Location
The southernmost airfield on the Japanese mainland.
Wartime History
In
1942, the Tachiarai Joint Service Flight School was established in
Chiran for pilot training. In mid-1944 the
airfield became the base for special
attack (Kamikaze) training and missions. During attacks against
Americans off Okinawa, 1,036 Kamikaze
pilots flew from Chiran, Bansei, Miyakonoja and other airfields,
plus
8th Flight Division on Taiwan and Giretsu Airborne Division. The
toll was 56 American ships sunk, 107 crippled and 300 seriously damaged. 439 Kamikazie pilots were killed.
