Mad Foxes Display the P-8A at Yokota Air Base

The Yokota Japanese and American Friendship Festival Airshow is an annual event that brings together the Japanese community and defense leaders from the region by hosting various types of aircraft, from civilian aerobatic platforms to fighter jets. The event features aircraft and other assets belonging to the Commander, Task Force 72 (CTF 72), which conducts intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance flights using U.S Navy P-3 Orion and P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.

The “Mad Foxes” of VP-5 brought one of their P-8A Poseidon aircraft to participate in the two-day event. Sailors offered tours of the aircraft and met with members of the community and defense force personnel.

“The Friendship Festival was a great opportunity to interact with the wonderful people of Japan and strengthen our bonds as friends and allies,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Bacon, VP-5 detachment Officer in Charge. “We share many traditions and look forward to fostering our ongoing professional relationships.”

Assets from CTF 72 have also participated in airshows in Kanoya, Atsugi, and Misawa this season.

The Mad Foxes, based in Jacksonville, Florida, are operating out of Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan. The squadron is conducting maritime patrols and reconnaissance as well as theater outreach operations within U.S. 7th Fleet (C7F) area of operations.

U.S. 7th Fleet provides security alongside allies and partners throughout a free and open Indo-Pacific. As the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet operates roughly 50-70 ships and submarines and 140 aircraft with approximately 20,000 Sailors.

Photo Caption:
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (Sept. 14, 2019) Lt. Cmdr. Mike Bacon, detachment Officer in Charge for Patrol Squadron (VP) 5, helps explain some of the many missions and capabilities of the P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft to local community members. VP-5 is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations conducting maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations in support of Commander, Task Force 72, C7F and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command objectives throughout the Indo-Pacific region.