Osprey crashes fuel uproar in Japan

I agree that the airframe is a safe one. But I don't think they're looking for a bribe. This is stemming from the V-22 being deployed to and from Futenma. Futenma in general is the secondary meaning behind this meeting.

In my view, essentially similar to the Toyota Lexus case in the US a few yrs back in that there are probably no potential mechanical failures of concern, but the locals do have every right to be worried and request for clearer safety assurance. I would like to think that there can be no way the US would consider putting the lives of their own men at risk through forcing them to ride a high-risk aircraft before even getting the issues with the locals. Meanwhile, Lexus has regained its top position in the JD power quality survey this yr and I am sure this matter will be resolved soon as well, again with all due respect to the valid concerns raised by the locals..

There is no perfectly safe aircraft made by human in this world. I wonder if anyone wants to live under Osprey flying all over. As for me at least, I don't. This military aircraft for war is completely different from other vehicles for ordinary people because Osprey is carrying a lot of weapons, auxiliary fuel,,, etc. Ordinary cars don't,,,,, unless you are terrorist.

kwattJun. 22, 2012 - 09:53AM JST:

There is no perfectly safe aircraft made by human in this world. I wonder if anyone wants to live under Osprey flying all over. As for me at least, I don't. This military aircraft for war is completely different from other vehicles for ordinary people because Osprey is carrying a lot of weapons, auxiliary fuel,,, etc. Ordinary cars don't,,,,, unless you are terrorist.

But I can bet you that more Okinawans died from car crashes in the last five years than people dying from MV-22 crashes in the same period. The MV-22 also carries no more dangerous materials than any fuel truck to any part of Okinawa would. It also has no more occupants than any bus. So hopefully the officials will be given statistics showing deaths per km flown and car deaths per km driven and show them that the MV-22 is safer than a car.

@basroil

Car accidents happen at all places in the world. This is nothing to do with Osprey accidents. However the total US casualties by wars after WW2 are definitely a bigger number than car accidents happened in Okinawa

kwattJun. 22, 2012 - 11:13AM JST

@basroil

Car accidents happen at all places in the world. This is nothing to do with Osprey accidents. However the total US casualties by wars after WW2 are definitely a bigger number than car accidents happened in Okinawa

There have been 36 fatalities involving V-22 type vehicles including test phase (only two fatalities from MV-22) in twenty years.

Given that Okinawa has about 1% the total population of Japan, and there were 5300 car/truck related fatalities in Japan last year, we can estimate that 50 people or so died as a result of vehicle crashes in Okinawa. Hence my arguments that the MV-22 is much less dangerous than cars is valid. The official death tolls for car crashes are not available from Okinawa, but I am sure that the US envoy will re-iterate my statements.

@basroil

You compared number of death caused by Osprey with number by car accidents. They really don't matter which number is bigger for residents living near the Bases. They are so scared to death if such less dangerous aircraft are flying over the residences. There are many schools, kindergartens, hospitals, houses, etc there nearby. The aircraft is for people not much difference with a bomber.

It doesn't matter what kind of aircraft they are thinking of deploying.

Futenma is a highly built up area, with residences, schools, hospitals all packed closely together.

Just ONE Osprey crashing into this would take a lot of lives.

Loss of life in a war situation is understandable.

There is no war.

There is no need for US troops to be on Okinawan or Japanese soil.

They've been here too long.

Time to leave!

basroil: When will you ever get it? The Japanese are in control of the Japanese cars, buses, trains, ships, airplanes and any other form of transportation operated by Japanese people, and will gladly take responsibility for any accidents these may cause. The Japanese are also more than willing to recall any of the Japanese cars, buses, trains, ships, airplanes and any other form of transportation when defects are found. However, the Japanese are NOT in control of the non-Japanese MV-22 operated by non-Japanese people over their Japanese land and citizens. That would put them in a very awkward position (to say the least) when these MV-22 (or any other non Japanese form of transportation) start to cause death and destruction in their country. It's NOT about which form of transportation is safe/safer or dangerous/more dangerous. It's about taking responsibility over something you have no control over. You'd see the Japanese government apologizing to its citizens for death and destruction that they had no control over in the first place.

