Migration News
Japan, U.S. train together over Guam
November 22, 2003
A pair of F-15 aircraft from the 67th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, return to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, after a mission during exercise Cope North 04. (Courtesy of USAF)
A pair of F-15 aircraft from the 67th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, return to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, after a mission during exercise Cope North 04. (Courtesy of USAF)
Staff Sgt. Martin Waack, an F-15 aircraft crew chief from the 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Kadena Air Base, Japan, straps Major Toru Yoshikawa — a pilot from the 83rd Wing, Naha Air Base, Okinawa, Japan — into his aircraft during a Mutual Turnaround Familiarization training at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. (Courtesy of USAF)
U.S. and Japanese military personnel conduct a familiarization training on a Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-4 aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, during exercise Cope North 04. (Courtesy of USAF)
Lt. Gen. Thomas Waskow, Headquarters 5th Air Force commander, Yokota Air Base, Japan, shake hands with Tech. Sgt. Norihiro Matsumoto, an F-4 jet crew chief from the 83rd Wing, Naha Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, during training at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, during exercise Cope North 04. (Courtesy of USAF)
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam — Despite recent stormy weather, the two-week Cope North training exercise continued unabated this week.
The exercise featured Japanese Air Self-Defense Force fighter pilots and crews from Andersen Air Force Base, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, and Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station and Yokota Air Base, Japan.
Cope North focuses on the defense of Japan; under the Mutual Defense Treaty, the United States is required to defend Japan from military attack.
During the exercise, Japanese crews operating F-4 Phantoms flew simulated combat missions against U.S. pilots flying F-15 eagles. During the mock dogfights, one side set up an air defense which the other tried to penetrate.
The exercise was expected to conclude Friday.
In addition to flight training, the aviators are learning to work together in emergency situations, officials said.
This is the fifth year Andersen has hosted Cope North.