305th Tactical Fighter Squadron (JASDF)

The 305th Tactical Fighter Squadron (第305飛行隊 (dai-sann-byaku-go-hikoutai)) is a squadron of the 5th Air Wing of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force based at Nyutabaru Air Base, in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. It is equipped with Mitsubishi F-15J and Kawasaki T-4 aircraft.

History
The squadron was founded on at Hyakuri Air Base 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 still 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.

Tail marking
The squadron's current tail marking is of a plum blossom 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.

Fighter aircraft

 * McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ (1978-1993)
 * Mitsubishi F-15J (1993-)

Liaison aircraft

 * Lockheed T-33A (1978-1993)
 * Kawasaki T-4 (1992-)