Air Transport Squadron 61 (第61航空隊, dairokujuuichikoukuutai) (also referred to as VC-61orFleet Air Squadron 61) is a unit in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force. It is a part of the Fleet Air Force and is based at Naval Air Facility AtsugiinKanagawa prefecture.[1][2] It operates LC-90 and Lockheed C-130R Hercules aircraft.
| Air Transport Squadron 61 | |
|---|---|
| 第61航空隊 | |
| Active | 20 December 1971 |
| Country |  Japan |
| Branch |  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force |
| Part of | Fleet Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Facility Atsugi |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Transport | LC-90, C-130R |
The squadron was founded at Atsugi Naval Air Facility on December 20, 1971 equipped with NAMC YS-11 aircraft. In 1989 it began to operate the LC-90, and in November 2014 the unit began to operate five former Lockheed Martin KC-130R tanker aircraft of the US Marine Corps. They were stripped of their refueling equipment and redesigned as C-130R aircraft.[3] In December 2014 the squadron's YS-11s were retired. The former US C-130s came into service from 2014 to 2016.[4]
In the past the squadron has also operated Grumman S-2F-U Tracker, Douglas C-27 Skytrain RFD-6 and Beechcraft B65 Queen Air aircraft.
