Ching Chuan Kang Air Base
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Ching Chuan Kang Air Base (Chinese: 清泉崗空軍基地, CCK) is a Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) base located in Taichung, Taiwan. It is the home to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, with three squadrons of AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter aircraft. It is also used by the army's airborne and special operations command.
Ching Chuan Kang Air Base is shared with Taichung International Airport (IATA: RMQ, ICAO: RCMQ).
History
The forerunner to CCK Air Base was built in 1936, during
Taiwan obtained an initial batch of American
In May 1999 it was reported that China had built a replica of Ching Chuan Kang AB at a site near Dingxin airport (40°22′44″N 99°53′24″E / 40.379°N 99.89°E) in the northwest province of Gansu, presumably to train units assigned to attack the Taiwanese facility in the event of conflict.[1]
The base is also currently home to the
Based units
- 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing
- War Research Evaluation Center
- 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron – AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo
- 28th Tactical Fighter Squadron – AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo
- 3rd Maintenance and Supply Group
- 3rd Base Service Group
- 3rd Military Police Squadron
- Air Force Air Defense and Artillery Command
- 795th Air defense missile brigade
- 63rd Battalion – MIM-104 Patriot
- 795th Air defense missile brigade
USAF use
During the Cold War, CCK was used by the United States Air Force as a support installation of United States Taiwan Defense Command. At the same time, it was also the largest air base of the US military stationed in Taiwan, with about 6,000-8,000 US troops stationed.
In 1954, the US Military Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan (MAAG, Taiwan) was stationed at the base.
USAF use of the base began in 1958 with the deployment of twelve
From August 1958 to January 1959, the
In February 1960, after US Air Force a survey of bases on Taiwan it was decided that Kung Kuan AB would best suit the needs of USAF tactical units.
In 10 – 20 May 1960, the
From 20 May – 13 June 1960, the
From 4–14 June 1960, the
4-11 December 1960, the
14 – 28 March 1961, the
18 – 25 April 1961,
11 – 24 May 1961, the 39th Air Division based at Misawa Air Base, Japan deployed a task force of reconnaissance aircraft to Kung Kuan AB, Taiwan.
1 August – 30 September 1961,
6 – 12 March 1962, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing aircraft deployed to Kung Kuan AB. While there they participated in exercise FLYING TIGER, March 10 – 17, the
20-27 February 1963, The
21 February 1963,
13 March – 15 May 1963, The 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron was supported by Detachment 1, 6214th Air Base Group at Kung Kuan AB for its deployment to Taiwan with Republic F-105 Thunderchief.
17 – 27 March 1964, the
In April 1965, the
On 17 April 1965, General William H. Blanchard, Vice Chief of Staff, USAF, visited Ching Chuan Kang Air Base. He formally opened the new 1,000 man dining hall.
On 2 February 1966, 6217th Combat Support Group was established in CCK.[6][7][8]
The following are the units that the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing once stationed at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taiwan:
- 434th Tactical Fighter Squadron (April 1965 – October 1965) (F-104C)
- 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron (12 October 1965 – 21 December 1965) (F-104C)
- 50th Tactical Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (February 1966 – May 1971) (Tail Code DE)
- 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (February 1966 – May 1971) (Tail Code DH)
- 346th Tactical Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (March 1969 – May 1971) (Tail Code DY)
- 776th Tactical Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (February 1966 – May 1971) (Tail Code DL)
These aircraft remained deployed to the base to provide passenger and cargo airlift throughout the Far East and combat airlift in Southeast Asia. The 314th TAW returned to
- 21st Tactical Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (May 1971 – November 1973) (Tail Code DY)
- 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (December 1971 – March 1973)
- 50th Tactical Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (May 1971 – November 1973) (Tail Code DE)
- 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (May 1971 – November 1973) (Tail Code DH)
- 776th Tactical Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (May 1971 – November 1973) (Tail Code DL)
The 374th remained heavily committed to support of operations in Southeast Asia, and also continued routine airlift in other areas. One of the wing's humanitarian missions-flood relief in the Philippines-earned it a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation in 1972. The wing provided support in March 1973 for Operation Homecoming, the repatriation of American prisoners from Hanoi, North Vietnam.
The increase in the
The KC-135s were redeployed to permit increased B-52 operations at U-Tapao and
On 21 March 1968, after the
On 31 May 1968, the 6217th Combat Support Group was disbanded.
Two
5 December 1969, a C-130E -
The
On 6 November 1972, the 18th Wing dispatched the
The following are the units that the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing once stationed at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taiwan:
- 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Tail Code: ZL) (6 November 1972 – 10 April 1975) (F-4C/D)
- 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Tail Code: ZG) (6 November 1972 – 31 May 1975) (EF-4C, F-4D)
In March 1973, the number of US troops stationed at CCK was about 5,000.
