Tachikawa Air Base Japan 1945-1977, History-Events and Photographs. U.S. Army Air Corps arrive on base on Sept 8, 1945. The base is used as a supply and maintenance facility during the Korean and Vietnam Wars with the largest military hospital in the far east. All flight operations ceased in December 1969, and were transferred to Yokota Air Base located 2 miles away. The base was closed permanently on September 30, 1977 and the land returned to the Japanese government.