On June 30, 1959, an F-100 Super Sabre, a jet fighter aircraft used by the United States Air Force, crashed into an elementary school located near Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. The aircraft was performing a routine training exercise when it encountered severe mechanical failure shortly after takeoff. Tragically, the crash site was adjacent to the civilian school, resulting in the loss of 11 students and six residents from the surrounding neighborhood. The emergency services responded promptly to the scene, providing urgent medical assistance to those affected and conducting rescue operations in the aftermath of the incident.

The event shocked both the local community and the military personnel stationed at Kadena Air Base. It prompted an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, examining both the mechanical issues with the F-100 and the safety protocols in place for military aircraft operating near civilian areas. The investigations raised important questions about aviation safety, military training operations, and the potential risks posed to the civilian population by military exercises.

In the wake of the crash, there were calls for increased scrutiny of military flight operations, particularly in populated areas. The tragic loss of life highlighted the need for better communication between military operations and local communities, as well as adherence to safety guidelines designed to prevent such catastrophic incidents. As a result, measures were taken to improve the safety protocols for military aircraft in training exercises, aiming to prevent further tragedies of this nature.