KADENA AIR BASE SERVES OUR NATION DESPITE PROPAGANDA


By bblouin
Kadena Air Base

Kadena Air Base is home to an unfortunate part of history for the U.S. military. American troops were so terrified by Communist forces that they abandoned their own men during an effort to escape. Those who couldn’t run were subjected to brutal conditions, torture, and death. But there’s one problem: this never happened. Learn more about how Communist propaganda during the Korean War aimed to disparage a group of Airmen who were responsible for destroying thousands of their vehicles. Read next:Inside Diego Garcia: The Most Mysterious U.S. Naval Base

What City Is Kadena Air Force Base In?

You can find Kadena Air Base in Okinawa City, Okinawa, Japan. Its history is a bit of an odd one, as Japan captured the military installation during World War II, and there are claims of it being haunted. As the story goes, a murder-suicide during the ‘70s caused the haunting, with Kadena AB receiving visitors from a ghost in a uniform looking for a smoke. Legend also says that there's an old Japanese man who murders those who see his ghostly figure.

The Kadena Chicken, Korean War, and Propaganda

Before WWII, the 18th Wing was an Air Force unit stationed at Kadena AFB. The unit is still at the base and is the largest combat wing in the USAF. The unit’s symbol is an insignia that places a black chicken on top of a yellow background. Such imagery helped play into the lies spread about the group during the Korean War. North Korea was not doing well in the Korean War by the end of November 1950, and UN forces had almost reached China's border through the Yalu River. Located in the Philippines, the 18th Wing supported the UN's move north from an air base near Pyongyang. But the Chinese People's Volunteer Army intervened in the war as the 18th Wing was nearing North Korea's capital and began pushing the UN toward the 38th parallel. A rapid retreat was made by the UN as it met the overwhelming force. This caught everyone by surprise, causing 100,000 UN troops and 14,000 North Korean refugees to be evacuated at the port of Hungnam or face death. It was at this time that the fake Legend of the Kadena Chicken came into play. Despite allegedly taking place in Pyongyang, the opposite side of North Korea from where the withdrawal was happening, the Communists were said to have surprised the 18th Wing with a counterattack. This attack would leave Airmen so startled that they would abandon troops on the ground as others retreated in their aircraft. From there, those who were left were said to have been subjected to various deaths and war crimes. To make the myth even more compelling, the 18th Wing was forbidden to have a home station in the continental United States. There are different versions of these lies proposed over the years, but what actually happened earned the unit the name “truckbusters” because they destroyed so many vehicles belonging to the enemy.

What Really Happened?

A Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to the 18th for damaging or destroying thousands of enemy vehicles. During the Korean War, aircraft from the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing were in Korea until 1954, when they moved to Kadena Air Force Base on Okinawa. Much of this parallels with the perception of cowardice due to an alleged surrendering chicken on a yellow background being the unit’s symbol. But the symbol was chosen back in 1927 to be used by the Army Air Corps in 1931, far before the Korean War. Furthermore, it’s not a chicken but a fighting gamecock. Their motto "unguibus et rostro" is Latin for "talons and beak," which showcases the 18th Wing’s ferocious approach to fighting. The Kadena Japan Air Force Base has had several odd rumors connected to it, but the truth is out there. When it comes down to it, the military installation doesn’t run from battle; it prepares Airmen to execute their missions with great efficiency.

How Big Is Kadena Air Force Base?

Kadena Air Force Base is a strategically placed military institution with more than 11,000 square acres covering two separate areas. Despite the largest part of the base being used for storage, there are also two almost identical 12,100-foot runways, as well as 15 reinforced and shielded aircraft hangers that make up the installation. Known as the Keystone of the Pacific, Kadena AFB is home to more than 20,000 American and Japanese workers. Altogether, the Kadena Air Base is the largest and most utilized USAF base in East Asia. Kadena Air Base's history continues to focus on maintaining peace in Asia, a region that continues to grow in importance for American security. Where things go from here is anyone’s guess, but Kadena Air Base continues to serve as a vital part of our nation’s security in the Pacific. Suggested read:Thule Air Base: Discover the Base You Weren’t Supposed To Know About


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