Stories

Camp Fuji in the Vietnam War

1970 at Fuji Detachment and NIPPI Rework Facility, Atsugi, Japan

by Hale Irwin




In 1970, as 1st Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps I was assigned as a test pilot at Nippon Aircraft Corporation in Atsugi Japan.

NIPPI, as the company was known, performed major periodic rework on CH-46 helicopters.

Aircraft were flown to Atsugi and NIPPI would completely disassemble and overhaul these aircraft. My job was to test CH-46s after they were rebuilt and make sure they were in "Like New Condition" and safe to fly. If they passed the flight tests they were accepted back to the Marine Corps.

Mag-36 maintained a 3 bird detachment at Atsugi to provide medevac and logistical support for the Marine Artillery Training Base at the base of Mount Fuji.

The Fuji Detachment was affectionately called "HANK'S HAULERS" after our super OIC, Major Hank Kunkel. Our motto was "You Call - We Haul".

Vietnam War patch NIPPI


Battle weary CH-46's were shipped from Vietnam on barges to Okinawa. We flew these very sick birds from Futema, Okinawa to Atsugi, Japan for Overhaul at NIPPI.

With aircraft filled with internal fuel tanks we would make it to the most Southern tip of Japan with minutes of fuel remaining depending on winds!

After an overnight and refuel at MCAS Iwakuni we continued on to Atsugi - just South of Tokyo and East of Yokohama.

internal fuel tank helicopter ch-46



Atsuji Japan Vietnam War Two shots of NIPPI mechanics on the flight line at Atsugi...


Atsuji Japan Vietnam War CH-46 151920 engine start up at Camp Fuji


Futema Okinawa Japan Vietnam War CH-46 151957 at Futema, Okinawa


Atsuji Japan Vietnam War CH-46 153400 Undergoing Overhaul at Atsugi, 1970


Atsuji Japan Vietnam War CH-46 154026 Undergoing Overhaul at Atsugi, 1970


Atsuji Japan Vietnam War CH-46 151915 at Fuji Detachment bird in 1970, Atsugi


Atsuji Japan Vietnam War CH-46 154011 at Fuji Detachment bird in 1970, Atsugi


Atsuji Japan Vietnam War CH-46 152535 at MAG-36 Fuji Det


Atsuji Japan Vietnam War CH-46 156454 from HMMT-302 made an emergency landing on the cliffs above Big Sur California after the APU had a slight fire. Aircraft was in route to San Fransisco...., 1969



See also:
Database: HC-1 at Atsugi




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