Dinjan Airfield
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2019) |
Dinjan Airfield.png) | |
|---|---|
| Part of Tenth Air Force | |
 An aerial view of Dinjan airfield in about 1945 | |
  Dinjan Airfield Location of the airfield in Assam  Dinjan Airfield Dinjan Airfield (India) | |
| Coordinates | 27°32′16.86″N 095°16′10.01″E / 27.5380167°N 95.2694472°E |
| Type | Military airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Indian Airforce |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1943 |
| In use | 1943-1945 |
Dinjan Airfield, also known as Dinjan Air Force Station, is an air base of Indian Air Force. Established as an air field in World War II, it is located in Dinjan, approximately seven miles northeast of Chabua, in the state of Assam, India.
The fall of Singapore and Rangoon in early 1942 propelled Dinjan airbase to be the centre of attention as the main supply line between India and China.
History
Dinjan Airfield was built on an Assam tea plantation by thousands of plantation laborers, beginning in March 1942, as a result of the
The site was also occupied by
In October 1942, the Indian Air Task Force was activated at Dinjan to support Chinese resistance along the Salween River by hitting supply lines in central and southern Burma. The task force controlled operational activities of all Army Air Force units in India.
- 9th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, March - July 1943; September 1943 - May 1944 (Detachment)
- 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, May - June 1944
- Assigned to Assam American Base Command (part of India Air Task Force). The mission of these units was photographic mapping in Burma. It flew F-4/F-5 (P-38) Lightnings.
- 51st Fighter Group, October 1942 - October 1943
- This unit was equipped with Curtiss Kunming, China and was reassigned from the Tenth to the Fourteenth Air Force.
- 311th Fighter Group, October 1943 - July 1944
- Using ; and conducted patrol and reconnaissance missions to help protect transport planes that flew the 'Hump' route between India and China.
On 13 December 1943, 20 Japanese bombers, escorted by 25 fighters, hit Dinjan Airfield before US interceptors could make contact; however, little damage was done and the US fighters caught the attackers shortly afterward. 12 of the 20 Japanese bombers and five fighters were shot down.
In the summer of 1944 with the lessening of the Japanese air threat, the base became a combat cargo airfield, supporting Allied ground forces fighting in Burma.
- 443d Troop Carrier Group, July - October 1944; May - August 1945
- It flew 1st Combat Cargo Group. Their missions were primarily concerned with support for Allied forces that were driving southward through Burma, but the 443rd also made many flights to China.
- 3d Combat Cargo Group, August 1944 - June 1945
- This unit also flew C-47s; it supported ground forces during the battle for northern Burma and the subsequent Allied drive southward. It flew Allied troops and materiel to the front, transporting gasoline, oil, vehicles, engineering and signals equipment and other items that the group either landed or dropped in Burma. It also evacuated wounded personnel to India. It was reassigned to Myitkjina Airfield in Burma.
- 427th Night Fighter Squadron, May - June 1945
- Squadron headquarters only. It operated P-61 Black Widowaircraft out of forward bases in China.
With the end of combat in September 1945, Dinjan Airfield was abandoned. Today, the runways of the former airfield can still be seen from aerial photography, however the base is overrun with vegetation and the land has returned to its natural state.
See also
References
- ^ Hasnu, Santosh (2017). "Inception of Aviation Routes between India and China". Economic & Political Weekly. 52 (33): 24–27.
- ISBN 978-1-4725-8973-6.
- ^ "Air Marshal RD Mathur visits Dinjan Air Force Station on April 30 and May 1 - Sentinelassam". 2 May 2019.
- ^ "All Apache helicopters delivered to Indian Air Force, some deployed along LAC- The New Indian Express".
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- www.pacificwrecks.com
External links
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