Myitkyina

  Pre-WWII to present

  Burma

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CITY: Myitkyina, Burma

IATA/ICAO CODES: MYT / VYMK

COORDINATES: 25°23'N / 97°21'E

OTHER NAMES: Myitkyina South Airfield, Myitkyina North Airfield

Myitkyina airfield was built before World War II by the British, and was Burma's northernmost airfield. It was composed of two runways operating as two separate airfield: Myitkyina South, still visible today, and Myitkyina North, now covered by urban growth.

The airfield was captured by the Imperial Japanese Army on 8 May 1942 during the Japanese conquest of Burma. During the occupation, it was used by the Japanese Air Force as a fighter base, attacking Allied aircraft flying "the Hump" transport supply missions between India and China. The airfield was attacked on numerous occasions by 10^th Air Force and Royal Air Force fighters and bombers. "Merrill's Marauders", American-trained Chinese troops and American guerrillas under Brigadier General Frank D. Merrill, supported by airdrops, captured Myitkyina airfields on 17 May 1944. On 23 May, the Japanese counterattacked unsuccessfully. Thereafter, Myitkyina was developed into an American airfield. Fighting continued in the town of Myitkyina until August 1944.

Once in Allied hands, the 3^rd Combat Cargo Group moved in and used Myitkyina as a combat resupply airfield, air-dropping pallets of supplies and ammunition to the advancing Allied forces on the ground. In early 1945, the 1^st Combat Cargo Group moved in and remained until August when elements of the 4^th Combat Cargo Group replaced them. The 4^th Combat Cargo Group operated supply and passenger flights between the airfield and China until December 1945 when American forces pulled out of the area at the end of the war.

1348^th AAF Base Unit (Myitkyina South)

1357^th AAF Base Unit (Myitkyina North)

1^st Combat Cargo Group, (unknown date to August 1945)

1^st Combat Cargo Group, 2^nd Combat Cargo Squadron (June 1945 to unknown date)

1^st Combat Cargo Group, 3^rd Combat Cargo Squadron (June 1945 to August 1945)

3^rd Combat Cargo Group, HQ (June 1945 to unknown date)

3^rd Combat Cargo Group, 9^th Combat Cargo Squadron (June 1945 to unknown date)

3^rd Combat Cargo Group, 10^th Combat Cargo Squadron (June 1945 to unknown date)

3^rd Combat Cargo Group, 12^th Combat Cargo Squadron (June 1945 to unknown date)