Chinook CH-47 JA Helicopter

Following the tradition of naming Army helicopters after American Indian tributes, this tandem rotor cargo helicopter was no exception, its name, Chinook, is from the Native American Chinook people of modern-day Washington state. The Chinook was originally designed by Vetrol and its original designation of the Vetrol prototype model was V-107. The V-107 after improvement was eventually assigned with military designation CH-46, known as the Sea Knight.

The relationship between Boeing and Japan aerospace industries had began as early as 1956 when Mitsubishi Heavy Industries began to license built the F-86 Sabre Jet Fighter. in 1959, Vetrol and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, known as KHI signed the agreement allowing KHI to license built the V-107, which had became one of the most influential helicopter models that served in both self defence air and ground forces. About half year after the license agreement between Vetrol and KHI, Boeing acquired Vetrol and formed the Boeing Vetrol division. It was until 1984 KHI began to license production of the legendary Chinook helicopter, the airframes were manufactured by KHI in Gifu, Japan, instead of the following the conventional U.S. military designation using a letter D behind the model name, the KHI version Chinook was named with a letter J, later known as the CH-47J.

Campaign:  Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), 1st Helicopter Group, 103rd Squadron, #JG-2981