India–China Division, Air Transport Command: Difference between revisions
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| 1345th |
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| Tezgaon Airfield, India |
| Tezgaon Airfield, India |
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| {{Coord|23|46|39|N|090|22|59|E|name=Tezgaon Airfield}} |
| {{Coord|23|46|39|N|090|22|59|E|name=Tezgaon Airfield}} |
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| Aslo known as RAF Dainodda. Built by RAF in 1941 as a Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) station. The first RIAF light fighter landed on the under‑construction runway of Tejgaon at the beginning of 1943. ATC use began in March 1944. On Route "NAN" and "Obo" to and from Barrackpore, India to Kunming. USAAF use ended January 1945.<ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/search.php?q=Tezgaon+&c=u&h=100&F=&L= AFHRA Tezgaon ]</ref> Tejgaon Airport became the first airport to operate civil aviation in the then East Pakistan and it was also a station of the Pakistan Air Force. After 1971 it became the first civil airport of Bangladesh. Today it is a part of BAF (Bangladesh Air Force) Base Bashar {{airport codes||VGTJ}}. |
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| On Route Obo |
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| [[Tezpur Airport|Tezpur Airfield]], India |
| [[Tezpur Airport|Tezpur Airfield]], India |
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| {{Coord|26|42|44|N|092|47|14|E|name=Tezpur Airfield}} |
| {{Coord|26|42|44|N|092|47|14|E|name=Tezpur Airfield}} |
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| Constructed by the British Royal Indian Air Force during World War II in 1942. Used as a 10th AF B-24 bomber base. Used by ATC as a sub-field of Chabua on Rotue "Able" from Rupsi, India to Ipin, China in both directions. USAAF operations ended 26 October 1945. <ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/search.php?q=Tezpur+&c=u&h=100&F=&L= AFHRA Tezpur]</ref> Now IAF Tezpur Air Force Station {{Airport codes|TEZ|VETZ}}. |
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| On Route Able Inactivated 26 October 1945 |
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Revision as of 02:10, 18 April 2011
| India-China Division | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1942–1946 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Force |
| Role | Air Transport |
| Engagements | World War II |
The India-China Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Transport Command, stationed at Dum Dum Airport (Cazes Air Base) Calcutta, British India. It was inactivated in 1946.
The organization (ICWATC) was formed from a consolidation of Tenth Air Force units in December 1942. It's mission was the air transport of supplies, personnel, equipment and aircraft within India and China during World War II.
History
Lineage
- Activated as India-China Wing on 1 December 1942
- Assumed personnel and equipment of Tenth Air Force The Trans-India Ferry Command, inactivated.
- Inactivated in 1946.
Assignments
- Air Transport Command, 1 December 1942-1946
Components
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Stations
| ATC Station Number | AAF Base Unit | Name | Coordinates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1300th | HQ, India-China Division, ATC Hastings AAB Calcutta, India |
