The 305th Tactical Fighter Squadron () is a squadron of the
5th Air Wing of the
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
The , , also referred to as the Japanese Air Force, is the Aerial warfare, air and space warfare, space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace, other air and space operations, cyberwarfare and ...
based at
Nyutabaru Air Base, in
Miyazaki Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Miyazaki Prefecture has a population of 1,028,215 as of 1 January 2025 and has a geographic area of 7,735 Square kilometre, km2 (2,986 sq mi). Miyazaki Prefectur ...
, Japan. It is equipped with
Mitsubishi F-15J
The McDonnell Douglas - Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather air superiority fighter based on the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle in use by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). The F-15J was produced under license by Mitsubi ...
and
Kawasaki T-4
The Kawasaki T-4 is a Japanese subsonic intermediate jet trainer aircraft developed and manufactured by the commercial conglomerate Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Its sole operator is the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), in part due to historic ...
aircraft.
[ Thompson, Pau]
JASDF - Squadron Histories
''J-HangarSpace'' Retrieved September 14, 2017
History
The squadron was founded on at
Hyakuri Air Base
is an airport in the city of Omitama, Ibaraki, Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It also serves as an air base for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) under the name Hyakuri Air Base, and is the closest fighter base to Tokyo. The airpo ...
in
Ibaraki Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Ibaraki Prefecture has a population of 2,828,086 (1 July 2023) and has a geographic area of . Ibaraki Prefecture borders Fukushima Prefecture to the north, ...
on December 1, 1978 with
McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ aircraft at part of the
7th Air Wing. It replaced the
206th Tactical Fighter Squadron, which was disbanded. During this period the JASDF followed a system in which the numbering of a squadron was dependent on the type of aircraft it operated. Single digit squadrons operated the F-86F, 100-numbered squadrons operated the F-86D, 200-numbered squadrons operated the F-104J and the new squadrons operating the F-4 were numbered in the 300s.
The squadron operated the F-4EJ for 15 years. On August 2, 1993 it upgraded to F-15J aircraft. On August 31 2016 it moved from Hyakuri Air Base to Nyutabaru Air Base, swapping with the F-4EJ Kai equipped
301st Tactical Fighter Squadron, which moved to Hyakuri.
In August 2018
Misa Matsushima, the first female
fighter pilot
A fighter pilot or combat pilot is a Military aviation, military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, Air-to-ground weaponry, air-to-ground combat and sometimes Electronic-warfare aircraft, electronic warfare while in the cockpit of ...
in the JASDF,
[Japan sees first woman qualify as fighter jet pilot August 24, 2018]
''Japan Times
''The Japan Times'' is Japan's largest and oldest English-language daily newspaper. It is published by , a subsidiary of News2u Holdings, Inc. It is headquartered in the in Kioicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo.
History
''The Japan Times'' was launched by ...
'' Retrieved August 30, 2018 was assigned to the squadron.
[ Thompson, Pau]
Bulletin Board
''J-HangarSpace'' Retrieved August 30, 2018
Tail marking

The squadron's current tail marking is of a
plum blossom
''Prunus mume'', the Chinese plum or Japanese apricot, is a tree species in the family Rosaceae. Along with bamboo, the plant is intimately associated with art, literature, and everyday life in China, from where it was then introduced to Kor ...
over a
Hinomaru.
Kairaku-en park located in
Mito near Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki Prefecture is famous for its hundreds of plum blossom trees. The squadron using a plum blossom as its tail marking also continues the tradition of its predecessor the 206th TFS. That squadron used a different plum blossom design on the tails of its aircraft.
Aircraft operated
Fighter aircraft
*
McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ (1978-1993)
*
Mitsubishi F-15J
The McDonnell Douglas - Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather air superiority fighter based on the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle in use by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). The F-15J was produced under license by Mitsubi ...
(1993-present)
Liaison aircraft
*
Lockheed T-33A
The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is an American subsonic jet trainer. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then d ...
(1978-1993)
*
Kawasaki T-4
The Kawasaki T-4 is a Japanese subsonic intermediate jet trainer aircraft developed and manufactured by the commercial conglomerate Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Its sole operator is the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), in part due to historic ...
(1992-present)
See also
*
Fighter units of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
References
{{Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Units of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Military units and formations established in 1978
1978 establishments in Japan