Yokota Base and Fussa

 

Arrived from Travis AFB, CA, on the big bellied C-5, which, because of a windshield problem, did not continue to Osan AB, ROK

 

After a few days' wait I hitched a ride on a Patriot Express contract Boeing 767 to Osan

 

After my stay in South Korea I returned the same way, via Patriot Express. Since they go all the way to SEATAC, WA, it's not convenient for me to take it beyond Yokota AB, since I needed to get to Travis AFB, CA, near Sacramento. Here a nice view of Mt. Fuji.

 

Wondering which base this was, I realized that when I was P-3 aircrew, I had flown into this naval air station. There are P-3 aircraft parked here at Atsugi.

 

After marveling at the vastness of greater Tokyo, we finally were getting ready to land at Yokota AB

 

An 84-year old retired military gentleman who I had run into a couple of times over the years. He used to be visiting his girlfriend in South Korea, but meanwhile, so he said, he married her. I said, 'You dog!' and he laughed and replied, 'wait, she's 75'. He was in the lobby of the Kanto Lodge, waiting to fly to Osan the next day. I hope I'll see him a few more times in years to come.

 

I saw this fat-bike near one of the gates about every other day and I think one of the military police gate guards was riding it to and from work. Great in rain and even snow.

 

Fussa, a small town outside Yokota AB, that connects via JR commuter train to Tokyo.

 

Next to the station, there is a walk that connects one to the Seyou Store where I buy sushi and sometimes a whole meal
In typical Japanese fashion, this is highly organized. You shop in black baskets, the cashier will reload everything into a yellow basket, which you take, after you pay, to one of these tables for packing into plastic bags that they sell you, unless you bring your own.

 

Got a great ride with a bunch of reservists returning from Kunsan, ROK, to Hickam AFB, HI

 

And the next morning happen to catch the same aircraft, now nearly empty, returning to Travis AFB

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