Current Operations
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Atsugi currently hosts Carrier Air Wing 5, part of aircraft carrier USS George Washington's air component. The wing includes about 70 aircraft and 2,000 military personnel who are stationed at Atsugi when the carrier is in port at Yokosuka. On 9 May 2008 the wing commander, Captain Michael P. McNellis, was relieved of command by Rear Admiral Richard B. Wren, commander of Commander Task Force 70, after the admiral said he lost confidence in the McNellis' ability to command. McNellis was replaced by Captain Michael S. White.
The U.S. Navy conducts nighttime landing practice at NAF Atsugi. Noise from this activity has been a concern of residents of Ayase, Yamato and nearby communities for many years. During the 1990s, the U.S. Navy and the Government of Japan nearly agreed to move nighttime landing practice to another location, but as of 2004, no such move has taken place. Leading candidates were Miyakejima (in the Izu Islands) and Iwo Jima (in the Ogasawara Islands), both run by Tokyo but well separated from the mainland of Honshū. The former plan has been abandoned, volcanic activity had forced the evacuation of Miyakejima.
On November 14, 2009 a fire in Hangar 183 at the base injured three Japanese employees of Obayashi Corporation. The fire was reported at 11:55 a.m. and was extinguished by 12:45 p.m. The hangar was moderately damaged.
On November 30, 2010, the F/A-18C of VFA-195 had left NAF Atsugi, the squadron will start transition to Super Hornet. Carrier Air Wing Five will be the first wing totally equipped with Super Hornets without legacy Hornets.
In February of 2012 the Gauntlets of VAQ-136 left Atsugi and relocated NAS Whidbey Island to transition to the EA-18G Growler. The Shadowhawks of VAQ-141, who previously deployed with Carrier Air Wing 8 in 2011 will redeploy to Atsugi with the EA-18G Growler to take the place of the Gauntlets. No word has been mentioned yet if the transfer will be permanent, or if the Gauntlets will return after switching to the Growler.
Read more about this topic: Naval Air Facility Atsugi
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