Please deploy them in Nagata-cho!

get the military OUT of JAPAN NOW!!!!

get the military OUT of JAPAN NOW!!!!

I agree. Under the Japanese constitution they're not allowed to even have one!

kwatt: "There is no perfectly safe aircraft made by human in this world."

Agreed, but do you get upset about the fact that commercial aircraft are flying over you at all times? Should Osaka and Tokyo residents be upset they have airports downtown (at least the domestic ones). Nah, my guess is that despite you admit yourself NO aircraft is perfectly safe, you're just thinking about the US military in Okinawa and hence the beef.

"I wonder if anyone wants to live under Osprey flying all over. "

There you go!

Osprey sure would be handy when there are natural disasters, but I'm not sure I'd be happy with them right over my back fence either... this one's a hard call .

Having lived right beside Futenma Marine Corps Air Station on Okinawa for a number of years, I would want the authorities to make sure that those Ospreys are indeed safe before stationing them there. The area around the Futenma base is crowded with private housing, and an accident amid these would send shockwaves throughout the island. Let the helicopters handle the workload for the time being as there is no need to rush into such a maneuver.

edojinJun. 22, 2012 - 03:30PM JST

Having lived right beside Futenma Marine Corps Air Station on Okinawa for a number of years, I would want the authorities to make sure that those Ospreys are indeed safe before stationing them there. The area around the Futenma base is crowded with private housing, and an accident amid these would send shockwaves throughout the island. Let the helicopters handle the workload for the time being as there is no need to rush into such a maneuver.

Actually, the old CH-46 and 53 that the osprey replaces has more issues and is actually are much more dangerous. Especially for troop transports, the risks are much greater for the old choppers. They aren't rushing into anything, the marines have been laying the groundwork for a decade, and it isn't the first time they've said they are replacing those old models with the MV-22.

Military aircraft should not be operating above a civilian population unless it's an emergency situation... besides which, if you want to prove these things through R&D trials, do it over water or desert where you can't kill people.

Okinawa is a very beautiful part of Japan, first occupied by the mainland Japanese, then by the Americans and now back in the hands of Yamato, so the sad truth is, up in Tokyo they could care less what happens down in Okinawa, so we have this kind of stupid situation, Okinawa is and is not part of Japan, would the Yamato Japanese allow these bases in downtown Tokyo?? Would they allow these strange aircraft over Shinjuku?? HELL NO!

Thunderbird: "Military aircraft should not be operating above a civilian population unless it's an emergency situation..."

Ideally so, yes, but lest we forget the US military didn't build the base in a city, the city built itself around the base after it was established -- so that many could make a living, and many still do. Now, also keep in mind there is a plan to relocate into an area that is not populated (or at least MUCH less so), but yet again they are against it (and I'd wager when they do relocate, if the government stops sitting on its hands and promising both parties they'll get what they want) you'll have people moving and setting up shop around the new base, and it'll become a town, then grow further while the area around the old base will shrivel and people will suddenly start cursing the Americans for a different reason. Bottom line is, they just want to be upset at the US for something, and the Osprey is the latest excuse to do so, despite the fact that it is actually SAFER than a lot of the old craft presently housed at the base(s).

People need something to unite their whining. The Okinawan base issue provides it, as do the forces that are there.

but do you get upset about the fact that commercial aircraft are flying over you at all times?

I think some Osaka and Tokyo residents are a little upset about it, Therefore commercial airplanes and SDF jets will try not fly over residences as possible as they can because planes make much noise and scare people. But US military planes don't care about it day or night. I'm lucky, commercial planes do not fly over my area. Once in a while some SDF jets fly so high over here. Everybody knows there is no perfectly safe aircraft in the world, but people would be not able to avoid to board in the planes because they got accustomed to using them very often even if they are less dangerous.

