In July 1954, a Defence Agency was formed to control three military services: The Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) the Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) and the Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF). At this time, there was an urgent need for pilots and ground crews, particularly as both the JGSDF and JMSDF had aircraft units. Therefore, the JASDF command formed a flying school at Hamamatsu equipped with Beech T-34As. The first of 124 Fuji-built T-33As were delivered a year later, the type being selected as the force’s primary trainer. North American T-6 Texan trainers were delivered from surplus US stocks in January 1955 together with Curtiss C-46 transports. Flying training was very successful and the first batch of North American F-86F Sabres arrived in December 1955. The first Air Wing was activated at Hamamatsu with two squadrons of F-86Fs in August 1956. Aircraft on charge at the end of 1956 totalled 327 consisting of T-34As, T-6s, T-33As, F-86Fs, C-46s and a single Japanese built Kawasaki KAL-2. A major step forward in JASDF history was the introduction of the Lockheed F-104J Starfighter into service in 1962. The type was the winner of an evaluation program to find a F-86F successor, its opponent the Grumman F-11 Tiger being rejected. Mitsubishi built 210 F-104Js under licence to equip seven squadrons the first being activated at Chitose in October 1962. By the end of 1966, the JASDF had eighteen fighter squadrons. Further history of air bases, squadrons and aircraft can be found in the following pages of this book.