22°33′03″N 088°19′45″E / 22.55083°N 88.32917°E | HQ Moved from New Delhi in 1944 to be closer to operational areas. Non-flying base, location approximate. Inactivated 15 February 1946. Remains visible now part of urban area.[1] |
| 19 | 1305th | Dum Dum Airport Calcutta, India |
22°39′17″N 088°26′48″E / 22.65472°N 88.44667°E | Operated Calcutta (later Bengal) Air Depot. Responsible for movement of aircraft, supplies and equipment received at Calcutta port facilities north to Chauba for points in China or east to forces in Burma. Supported depot facilities operated by Air Materiel Command and Air Technical Service Command in Calcutta. Inactivated 14 December 1945.[2] |
| 2 | 1325th | HQ, Assam Wing Chabua Airfield, India |
27°27′44″N 095°07′05″E / 27.46222°N 95.11806°E | Assumed control of AAF Ferrying Command 1st Ferrying Group. Commanded ATC organizations stationed in the Northeast India Assam Valley. Primary mission was ferrying aircraft and moving supplies and equipment over Himalayan Mountains (The Hump). Inactivated 15 October 1945 |
| 3 | 1325th | HQ, Bengal Wing Tejgaon Airport, India |
23°46′43″N 090°22′57″E / 23.77861°N 90.38250°E | Located near Dacca. Successor of 10th AF Assam-Burma-India Ferry Command. Commanded ATC organizations stationed in eastern India and Burma. Also moving supplies and equipment over Himalayan Mountains from Burma. Inactivated 15 June 1946 |
| 8 | 1307th | Hq, India Wing Willingdon Airfield New Delhi, India |
28°35′04″N 077°12′21″E / 28.58444°N 77.20583°E | Responsible for ATC operations within most of India. Successor of 10th AF Trans-India Ferry Command. Moved supplies and equipment from Bombay, Bangalore and Ceylon, including operation of Trans-Indian Ferry route from Karachi to Bengal or Assam Wings. Inactivated 5 December 1945 |
| 13 | 1340th | Hq, China Wing Kunming Airport, China |
24°59′32″N 102°44′36″E / 24.99222°N 102.74333°E | Commanded ATC organizations stationed in China. On route Easy Inactivated 25 November 1945 |
| RAF Agartala, India | 23°53′24″N 091°14′32″E / 23.89000°N 91.24222°E | ATC staging airfield on Transport Route "Nan" (Barrackpore, India Eastbound to Szemao, China). Primarily 10th AF Combat Cargo support airfield for support of British and United States forces in Burma. Also used by 10th AF and RAF. USAAF ended operations June 1945. Now Agartala Airport, Bangladesh (IATA: IXA, ICAO: VEAT).[3] | ||
| 17 | 1303d | Agra Airfield, India | 27°09′27″N 077°57′39″E / 27.15750°N 77.96083°E | Built by USAAF, First American personnel arrived 19 March 1942 [4]. On Trans-India ferrying route from Karachi to Calcutta. Major ATSC Depot and ATC transshipment facility. ATSC Central Indian Air Depot, 3d Air Depot Group. ATC ended operations December 1945, USAAF May 1946. [5] Today Agra is a an Indian Air Force airbase Agra Air Force Station as well as public/civil airport. (IATA: AGR, ICAO: VIAG). |
| 1304th | Barrackpore Airfield, India | 22°46′55″N 088°21′33″E / 22.78194°N 88.35917°E | Airfield established by RAF in June 1943, taken over by USAAF in October.[6] Became transshipment and major Air Depot for ATC transport and ferrying operations to China, Origin of Transport Route "Nan" (Barrackpore Eastbound to Szemao, China), and terminus of Transport Rotue "Oboe" (Kunming China Westbound to Barrackpore). Also supported 10th AF Combat Cargo operations into Burma for support of British and United States ground forces. USAAF operations ended March 1946.[7] Now IAF Barrackpore Air Force Station. | |