Japan and South Korea will always be a slave to the americans. the only 2 asian countries to allow US bases to operate even today in 20th century. war was over long time ago.

these ospreys will come to japan just keep watching

Japan and South Korea will always be a slave to the americans. the only 2 asian countries to allow US bases to operate even today in 20th century. war was over long time ago. So the Philippine Islands aren't in Asia? I'd also suggest you look into central Asia.

And today is the 20th century? Funny, I thought it was the 21st....

Back on topic please.

kwatt: "Therefore commercial airplanes and SDF jets will try not fly over residences as possible as they can because planes make much noise and scare people. But US military planes don't care about it day or night."

You've got to be joking! If the airports are in the city, how do they 'try not to fly over residences'? Hey... when I look up in the sky at night I often see the lights of a commercial aircraft -- and while it may be high enough up I do not hear the noise, if there were an accident the sheer size of the debris field and the casualties would set any Okinawan's claim on US accidents to shame. YOU are the one who pointed out that NO aircrafts are perfectly safe, so don't try to backtrack on your own comment to prove your bias!

How many Ospreys have crashed in Japan by the way? Better yet, historically speaking, how many commercial airliners have crashed in comparison with Ospreys in general? Oh, I know -- the Ospreys are new and still in development as commercial aircraft once were, and I also know that the Ospreys will solve a lot of potential problems other, more dangerous, aircraft (including commercial) have in terms of taking off and landing.

You just want to argue against it because it's the US military in Japan.

alliswellinJapan: I used to think quite highly of JAL, until they short-staffed their planes, made cuts in maintenance crews, cut flight services, and did everything else they could under the sun to save money (well, of course, without cutting board members' salaries and bonuses!) and started experiencing so many accidents it does INDEED make the US military seem like gods, but no more. They made themselves into jokes, and there's a reason they are fighting (with money, mostly) to get back their rep. The difference is... when a tiny bolt falls off a US military plane in Okinawa it gets the black trucks out across Japan and the Okinawan governor giving a litmus test of how he can glean the most votes out, whereas if a JAL plane has a similar or worse accident it is revealed later and is very much downplayed.

Regardless, the original point in bringing in JAL was only to show what kwatt wisely pointed out -- they are no safer than the US military in the least, but we don't complain about them as much as the US military in Okinawa, do we? She has a good point.

I'm fed up with the incessant whining from the Okinawans. If they really want the US bases out and the Japanese government won't oblige them, maybe they should press for independence. As an independent nation they could order the Americans to leave. It's clear that as long as Okinawa remains part of Japan the Japanese government will do nothing to alleviate the burden on Okinawa as they simply don't care.

So, which of the whining Okinawan politicians will be the first to set up the Okinawan National Party? Or do they prefer moaning to actually taking steps to change their situation?

So, which of the whining Okinawan politicians will be the first to set up the Okinawan National Party? Or do they prefer moaning to actually taking steps to change their situation?

I think they prefer to whine about it.

Commercial airliners are far more dangerous but yet Japan has them flying all over the place without complaint. Just more complaining for the sake of complaining.

"until Tokyo received assurances of its safety"

Heck, Tokyo still hasn't received assurances that North Korea isn't going to launch any more missiles that could hit Japan, or that the Chinese are going to give up their claim on the Senkaku Islands, or that the Russians are going to return the Northern Territories.

when I look up in the sky at night I often see the lights of a commercial aircraft

As I said, Pilots of commercial airplanes try not fly over the middle of the city for longer time. Of course they would have to fly over some of the city if as long as airport is in the city. Pilots do not fly over the city more than necessary. As far as I know, It seems that US airplanes do not care about it might crash into residence by potential mechanical trouble or pilot errors, they just go fly over the city times as much as they want day or night. That's why Okinawan people are very worried about airplane crash into houses near bases.

How many Ospreys have crashed in Japan by the way?

