Hathazari Airfield

Hathazari Airfield
Part of Tenth Air Force
Hathazari, Bangladesh
Hailakandi Airfield
Coordinates 22°30′02″N 091°48′27″E / 22.50056°N 91.80750°E / 22.50056; 91.80750 (Approximate)
Type Military airfield
Site information
Controlled by United States Army Air Forces
Site history
Built 1944
In use 1944-1945
Battles/wars Burma Campaign 1944-1945

Hathazari Airfield is a former wartime United States Army Air Forces airfield in Bangladesh used during the Burma Campaign 1944-1945. It is now abandoned.

History

The airfield was located near the Railhead on the main railroad line to Chittagong. It was used by the 1st Combat Cargo Group as a supply point and staging airfield for resupply airlift drops over Burma from 15 May until June 1945.[1] It was also used by the 128th Army Communications System Squadron as a radio relay station. Other Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Curtiss C-46 Commando-equipped transport units used the airfield until it was closed at the end of September 1945.

Between 10 December 1944 and 15 April 1945 No. 117 Squadron RAF was present using Douglas Dakota's and from January 1945 Stinson Sentinels.[2] They were joined by a detachment of No. 62 Squadron RAF on 29 December 1944 which stayed until 21 March 1945.[3]

Between 6 February 1945 and 15 May 1945 No. 31 Squadron RAF were posted here with Dakota's before moving to Ramree/Kyaukpyu.[4] No. 177 Squadron RAF were the last Royal Air Force squadron to be posted here between 24 June and 1 July 1945 with Bristol Beaufighter X's.[5]

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

Citations

  1. ↑ Maurer 1980, p. 20.
  2. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 57.
  3. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 44.
  4. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 35.
  5. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 65.

Bibliography

  • Jefford MBE, Wg Cdr C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6. 
  • Maurer, Maurer (1980). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Washington, D.C.: Zenger Publishing Co., Inc. ISBN 0-89201-092-4. 

External links


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