| Bhamo Airfield, Burma | 24°16′06″N 097°14′54″E / 24.26833°N 97.24833°E | Built by Japanese, sized in January 1945 by British forces during the Battle of Bhamo.[8] Became 10th Air Force airfield. Used by ATC as staging airfield on Transport Route "Oboe" (Kunming China westbound to Barrackpore, India), primarily for Combat Cargo resupply and causality transport. Closed December 1945[9] Now civil airport (IATA: BMO, ICAO: VYBM). | ||
| 6 | 1333d | Chabua Airfield, India | 27°27′44″N 095°07′05″E / 27.46222°N 95.11806°E | Built at Hazelbank Tea Plantation by USAAF. Construction began April 1942, opened in September. Was major staging station on ATC Transport Route "Able" (Rupsi, India to Hsichang, China and return) and was one of the most important air transport bases in northeast Assam. A large percentage of the Hump flights originated at Chabua: it was the receiving point for high-priority items air-shipped to the Assam area for use by air and ground forces in CBI, and was the home base for a group of 10th AF B-24 bombers, with supporting fighter planes. Its only runway was 6,000 feet long. Also used by 10th AF Combat Cargo units. Attacked by Japanese aircraft on 12 February 1943. Inactivated 25 December 1945.[10] Now IAF Chabua Air Force Station. |
| 30 | 1342d | Chanyi Airfield, China | 25°35′32″N 103°49′43″E / 25.59222°N 103.82861°E | Primarily 14th AF combat reconnaissance and medium bomber base. Origin of ATC Transport Route "Charlie", (westbound to Tezpur, India) Supported 14th AF Combat Cargo units. Extensive Chinese Army transport facility. USAAF closed facilities 12 October 1945.[11] Now Zhanyi Airport/Air Base civil airport/PLA-AF base (Closed). |
| 15 | 1339th | Chengkung Airfield, China | 25°50′36″N 102°47′57″E / 25.84333°N 102.79917°E | Construction of the airfield began in November 1942, with the airfield opening on 27 January 1943. Chengkung was a major terminal for "the Hump" trans-Himalayan transport aircraft between India and China for Air Transport Command C-47 Skytrain and C-46 Commando aircraft. On Transport Route "Nan" (eastbound from Barrackpore, India) In addition, Air Technical Service Command maintained a maintenance and supply facility at the base to support the airlift operations over the Himalayas. Also 14th AF Combat Cargo Facility. Inactivated 20 October 1945.[12] |
| Dinjan Airfield, India | 27°32′16″N 095°16′10″E / 27.53778°N 95.26944°E | On Route Able. Also used by 10th Air Force. | ||
| 23 | 1334th | Golaghat Airfield, India | 26°29′17″N 093°59′24″E / 26.48806°N 93.99000°E | On Route Easy. Inactivated on 7 March 1945 |
| Hsinching Airfield, China | 30°25′13″N 103°50′41″E / 30.42028°N 103.84472°E | Hub on routes Able and Roger. Also used by XX Bomber Command and 14th Air Force. Now Xinjin Airport | ||
| 4 | 1335th | Jorhat Airfield, India | 26°43′54″N 094°10′32″E / 26.73167°N 94.17556°E | On Route Charlie. Inactivated 15 June 1946 |
| Karachi Airport, India | 23°26′14″N 091°11′22″E / 23.43722°N 91.18944°E | On Route Nan | ||
| 22 | 1329th | Deragon Airfield, India | 21°12′22″N 079°12′23″E / 21.20611°N 79.20639°E | Inactivated on 18 July 1945 Location approximate, obliterated. Replaced by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport. |
| Fenny Airfield, India | 23°02′06″N 091°23′37″E / 23.03500°N 91.39361°E | On Nan Route. Also used by 10th Air Force. | ||