I'm sure you would be surprised that Osprey crash into residence in near future if they came. It seems that Osprey is extremely too difficult to fly, as a result some mechanical trouble and pilot errors would cause more crash into residences.

Imagine if (Japan) had a military base in (Southern California) and flew these same (Ospreys) over crowded residential areas, what do you think the Local's would say?

Commercial airliners are far more dangerous

Really. In the past 25 years there have been zero deaths from Japanese commercial airlines but 7 osprey crashes and 36 deaths.

7 osprey crashes and 36 deaths.

If 7 Osprey were deployed in Okinawa sooner right after they were made first, the death would probably be 36 pilots plus more than 100 residents involved with accidents.

basroil: When will you ever get it? The Japanese are in control of the Japanese cars, buses, trains, ships, airplanes and any other form of transportation operated by Japanese people, and will gladly take responsibility for any accidents these may cause. The Japanese are also more than willing to recall any of the Japanese cars, buses, trains, ships, airplanes and any other form of transportation when defects are found. However, the Japanese are NOT in control of the non-Japanese MV-22 operated by non-Japanese people over their Japanese land and citizens. That would put them in a very awkward position (to say the least) when these MV-22 (or any other non Japanese form of transportation) start to cause death and destruction in their country. It's NOT about which form of transportation is safe/safer or dangerous/more dangerous. It's about taking responsibility over something you have no control over. You'd see the Japanese government apologizing to its citizens for death and destruction that they had no control over in the first place.

Thank you for a voice of sanity!

May I ask, where in the US are these "splatter-fests waiting to happen" actually deployed?

I honestly don't know why the word "whining" appears so many times in posts in connection with Okinawans objection to having the US military on their land.

The use of that word shows a degrading and derogatory attitude and I, for one strongly object to it.

The inconvenience to Okinawans incurred by having US military bases is huge.

Ospreys or any other aircraft landing and taking off over highly built up areas such as Futenma is extremely dangerous. Naha airport, in contrast, is away from built up areas, by the sea.

US bases take up much needed space. The military personnel make little if any effort to communicate with their hosts. In fact, they degrade the areas around the bases, especially in the evenings. Car crashes involving American drivers in the areas of the bases are frequent. There have been several rape and murder cases. The crime level is high.

In addition to all of this, the very presence of the bases makes this area dangerous, as, if there were an act of aggression, Okinawa would be the primary target.

At the same time, the likelihood of such a strike is almost nil.

The US government does its best to strike fear into the hearts of the Japanese to justify their presence here, but it's having less and less effect.

Is it "whining" to want to have your own space?

Is it "whining" to want to have peace?

Please learn some manners.

You are guests in this country.

Behave accordingly.

The Osprey craft can fly like a helicopter or an airplane

Actually, the thing usually flies like a rock...

I see it mentions 9000 soldiers to leave okinawa. It fails to mention japan will pay 3.1 billion dollars for it.

im begining to think poorly of the japanese. theyre really becoming unnesseccarily weak. 3.1 billion i would station a japanese defence force in okinawa.

Tell america to get lost and that japan does not need its presents. Give them a smile and start talking more with china.

kwatt: "If 7 Osprey were deployed in Okinawa sooner right after they were made first, the death would probably be 36 pilots plus more than 100 residents involved with accidents."

How do you figure? Where do you get the number 36 in terms of 'probable deaths that would occur in Japan'? Seriously, your bias is too much sometimes.

Johninnaha: "I honestly don't know why the word "whining" appears so many times in posts in connection with Okinawans objection to having the US military on their land."

Because in a lot of cases that is simply what it is -- whining. I'm sorry you find it derogatory, but there are also a lot of people that find the whining, when the US military is there protecting Okinawans, not only derogatory but downright insulting given the nature of their presence. This is especially the case when MOST, and I do mean MOST, of the people shouting out and shaking their fists at the US presence automatically tone down the rhetoric when Chinese military budgets are announced or a Chinese sub or North Korean rocket launch might enter Japanese space.

"At the same time, the likelihood of such a strike is almost nil."

