http://www.zakzak.co.jp/society/domestic/news/20110405/dms1104051136000-n1.htm
http://www.zakzak.co.jp/society/domestic/news/20110406/dms1104061536016-n1.htm
Jap serial articles dated 5-6 April 2011, about when the tsunami bashed Matsushima AB.
After the tsunami warning was issued, everyone was ordered to evacuate to third floor or above, not even second floor. However, many controllers and ground crew were still working on the ground, even at the runways, and were difficult to contact.
They used the PA system, and drove cars around the runways, to pass the warning that the tsunami ETA was 15:10. About 1,100 people evacuated into earthquake-resistant buildings, mostly on the roofs.
They began to check names, and they included employees of the shops and visitors on business. Still snowing, and sirens blaring, time went by, and passed the tsunami ETA.
Eerie silence.
From the roofs, they saw cars still driving on the coastline roads, and they yelled at them. Some cars U-turned, but others drove along.
At 15:54, the black tsunami arrived. The soldiers’ private cars began to float.
The four-metre tsunami KO the power generators, 28 aircraft, and emergency supplies. They prepared radio sets to contact any incoming SAR aircraft, and turned off cell phones to conserve batteries.
Fires were seen in the Ishinomaki direction, where the soldiers’ families were.
Sunset and darkness. Candles were lit.
Later, aircraft sound. Radio contact, and discovered it came from Hyakuri AB.
During the night, they thought of the tasks to do after the next sunrise, but they had no cars, no long boots, no tools… nothing.
Sign In
