981–1989)
• McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai (1989–1997)
• Mitsubishi F-15J (1997–present)

• Lockheed T-33A (1981–1994)
• Kawasaki T-4 (1992–present)

• Fighter units of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force