And why do you think that is, John? It's not because Japanese retaliation would be fierce, it's because of the US presence there and the fact that with the pact the US has with Japan they would join Japan's side. You simply cannot deny this fact. The US isn't 'striking fear' in the Japanese, China in particular is, and Japan is literally spouting rhetoric from behind the US shield.

"Is it "whining" to want to have peace?"

You HAVE peace, largely thanks to the US forces. Or do you forget it was war before they settled in there? and do you think there'd be less threat if they left? There wouldn't be -- there would be an increase in bombast and rhetoric from both China and NK (if not Russia to boot, though that would just be for show), and you'd be cursing them for leaving.

"Please learn some manners. You are guests in this country. Behave accordingly."

Everybody could learn some more manners, including the people who demand those who protect them go away (while they continue to earn money and get protection from them). American military are not 'guests' here so much as they have been stationed here. They should most certainly follow the rules and customs of the nation (customs to the best of their ability, as ultimately customs differ and are somewhat ingrained), but why should they accept being stationed here and helping the people of Okinawa and the nation when people like yourself always degrade them and demand they leave?

Stuart: "Imagine if (Japan) had a military base in (Southern California) and flew these same (Ospreys) over crowded residential areas, what do you think the Local's would say?"

Once again. A base would never be built in a residential area -- the residential area in this case was built around the base to profit from that. Many people seem to forget that.

The Ospreys were doing well for an entire decade, but lately there have been more incidents. The crash in Afghanistan was attributed to pilot error rather than mechanical failure. The crash in Morocco this past April is still under investigation, as is the more recent one. Whether these are caused by mechanical issues, or by the military trying out new operational parameters that push the envelope for the plane is unclear right now. Though I'm a supporter of the V-22, I feel that Japan has every right to be concerned and that their concerns need to seriously be looked at prior to any deployment of MV-22 squadrons.

That said, the Chinooks they're supposed to replace aren't getting any younger. At some point you're going to have a greater danger from the existing aircraft than you will with the newer aircraft.

smithinjapan, the people live so close because there was no other place for them to go. The Americans kicked the Okinawa people off of 1/3 to 1/2 of the island. They wanted them to move to South America. Am surprised it was not done by force, then there would be no Okinawa problem. So you have all of these people living close to the bases out of a lack of another place to live. While the Osprey does not bother me, the desires of the majority of the people need to be considered. Has the US government reached out its hand to the local communities? No they only talk to the mainlanders. Perhaps some PR work might help pave the way to deployment. Perhaps some demonstration flights might help, but it will not happen. The US forces are too good to talk to the Okinawa people.

Americans should get back to America... they've got a million problems back there.

America cannot afford to pay for its armed forces' adventures around the world. It is a bankrupt nation.

I can't understand how Americans let themselves be so messed up by their military-industrial complex.

The way they let their tax dollars be wasted on ridiculous and unnecessary weapons... don't they care?

Their worst enemy is not Al Qaeda or muslims... it's their military-industrial mafia.

It's telling to see how most of the anti-Osprey crowd on this thread end up merely ranting about how American bases need to disappear. The issue is whether or not to deploy the Osprey, which happens to have a respectable safety record. To discuss the misery of the Okinawan people at the hands of the American military suggests the safety issue is but a ruse. If the issue really is safety, then jump on the safety records of the helicopters currently being used. Why single out the Osprey? This is a manufactured concern, from a manipulated little news item.

Stop clouding the issue. In the end it will only discredit your cause.

I would like to add my 2 cents to this little fray.

Point 1:

I live in Saitama, north of Tokyo. I live a few towns away from the Iruma Japanese Self-Defense Force Air base. The Japanese "Air Force" fly their craft in Holding patterns over my town and over my house and my daughter's kindergarten daily. No one protests or complains. The aircraft flying overhead include the aging CH-47 Chinook Dual-rotor helicopter. No one blinks an eye.