16 September 1973 - A 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C aircraft crashed during a temporary duty assignment in Taiwan; the crewmembers safely ejected.
15 October 1973, an EF-4C 63-7462 of the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron crashed shortly after takeoff from CCK AB.
On 13 November 1973, the
On November 15, 1973, the 6217th Combat Support Group was reactivation.
On 1 September 1974, the 6217th Combat Support Group was renamed the 6217th Tactical Group.[16][17]
On 10 April 1975, the
In May 1975, the
From 1 June 1975, Due to the withdrawal of F-4 fighter jets, the 6217th Tactical Group was reorganized to the 6217th Air Base Squadron, and CCK AB had been placed in caretaker status.[18]
On 31 July 1975, the number of US troops stationed at CCK AB was 571.
From 1977, the number of US troops stationed at CCK AB has been reduced to 100.
On 1 January 1979, the US normalized relations with the
World's longest turboprop aircraft distance record
On 20 February 1972, Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Allison, USAF, and his flight crew set a recognized turboprop aircraft class record of 8,732.09 miles (14,052.94 km) for a great circle distance without landing. The USAF Lockheed HC-130H was flown from Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Republic of China (Taiwan), to
See also
- Tactical Air Command
- Strategic Air Command
- Pacific Air Forces
- List of United States Air Force installations in Taiwan
References
- ^ O'HARA, CAROLYN. "China builds a mock Taiwanese air base". foreignpolicy.com. Foreign Policy Magazine. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ Jiawen, Cheng. "Qingquangang Mysterious Reconnaissance Aircraft". udn.com. United Daily News. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ "History of the US Air Force in Taiwan 1960". taipeiairstation.blogspot.co.nz. 29 January 2012. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
- ^ "History of the US Air Force in Taiwan 1961". taipeiairstation.blogspot.co.nz. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
- ^ "History of the US Air Force in Taiwan 1963". taipeiairstation.blogspot.co.nz. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
- ^ "Redesignation of 6214 Support Group as 6214 Air Base Group. 6213th Support Squadron as 6214th Air Base Squadron, inactivation of 6217th Combat Support Group". US Air Force History Index live. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "Abstract, History 6217 Combat Support Group Jan–Jun 1967". US Air Force History Index live. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "UNITED STATES AIR FORCE UTILIZED CHING CHUAN KANG AIR BASE (CCKAB) JOINTLY WITH CHINESE AIR FORCE (CAF) UNDER TERMS OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND REPUBLIC OF CHINA (ROC)". US Air Force History Index live. 1967-01-01.
- ^ "4220 AIR REFUELING SQUADRON ACTIVATED AT CHING CHUAN KANG AIR BASE (AB), TAIWAN ON 2 FEB 68". 1968-02-01.
- ^ "CONTAINS DATA ON LOGISTICAL SUPPORT PLAN OF 15 ARC LIGHT KC-135 AIRCRAFT LOCATED AT CHING CHUAN KANG, TAIWAN, 30 B-52 AIRCRAFT AT KADENA AIR FORCE BASE, OKINAWA, AND 5 EC-135 AIRCRAFT LOCATED AT U-TAPAO, THAILAND".
- ^ "JCS DIRECTED DEPLOYMENT OF F-4 AIRCRAFT TO TAIWAN FOR PURPOSE OF DEFENDING TAIWAN/PENGHUS UNDER COMMANDO DOMINO". US Air Force History Index live. 1972-07-01.
- ^ "Air Force Order of Battle 44th Fighter Squadron" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ "Air Force Order of Battle 67th Fighter Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ "JCHANGE IN MISSION DIRECTED THE 327AF TO COORDINATE AIR DEFENSE OPERATIONS AND PLANS WITH THE ROC AIR FORCE (CAF) FOR THE OVERALL PACIFIC COMMAND (PACOM) AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM FOR COMBINED OR USAF CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS". US Air Force History Index live. 1974-01-01.
- ^ "A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE F-4 AIRCRAFT TO ASSIST IN TAIWAN AIR DEFENSE, RESULTED IN DEPLOYMENT OF AIRCRAFT. SIMULATOR TRAINING PROGRAM FOR F-4 AIRCREWS IMPLEMENTED". US Air Force History Index live. 1973-07-01.
- ^ "Abstract, History 6217 Tactical Group Jul–Sep 74". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "6217CSG REDESIGNATED 6217TACG, 1 SEPT 74". US Air Force History Index.
- ^ ""Abstract, History 6217 Tactical Group Apr–Jun 75"". US Air Force History Index live. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ "6217 AIR BASE SQUADRON INACTIVATED 04-30-1979". US Air Force History Index live.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Factsheets : United States Air Force Chronology". Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-513-4.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to present
- GlobalSecurity.org Ching Chuan Kang Air Base
- Air Force Historical Research Agency