RAF Amarda Road
Airfield Identification
WWII
India
CITY: Rasgovindpur, Odisha
IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil
COORDINATES: 21°48'N / 87°03'E
OTHER NAMES: Nil
Commando Operations
RAF Amarda Road was an airstrip built in the 1940's in the Orissa province of India. It covered an area of nearly 600 acres, and cost 30 million rupees to build. Its name comes from the nearby Amarda Road railway station. The airfield was used by RAF 136, 177 & 607 Squadrons. The "Air Fighting Training Unit", formed in February 1943, was also based there. USAAF Commandos regularly flew from Amarda Road to China via Chabua, Jorhat and Vijaynagar across the Hump to China.
Amarda Road and other neighbouring airfields like Dalbhumgarh, Dudhkundi, Salua, Digri, Salbani and Chakulia formed a web of airfields created by the Allies to stop the impending Japanese advance in the east. During the war, Amarda Road was a battle hub, and fell into disuse in 1945.