I asked my Japanese neighbors if they worry about the Chinooks falling out of the sky and every single one of them shrugged saying that they had no choice but to believe in the Japanese government and military. None of them considered protesting or even complaining about having military aircraft flying over our heads every day.

Point 2:

My sister was a Navy radar mechanic stationed in Misawa, Aomori Japan. This military base holds both American and Japanese airforce craft and is also pressed right up against the base boundry. F-15 Eagles, and F-18 Hornets practiced touch-n-go exercises almost daily, and they are Extremely loud! I was there to confirm that.

But no protests. I asked a shop clerk if the noise bothered him, and whether he was worried about accidents. He also shrugged and said that the base personnel, both American And Japanese worked well together, and he trusted both.

Now, I'm sure everyone will draw their own conclusions, but my opinion is that the protests would stop if there were Japanese SDF on the base along-side the Americans. I have a feeling that the Japanese wouldn't dare protest against their own SDF, no matter what they are flying. If Ospreys were introduced at either Iruma (near me) or Misawa, in Aomori, I think the locals would only be happy to take pictures, not start protests.

YuriOtani: "smithinjapan, the people live so close because there was no other place for them to go."

And now they want to shed their skins and forget what won them their bread and butter. Trust me... if the US forces left, they would remember.

"Perhaps some demonstration flights might help, but it will not happen. The US forces are too good to talk to the Okinawa people."

I actually agree with you on the safety flights thing, but it's a two-way street: you say it would never happen. I say they would never agree even if it did, and that they've already decided. There is a wound in Okinawa too deep for anyone to understand... even modern Okinawans, I think, and so no Okinawans will agree to anything because they feel the are being undermined. In many cases they are, and I have said time and time again that since being taken by Japan the people of the Ryukyus have been given a raw deal, especially during WWII and the war of attrition, but you canNOT keep knocking the US defense for the sins of YOUR fathers (ie. Japanese government). The US troops and their presence are probably more vital to your defense and your lifestyle than the central government. You're angry, Yuri, but don't misdirect the anger. You seem to sway between the US being responsible for this, and the J-government for that. They need not be separate except that you also seem to separate them in some cases.

That said, this is still an issue about Ospreys, not the US presence itself, which I myself have been talking about. The bases are there to stay, Yuri. People can whine about Ospreys in a residential area -- built around bases by the choices of Okinawans themselves -- all they want, but the fact remains that if the US said, "How about we deploy the Ospreys on the area we agreed TWICE to relocate on, far away from residential areas?" you'd complain about how the Ospreys would affect the local ecology. You don't care about the Ospreys, you're just using this to further your rants about getting the US out of Japan -- they could be using Dumbo and Disney (although you might want to keep Disney!).

Has the US government reached out its hand to the local communities? No they only talk to the mainlanders.

For the hundredth time, sovereign nations do not deal with local governments, they deal with the sovereign nation that that local government is in. The U.S. deals with Tokyo and relies on Tokyo to deal with its prefectures. If you want the U.S. to be dealing directly with the Okinawan government, then Okinawa is going to have to declare independence from Japan. Until that happens, whining about the U.S. not working with the Okinawan government is fruitless.

Stop crying about the U.S. not paying attention to Okinawa's desires, and start crying about Tokyo not paying attention to Okinawa's desires. That's where your REAL beef is and that's the only place where you have ANY chance of seeing a change. You're NOT going to get the U.S. to deal with what amounts to a state in a foreign country, so you can give up on that idea.

When all the debt accumulated by the usa is baught up by china and forever unrepayable as it and china has surplanted america as the most profitable country. american intrests will then strip defenceless japan by intimidation to shitty deals. America is the biggest japanese terrorist since the 90s and I'm not saying that because I don't like americans. I like some sometimes.but the forgien policy of america is honestly the worst friend if I've ever ment one. Americans will pretend their forced military presance in japan is in japans best intrest but its in american intrest. Just like nuking japan was a good economic american interest.

