Chongqing Baishiyi Airport

Chongqing Baishiyi Airport (Chinese: 重庆白市驿机场), or Baishiyi Air Base, is a People's Liberation Army Air Force base and formerly the main civil airport serving Chongqing, China, located about 21 km (13 mi) northwest of the city center. It reverted to military use after the opening of Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport on 21 January 1990.

Chongqing Baishiyi Airport


重庆白市驿机场
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
LocationChongqing, China
Opened1936 (1936)
Passenger services ceased22 January 1990 (1990-01-22)
Coordinates29°29′46″N 106°21′32″E
Map
Baishiyi Airport is located in Chongqing
Baishiyi Airport
Baishiyi Airport
Baishiyi Airport is located in China
Baishiyi Airport
Baishiyi Airport
Baishiyi Airport is located in Asia
Baishiyi Airport
Baishiyi Airport
Baishiyi Airport is located in North Pacific
Baishiyi Airport
Baishiyi Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
01/19 2,272 7,500 Concrete

History

During War of Resistance/World War II, the airport was known as Peishiyi (Paishihyi) Airfield (Wades-Gile)/Baishiyi (Standard Pinyin), and was the Chinese Air Force base for the 4th Pursuit Group composed primarily of Polikarpov I-15 and I-16 fighter squadrons assigned for the defense of then-wartime capital of Chongqing; an I-15bis fighter of 21st PS, 4th PG piloted by Maj. Liu Zhesheng shot down a Mitsubishi Ki-21 heavy-bomber over Bashiyi air base on 6 June 1940.[1] The airport was then used by the United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force as the U.S. entered the war following the attack on Pearl Harbor.[2][3] Baishiyi was a command and control base, being used late in the war as the headquarters of the 68th Composite Wing, which controlled the combat operations of the 23d Fighter Group and the 308th Bombardment Group. In addition C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft used the airport flying troops and supplies into the area as well as combat wounded to rear areas. The Americans remained at the airport after the war ended, the facility becoming the headquarters of the China Air Service Command, which supplied equipment and other logistical support to American and Chinese forces, along with being headquarters of Fourteenth Air Force. The American units began closing down in early 1946, with the last personnel of the 10th Weather Squadron departing the facility on 31 July 1946.

Former airlines and destinations

Between 1939 and 1949, Baishiyi airport had served destinations internationally and domestically, and was the third airport ever in China to be put to operation. Before 1990, it was a primary hub for China Southwest Airlines.

Airlines Destinations
C.A.A.C Airlines Beijing/Capital, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Guilin/Qifengling, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Kunming/Wujiaba, Rangoon, Shanghai/Hongqiao, Wuhan/Nanhu, Wuhan/Wangjiadun, Xi'an/Xiguan[4]
C.N.A.C Beiping, Canton, Chengdu, Hanoi/Gia Lam, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Kunming, Kweilin, Lashio, Matsuyama, Nanking, Qingdao, Rangoon, Shanghai-Longhua, Singapore/Kallang, Xi'an/Xiguan
Central Air Transport Beijing-Nanyuan, Canton, Chengdu, Kweilin, Hankou, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Kunming, Matsuyama, Nanjing, Shanghai/Longhua, Tianjin, Xi'an-Xiguan
China Southwest Airlines Bangkok-Don Muang, Beijing/Capital, Chengdu, Fuzhou/Yixu, Guiyang, Guilin/Qifengling, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Kunming/Wujiaba, Lanzhou, Nagoya/Komaki, Shanghai/Hongqiao, Wuhan/Nanhu, Ürümqi, Xi'an/Xiguan
Cathay Dragon Hong Kong/Kai Tak
Pan Am Bangkok/Don Muang, Beijing(Nanyuan), Calcutta, Canton, Chengdu, Guiyang, Hankou, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Kunming/Wujiaba, Luzhou, Rangoon, Saigon, Xichang[5]

Accidents and incidents

References
  1. Chen, C. Peter. "Bombing of Shanghai, Chongqing, and other Cities". WW2DB. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  2. Chen, C. Peter. "Bombing of Shanghai, Chongqing, and other Cities". WW2DB. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  3. Gustavsson, Hakans. "Håkans Aviation page – Sino-Japanese Air War 1940". surfcity.kund.dalnet.se. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  4. http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/ca3/ca64/ca64-01.jpg. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. "Pan Am Series – Part XXXIII: Saigon". JPB TRANS CONSULTING, LLC. 2014-04-26. Retrieved 2021-11-06.
  6. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Ilyushin Il-18D B-222 Chongqing Baishiyi Airport". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2021-10-21.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

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