- Zhijiang Airport
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Zhijiang Airport
芷江机场IATA: HJJ – ICAO: ZGCJ Summary Airport type Public Serves Huaihua Location Zhijiang, Hunan, China Coordinates 27°26′29″N 109°41′59″E / 27.44139°N 109.69972°ECoordinates: 27°26′29″N 109°41′59″E / 27.44139°N 109.69972°E Map Location of airport in China
HJJRunways Direction Length Surface m ft 04/22 2,200 7,218 Zhijiang Airport (Chinese: 芷江机场) (IATA: HJJ, ICAO: ZGCJ) is an airport serving the city of Huaihua in Hunan Province, China. It is located in Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County, 31 kilometers from the city center. The airport was built in 1942 and was the second largest military airfield in the Far East for the Allies during the World War II.[1] On 21 August 1945 Japan officially surrendered to China near the airfield.[2] Construction to convert the airport for civilian use was started in December 2002 and the airport was reopened in September 2004.[1]
Contents
Airlines and destinations
Airlines Destinations China Southern Airlines Changsha Spring Airlines Kunming, Shanghai-Hongqiao World War II
During World War II, the airport was known as Chihkiang (Chih Kiang) Airfield (which is the Wade-Giles transcription of the same name) and was used by the United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force as part of the China Defensive Campaign (1942–1945). Its primary use by the Americans was as an airborne photo-reconnaissance and as a transport airfield.[3]
Chihkiang Air Base was also the headquarters of the Fourteenth Air Force Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional) (CACW), whose squadrons flew P-40 Warhawk aircraft. The operational units of the CACW were jointly commanded by both American and Chinese air force officers, and the unit's aircraft were jointly manned by American and Chinese pilots and air crewmen.[4][5] On 10 April 1945, the Japanese started an offensive for Chihkiang, however, by 10 May the CACW had attacked and mauled the Japanese forces so severely, the Japanese had to retreat to Paoching.[6]
The Americans closed their facilities at the airport in early October 1945.
See also
References
- ^ a b Hunan Zhijiang Airport to officially open
- ^ 芷江机场
- ^ Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4
- ^ Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional)
- ^ USAFHRA Document 00077504
- ^ USAFHRA document 00056109
External links
USAAF Fourteenth Air Force in World War IIPreviously: 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers" (Dec 1941-July 1942) China Air Task Force (July 1942-Mar 1943)Airfields China Ankang · Chanyi · Chengkung · Chengtu · Chihkiang · Hanchung · Hankow · Hsian · Hsingching · Huhsien · Kanchow · Kiangwan · Kunming · Kwanghan · Kweilin · Laifeng · Laohwangping · Loping · Liangshan · Liuchow · Luliang · Nanning · Peishiyi · Pungchacheng · Shwangliu · Suichwan · Tsuyung · Yangkai · Yunnani
Units Wings Groups Bombardment 308th Bombardment · 341st Bombardment · 402d BombardmentFighter 23d Fighter · 33d Fighter · 51st Fighter · 81st Fighter · 311th Fighter · 476th FighterTransport 443d Troop CarrierSquadrons Combat Cargo Night Fighter 426th Night Fighter · 427th Night FighterReconnaissance 21st Photographic Reconnaissance · 35th Photographic ReconnaissanceTransport 322d Troop CarrierCategories:- Airports in Hunan
- Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in China
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