MV-22B Basic U.S. Marine Corps transport; original requirement for 552 (now 360). The Marine Corps is the lead service in the development of the V-22 Osprey. The Marine Corps variant is an assault transport for troops, equipment and supplies, capable of operating from ships or from expeditionary airfields ashore. It is replacing the Marine Corps' CH-46E and CH-53D. This aircraft is awesome. You might as well get used to it. Okinawa here they come. If the US Marine's don't deploy the MV-22, What will they use? Most the post's here are to get rid of American base's. However, this aircraft can and would be used for rescue and supplies in the event of a disaster. Don't be in a hurry to rush to a judgement. The MV-22 Osphey May one day save your life.

@American Devil

Most of Mainlanders are very indifferent/apathetic about US military bases because they did not suffer terrible concentration of US military bases but Okinwans had a terrible experience of severe Okinawa battle and have suffered the concentration of US military bases for a long time until today. I understand the feelings of Okinawans. They don't want the bases there and want them out of Okinawa. So it is very understandable that Osprey is no way for Okinawans.

smithinjapan, the people in Okinawa never agreed to the relocation of MCAS Futenma. The mainlanders who do not care about the Okinawa people made the agreement. Now you are upset that the local government is doing everything possible to block the deal. The people of Okinawa are not slaves to the Americans or Yamato people. Japan is a constitutional monarchy and the Prefectures have rights under it. There is nothing like being treated with contempt by both your own national government and by the "visiting" American forces. It begs the question if the Okinawa people are free or slaves under colonial rule? You have no ideal of what growing up on American occupied rule was like. The Americans and their bases came first and anything left over the Okinawa people might have. If there was a food shortage the Americans ate first. If there was a water shortage the Americans drank first. As a little kid thought "Gomi" was the name of a store. The Americans do not talk with us because they know the Yamato people do not care about us. They will sign anything as long as it is not on the "home" islands.

Yes the Americans will do what they please. They will bring the Osprey into Okinawa and fly it as they please. In America it could be the sound of "freedom" but in Okinawa it is the sound of "contempt".

one thing this article got wrong was saying that these aircraft are effective in combat. the osprey only goes on milk run missions where it is proven to be safe.

Why so much fear if it has not yet happened here?

sunhawkJun. 23, 2012 - 02:01AM JST

one thing this article got wrong was saying that these aircraft are effective in combat. the osprey only goes on milk run missions where it is proven to be safe.

They did have some front line troop drops early on, though I think they were actually just drops rather than dropoffs. Still, they airplane seems perfectly safe, almost all accidents (and nearly all fatal ones) are directly due to pilot error and the machine was perfectly ok.

American Devil (Jun. 22, 2012 - 11:40PM JST),

Do you know when Misawa Base opened? It was opened in 1941 and expanded by the U.S. in 1945, when Japan surrendered.

Do you know when Iruma Base opened? It was opened in 1938 and was made into a U.S. Air Force base in 1945, renamed Johnson Air Base. The usufructuary right of the base was transferred to JSDAF in 1962.

So both Misawa and Iruma residents have been used to coexistence with the military bases. Nothing unlawful and inhumane was committed by the U.S. military.

But Look at U.S. bases in Okinawa. Most of them were built on the private land confiscated soon after the war, some in later years at bayonet point and by bulldozer before protesting farmers and wailing mothers.

Smithinjapan says there was nothing around Futenma when it was built. Of course, there was nothing left there because the area was completely destroyed by the war. There were a dozen villages around the base before the war, of which 5 were completely swallowed up into the base and others partially affected so. The U.S. military constructed the base while area residents who survived the war were herded into concentration-like camps.

Thus, anything related with military bases in Okinawa, whether it's Osprey deployment or any small attempt to maintain or expand the function of these bases, is outlawry and inhumane, as far as we are concerned.

kwattJun. 23, 2012 - 01:11AM JST

@American Devil

Most of Mainlanders are very indifferent/apathetic about US military bases because they did not suffer terrible concentration of US military bases but Okinwans had a terrible experience of severe Okinawa battle and have suffered the concentration of US military bases for a long time until today. I understand the feelings of Okinawans. They don't want the bases there and want them out of Okinawa.

