Zhanyi Airport Explained

Zhanyi Airport
Nativename:沾益机场
Coordinates:25.5922°N 103.8286°W
Pushpin Map:China Yunnan
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of airport in Yunnan
Type:Public/Military
Location:Zhanyi, Yunnan, China
Metric-Elev:y
Metric-Rwy:y
R1-Number:00/18
R1-Length-M:1,524
R1-Surface:Concrete

Zhanyi Airport is a former civilian airport and military air base, located about 1miles southeast of Zhanyi, Yunnan Province in the People’s Republic of China.

History

During World War II, the airport was known as Chanyi (Changyi) Airfield and was used by the United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force as part of the China Defensive Campaign. The airport primarily was a reconnaissance base, with photo mapping and combat aerial photography units flying combat mapping and photo flights over Japanese-held territory from September 1944 until September 1945. In addition, some B-25 Mitchell medium bomber and C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft used the airport. The Americans closed their facilities at the airport in early October 1945.

Incidents

On October 29, 1940, the Chongqing was strafed by Japanese fighters after it landed. Of the 9 passengers and 3 crew, 7 passengers and 2 crew died.[1]

References

Notes and References

  1. Crouch, p. 219 - In: Book: . China's Wings: War, Intrigue, Romance and Adventure in the Middle Kingdom during the Golden Age of Flight . Bantam Books . Gregory Crouch . 2012 . 218 - 220 (In EPub version 3.1: pp. 240 - 242). 978-0345532350. China's Wings .