| 26 | Fort Hertz Airfield, Burma | 27°19′48″N 097°25′35″E / 27.33000°N 97.42639°E | ||
| 20 | 1311th | Gaya Airfield, India | 24°44′40″N 084°57′04″E / 24.74444°N 84.95111°E | Also 8th Operational Training Unit. Inactivated on 5 December 1945 |
| 23 | 1334th | Golaghat Airfield, India | 26°29′17″N 093°59′24″E / 26.48806°N 93.99000°E | Inactivated on 7 March 1945 |
| 27 | 1309th | HAL Airport Bangalore, India |
12°57′00″N 077°40′06″E / 12.95000°N 77.66833°E | Inactivated on 15 October 1945 |
| Hsichang Airfield | 27°59′28″N 102°11′03″E / 27.99111°N 102.18417°E | Hub on Route Able | ||
| Indainggale Airfield, Burma | 23°11′19″N 094°03′06″E / 23.18861°N 94.05167°E | Hub on Route Nan | ||
| Ipin Airfield, China | 28°48′02″N 104°32′46″E / 28.80056°N 104.54611°E | Hub on Routes Able and Mike. Now Yibin Airport/Air Base | ||
| 4 | 1335th | Jorhat Airfield, India | 26°43′54″N 094°10′32″E / 26.73167°N 94.17556°E | Inactivated 15 June 1946 |
| 28 | 1308th | Juhu Airport Bombay, India |
19°05′53″N 072°50′02″E / 19.09806°N 72.83389°E | Inactivated on 13 November 1945 |
| 16 | 1306th | Karachi Airport, India | 24°54′24″N 067°09′39″E / 24.90667°N 67.16083°E | Inactivated 3 January 1946 |
| Katha Airfield, Burma | 24°09′17″N 096°19′38″E / 24.15472°N 96.32722°E | On Route Obo, Obliterated. | ||
| 1346th | Kurmitola Airfield, India | 23°50′34″N 090°24′02″E / 23.84278°N 90.40056°E | On Oboe Route. | |
| 10 | 1326th | Lalmanir Hat Airfield, India | 25°53′33″N 089°25′41″E / 25.89250°N 89.42806°E | Inactivated 26 October 1945. Now abandoned, extensive amount of remains visible |
| Lashio Airfield, Burma | 22°58′39″N 097°45′09″E / 22.97750°N 97.75250°E | On Route Nan | ||
| Likiang Airfield, China | 26°40′45″N 100°14′45″E / 26.67917°N 100.24583°E | Now Lijiang Airport. | ||
| Liulang Airfield, China | 24°59′17″N 103°38′27″E / 24.98806°N 103.64083°E | On Routes Nan and Easy. Also used by 14th Air Force. Now CAF Liulang Air Base. | ||
| Loping Airfield, China | 24°50′42″N 104°18′31″E / 24.84500°N 104.30861°E | Hub of Routes Easy and Mike. Also used by 14th Air Force. | ||
| Lushien Airfield, China | 28°51′09″N 105°23′34″E / 28.85250°N 105.39278°E | Terminus of Route Able. Now Lantianzhen Air Base | ||
| Mangshih Airfield, China | 24°24′01″N 098°31′53″E / 24.40028°N 98.53139°E | On Route Fox. Now Mangshih Airport | ||
| Manipur Road Airfield, India | 25°53′01″N 093°46′19″E / 25.88361°N 93.77194°E | On Route Fox. Now Dimapur Airport/Air Base | ||
| Mengasa Airfield | 23°52′33″N 100°05′59″E / 23.87583°N 100.09972°E | On Route Oboe. Obliterated, now part of urban area of Linxiang | ||
| 11 | 1328th | Misamari Airfield, India | 26°49′01″N 092°35′52″E / 26.81694°N 92.59778°E | On Route Able. Inactivated 20 October 1945 |
| 9 | 1332d | Mohanbari Airfield, India | 27°29′02″N 095°01′01″E / 27.48389°N 95.01694°E | On Route Able. Inactivated 5 December 1945 |
| 21 | 1331st | Moran Airfield, India | 27°08′34″N 094°54′15″E / 27.14278°N 94.90417°E | Inactivated on 7 March 1945 |
| Myitkyina Airfield, Burma | 25°23′01″N 097°21′06″E / 25.38361°N 97.35167°E | Hub on Peter, Fox and Oboe Routes. Also used by 10th Air Force. | ||
| 18 | 1312th | Ondal Airfield, India | 23°35′38″N 087°13′28″E / 23.59389°N 87.22444°E | Inactivated on 7 February 1945 |
| Paoshan Airfield, China | 25°03′13″N 099°10′04″E / 25.05361°N 99.16778°E | On Route Easy. Now Baoshan Airport | ||