Again, they actually do not fear the MV-22, rather continued military presence. However, even that is highly suspect, as we cannot compare crimes by stationed troops to those by local citizens. So far, there were only two publicized incidents involving the wrongdoings of troops, but hidden behind their police office desks are likely dozens of crimes by locals against locals. To link a machine to crimes by people both local and foreign, is misguided.

The people of Okinawa have no reason to have concerns over a vehicle that has a proven safety record and actually safer than what is currently used.

Imagine if (Japan) had a military base in (Southern California) and flew these same (Ospreys) over crowded residential areas, what do you think the Local's would say?

What job opportunities are there and is speaking Japanese a requirement?

Is your insurance up to date?

Can't hear the planes for all the car noise.

Smithinjapan-san

The area around Futenma is built up because there is nowhere else for Naha to spread.

And, in any case. This is Okinawan soil. They can do with it as they choose.

And they are choosing not to have Ospreys. And not to have the US military!

The V-22 squadron's former commander at Marine Corps Air Station New River, Lieutenant Colonel Odin Lieberman, was relieved of duty in 2001 after allegations that he instructed his unit that they needed to falsify maintenance records to make the plane appear more reliable. Three officers were later implicated in the falsification scandal.

johninnaha -

"And, in any case. This is Okinawan soil. They can do with it as they choose.

And they are choosing not to have Ospreys. And not to have the US military"

True, however, you fail to see that Okinawan soil is also Japanese soil... So what Japan as a whole says is pertinent to Japanese safety as a whole, is going to happen. I understand the Okinawan people not being overly satisfied with the military being there, they also need to understand that the military being there protects an entire nation, not just their island. If you want a voice, send it to Tokyo; YOUR NATIONS Capital. There are millions of people throughout the rest of the country that need to be thought about as well.

It's so outrageous how many Americans, who you both seem to represent, feel no compunction or qualms about what your military did and is doing in Okinawa. Shutting your eyes to your own injustice and crime, what injustice dare you say you are protecting us from

Crime? What crime? Most Americans understand what happened in the past and have since sent their condolancies, etc. Americans in general have either already learned, or are still learning about the mistakes made in past AND present conflicts. However, the crime you speak of, what exactly is it? Being asked by the NATIONAL government to stay and 1) protect against actual and perceived threats 2) help train SDF forces 3) provide assistance with their machinery/manpower during natural disasters 4) indirectly sustain several cities that grew themselves around the bases because Americans spend their money there and help keep the local economies afloat? If these are the crimes you are referring to, then yeah ok, I see your point.

Bringing the MV-22s to Okinawa will help all points above, because the NATIONAL government asked for the assistance...

If you are referring to the relatively low (based on the numbers over the years) American on Japanese crimes being committed, then all I can say to that is simply research the following numbers; 1)How many Americans have been stationed on Okinawa. 2) How many of those actually committed a crime? 3) Of those crimes, how many were committed against the locals. Every country has crimes committed by foreigners. But all the American crimes are blown up and thrown into local, then national spotlights. Where are the hundreds of other crimes committed by Japanese on Japanese?

Bringing the MV-22 to Okinawa will not raise the numbers listed just above this line. So what crimes are you referring to?

In the last sixyears, it has had less deadly accidents than any helicopter in Marine service. Even more interesting, it had less issues than one commercial airplane that frequently goes to Naha (which requires flight over cities). Skymart, which has had more technical screwups than any other airline in Japan, uses 737 planes to Naha. The 737 has been involved in six major accidents (countless other minor ones) four of which had fatalities totaling 297 deaths. One of the 737 accidents was by ANA on a flight from Naha, where the airplane flipped upside-down and exceeded several safety limits. It was a miracle that the wings and engines stayed intact... But of course, ANA didn't release anything until a day after "because they didn't immediately find out".