A Closed Base
The black & white pictures were taken in January 1978 by Wes Injerd, nearly six years after the base closed. He's an educator who lives in Fukuoka and is researching the history of US military bases in Japan, with the hope of establishing a musem at some point in time. The pictures were provided for inclusion on this site by Ben Phillips, who also took the color picture on a trip to Japan in 1998.
The base came under American control in 1945, following Japan's defeat in World War II. It was then continuously occupied until June 1972 when it was closed.
Steve Clark was there as the base was being closed. He says, "I was one of the few army guys left to close the base. We worked the comcenter in support of the Air Force and Navy. Everyone was consolidated into the barracks behind Headquarters building (army, air force and navy, including women). I guess women and men now share quarters but they didn't in our army. The women were all in one corner of the first floor and the guys on the second floor. But as usual many people still maintained a residence in Saitozaki. The Navy Seabees came in and dismantled most of the base and carted it off to (I assume) other bases in Japan. The Seabees were great guys who drank all night and worked like hell all day."
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For those of us who were there and so fondly remember it, it is sad to see these pictures. And today these structures are completely gone. At right is the Main Gate nearly six years after the base closed. |
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You care barely make out the sign above, and at left you can see that it clearly says, "Hakata Air Station." These signs changed several times over the years. The base was called by different designations at various times, including Camp Hakata, Brady Air Base, Hakata Administration Annex. |
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Base Motor Pool |
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Mess Hall, with the two-story barracks in the background. |