Chengkung
Airfield Identification
January 1943 to September 1945
China
CITY: Chenggong, Yunnan
IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil
COORDINATES: 24°51'N / 102°48'E
OTHER NAMES: Chengkung, Chenggong
Commando Operations
Chengkung airfield was located approximately 30 km south-southeast of Kunming, Yunnan. Construction of the airfield began in November 1942, and it opened on 27 January 1943.
Chengkung was a major terminal for the "Hump" trans-Himalayan transport aircraft between India and China for Air Transport Command Commandos. In addition, the Air Technical Service Command had a maintenance and supply facility at the base to support the airlift operations over the Himalayas.
In addition to the transport mission, Chengkung was used by bombardment squadrons flying the B-24 Liberator from March 1943. A P-51 Mustang squadron and a P-40 Warhawk squadron were also based at the field beginning in October 1943. Photo-reconnaissance aircraft also used Chengkung throughout the war, flying combat intelligence missions over Japanese-held territory until 30 September 1945 when operations ceased and the facility was closed.
Today, the airfield has been dismantled, the land being used for agriculture.
Units & operators based
1339th AAF Base Unit (Chengkung)
Air Transport Command India-China Wing Station 15 (December 1943 - August 1944)
14th Air Force
Last edited: 31/10/2022