| Peishiyi Airfield, China | 29°29′46″N 106°21′32″E / 29.49611°N 106.35889°E | On Route Roger. Also used by 14th AF. Now: Chongqing Baishiyi Air Base | ||
| 1306th | RAF Jiwani, India | 25°04′04″N 061°48′20″E / 25.06778°N 61.80556°E | Former British Imperial Airways airport on Cairo-Karachi route, used by ATC as a refueling field for ferrying aircraft over Middle East or Central African Route to Karachi. 973 miles (1,566 km). USAAF operations at base ended, September 1945.[13]. Now Jiwani Airport, Pakistan (IATA: JIW, ICAO: OPJI). | |
| 29 | 1310th | RAF Station Negombo Colombo, Ceylon |
07°10′52″N 079°53′01″E / 7.18111°N 79.88361°E | Used by ATC for special fights between India and Australia.[14] Inactivated on 19 October 1945. Now Bandaranaike International Airport (IATA: CMB, ICAO: VCBI). |
| 25 | Ranchi Airfield, India | 23°18′51″N 085°19′18″E / 23.31417°N 85.32167°E | Used primarily as a staging airfield, moving supplies and equipment from Bombay and Barrackpore into southeast India though Deragon. [15] Now Birsa Munda Airport (IATA: IXR, ICAO: VERC). | |
| 1361st | Rupsi Airfield, India | 26°08′28″N 089°54′25″E / 26.14111°N 89.90694°E | Major transshipment facility in Assam Valley, Western terminus of Transport routes "Able" and "Easy" into and returning from China. Also home of 10th AF 308th Bombardment Group in July 1945. Closed October 1945.[16] Now Rupsi Airfield, although largely closed, many abandoned wartime facilities evident in aireal imagery. | |
| Sadiya Airfield, India | 27°50′35″N 095°40′00″E / 27.84306°N 95.66667°E | Most northeasterly airfield in Assam Valley of India. Location approximate Hub of east-west "Able" transport route, also origin of westbound "Easy" route to Yunnanyi, China. Closed September 1945.[17] Earthquakes in 1950 and in 1967 Sadiya seriously damaged and later destroyed facility, all remnants removed and today all signs of the airfield are obliterated by redevelopment, no visible remains. | ||
| Sahmaw Airfield, Burma | 25°14′35″N 096°48′06″E / 25.24306°N 96.80167°E | Location approximate. Seized from Japanese in August 1944. Primarily 10th AF and RAF combat airfield, used by ATC as a staging airfield and hub on southern transport routes between India and China. Used on Eastbound route "Oboe" to Barrackpore, India and westbound route "Fox" from Rupsi, India, both connecting to Ipin, China.[18] UAAF facility closed September 1945. Airfield today obliterated by redevelopment. | ||
| Shamshernagar Airfield, India | 24°23′41″N 091°55′00″E / 24.39472°N 91.91667°E | Opened in late 1944 on southern route to China via Burma. Was a staging airfield on Route Oboe to Barrackpore, India.[19] Currently Used as a STOL airport by Bangladesh Air Force (IATA: ZHM, ICAO: VGSH). | ||
| 7 | 1337th | Sookerating Airfield, India | 27°33′10″N 095°34′14″E / 27.55278°N 95.57056°E | Opened in the Assam Valley in late 1944 as a sub-field of Chabua. Airfield was used as a transport base by ATC also as a 10th AF combat airfield. Used for westbound aircraft towards Rupsi, India as a landing/servicing airfield. UAAF facility closed 25 November 1945.[20] Now IAF Sookerating Air Force Station. |
| Szemao Airfield, China | 22°47′41″N 100°57′32″E / 22.79472°N 100.95889°E | Opened June 1945 on southern transport route "Nan" from Barrackpore, India to Kunming. Also used by 14th AF as a fighter base. USAAF facilities closed in October 1945.[21] Today Simao Airport (IATA: SYM, ICAO: ZPSM). | ||
