Chengtu Airfield
Encyclopedia
Chengtu Airfield is a former World War II
United States Army Air Forces
airfield in China
, located approximately 10 miles south of Chengdu
(Sichuan Province) in the People’s Republic of China.
, being the home of the 312th Fighter Wing
from July 1944 until August 1945. The wing commanded three fighter groups (33d, 81st and 311th) in central China as well as provided support to Twentieth Air Force
B-29 Superfortress
groups which staged strategic bombardment missions over Japan
though bases in the Chengtu area from their home bases in India
(see: Operation Matterhorn
).
Also, the 426th Night Fighter Squadron operated P-61 Black Widow
night interceptor aircraft from the airfield, providing a night defense against Japanese fighter and bomber raids at night in the area, along with the B-29 bases before their move to the Marianas.
The base used until 30 September 1945 when operations ceased and the facility was closed. The Chengdu
area has grown considerably since the war ended, and the former wartime airfield has bee redeveloped into the urban area. Several multi-lane freeways have been built over the wartime airfield, and industrial and other estates now use the land. A small section of concrete runway remains in a field, being the last evidence of the area's wartime history.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
airfield in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, located approximately 10 miles south of Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
(Sichuan Province) in the People’s Republic of China.
History
Chengtu was a prewar airfield, also known as Chungsing Chang, Fenghwangshan and Makiashipen. It was a major command and control base for Tenth Air ForceTenth Air Force
The Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
, being the home of the 312th Fighter Wing
312th Fighter Wing (World War II)
The 312th Fighter Wing was a United States Army Air Forces organization. It was a command and control organization of Fourteenth Air Force that fought in the China Burma India Theater of World War II.-Lineage:...
from July 1944 until August 1945. The wing commanded three fighter groups (33d, 81st and 311th) in central China as well as provided support to Twentieth Air Force
Twentieth Air Force
The Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
groups which staged strategic bombardment missions over Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
though bases in the Chengtu area from their home bases in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(see: Operation Matterhorn
Operation Matterhorn
Operation Matterhorn was a military operations plan of the United States Army Air Forces in World War II for the strategic bombing of Japanese forces by B-29 Superfortresses based in India and China. Targets included Japan itself, and Japanese bases in China and South East Asia...
).
Also, the 426th Night Fighter Squadron operated P-61 Black Widow
P-61 Black Widow
The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the first operational U.S. military aircraft designed specifically for night interception of aircraft, and was the first aircraft specifically designed to use radar. It was an all-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom design developed during World War II...
night interceptor aircraft from the airfield, providing a night defense against Japanese fighter and bomber raids at night in the area, along with the B-29 bases before their move to the Marianas.
The base used until 30 September 1945 when operations ceased and the facility was closed. The Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
area has grown considerably since the war ended, and the former wartime airfield has bee redeveloped into the urban area. Several multi-lane freeways have been built over the wartime airfield, and industrial and other estates now use the land. A small section of concrete runway remains in a field, being the last evidence of the area's wartime history.