Omura Naval Air Group (Omura Air Base)

The Omura Naval Air Group (大村海軍航空隊) was established on 1 December 1922 (Taishō 11) in Omura Town, Higashisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture (present-day Omura City). It was created as a comprehensive aircrew training base, providing instruction across all aircraft types for the Imperial Japanese Navy.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), Omura served as a forward staging base from which naval air units launched long-range bombing missions against targets in mainland China. The base's strategic importance grew further with the completion of the 21st Naval Air Arsenal (第二十一海軍航空廠) in October 1941, a major naval aircraft production and repair facility. The arsenal manufactured and overhauled naval aircraft, along with engines, weapons, and ammunition.

From late 1944, as B-29 Superfortress bombers of the XX Bomber Command began striking the Japanese home islands from bases in Chengdu, China, the Omura Naval Air Group took on air defense duties. Fighter instructor pilots led interception sorties against the American strategic bombers. The XX Bomber Command targeted Omura's aircraft factory repeatedly during Operation Matterhorn, including on October 25, 1944 (78 B-29s took off and 59 bombed the arsenal), November 11, 1944, and November 21, 1944. The October 25 raid inflicted devastating damage on the arsenal, after which production was dispersed to Isahaya and other locations.

Between 1943 and 1945, the base expanded by establishing branch detachments that became independent air groups: the Genzan Air Group, Isahaya Naval Air Group, and Busan Naval Air Group. In the war's final months, Omura units participated in special attack (kamikaze) operations using armed Zero fighters in support of the Okinawa campaign.

After Japan's surrender in August 1945, U.S. Marine Air Group 22 occupied the base. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Omura air unit was formed in December 1955 and completed its move to the base in March 1957. Today, the base is home to Fleet Air Wing 22 (第22航空群), operating SH-60 patrol helicopters.