| Tamu Airfield, Burma | 24°12′21″N 094°18′19″E / 24.20583°N 94.30528°E | Location approximate. Seized from Japanese on 4 August 1944 during Battle of Imphal. Used by 10th AF as a combat reconnaissance airfield, ATC used facility as both as resupply and evacuation tactical field and also as transport base on Route "Oboe" between Sookerating and Bhamo. USAAF closed Facility December 1945. Today obliterated by urban area. [22][23] | ||
| 1345th | Tezgaon Airfield, India | 23°46′39″N 090°22′59″E / 23.77750°N 90.38306°E | Aslo known as RAF Dainodda. Built by RAF in 1941 as a Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) station. The first RIAF light fighter landed on the under‑construction runway of Tejgaon at the beginning of 1943. ATC use began in March 1944. On Route "NAN" and "Obo" to and from Barrackpore, India to Kunming. USAAF use ended January 1945.[24] Tejgaon Airport became the first airport to operate civil aviation in the then East Pakistan and it was also a station of the Pakistan Air Force. After 1971 it became the first civil airport of Bangladesh. Today it is a part of BAF (Bangladesh Air Force) Base Bashar (ICAO: VGTJ). | |
| 5 | 1327th | Tezpur Airfield, India | 26°42′44″N 092°47′14″E / 26.71222°N 92.78722°E | Constructed by the British Royal Indian Air Force during World War II in 1942. Used as a 10th AF B-24 bomber base. Used by ATC as a sub-field of Chabua on Rotue "Able" from Rupsi, India to Ipin, China in both directions. USAAF operations ended 26 October 1945. [25] Now IAF Tezpur Air Force Station (IATA: TEZ, ICAO: VETZ). |
| Tsuyung Airfield, China | 25°00′39″N 101°33′57″E / 25.01083°N 101.56583°E | On Route Easy. Obliterated, now part of urban area of Chuxiong | ||
| Tulihal Airfield, India | 26°45′36″N 093°53′48″E / 26.76000°N 93.89667°E | On Route Obo | ||
| 14 | 1341st | Yangkai Airfield, China | 25°24′14″N 103°06′46″E / 25.40389°N 103.11278°E | Inactivated 10 September 1945 |
| 12 | 1338th | Yunnanyi Airfield, China | 25°26′44″N 100°44′05″E / 25.44556°N 100.73472°E | Established in December 1942. Had supported American Volunteer Group prior to absorption into USAAF control. ATC staging airfield on Transport Route "Love" (Barrackpore, India Eastbound to Ipin, China). Also connected into Kunming on Routes "Charlie" and "Peter" westbound to Barrackpore. Contained large storage facilities for equipment and supplies. Also supported 14th AF Fighter units. Closed October 1945.[26]. Now Xiangyun Airport, status is undetermined and it may be closed. |
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- ^ Hastings Air Base
- ^ Calcutta
- ^ AFHRA Agartala
- ^ AFHRA Document 00003318
- ^ AFHRA Document 00191942
- ^ AFHRA Document 00268069
- ^ AFHRA Barrackpore
- ^ AFHRA Document 00264858
- ^ AFHRA Bhamo
- ^ AFHRA Chabua
- ^ AFHRA Chanyi
- ^ Chengkung
- ^ USAFHRA Document 00192232
- ^ AFHRA Ceylon
- ^ AFHRA Ranchi
- ^ AFHRA Rupsi
- ^ AFHRA Sadiya
- ^ AFHRA Sahmaw
- ^ Memoirs of the World War II at Shamshernagar Airport: an US Veteran.
- ^ Sookerating
- ^ Szemao
- ^ Air Operations in the Forgotten War : Mukund Murty on Hurricane Sorties in the Burma Theatre
- ^ AFHRA Tamu
- ^ AFHRA Tezgaon
- ^ AFHRA Tezpur
- ^ AFHRA Yunnanyi
- The Army Almanac, Armed Forces Information School (U.S), Washington. D.C.: U.S. G.P.O., 1950
- India-China Wing
- USAAF 14th Air Force Airfields in China, 1942-1946