Dinjan Airfield
Encyclopedia
Dinjan Airfield was a World War II
airfield, located approximately seven miles northeast of Chabua
, in the state of Assam
, India
.
It was abandoned after the war and, though unused, is part of an Indian Air Force base.
in December 1941. When opened in the spring of 1942, its primary mission was the protection of cargo aircraft flying over "The Hump" (Himalayan Mountains) from nearby Chabua Airfield.
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 South Burma. The task force controlled operational activities of all Army Air Force units in India.
On 13 December 1943, 20 Japanese bombers, escorted by 25 fighters, hit Dinjan Airfield before US interceptors make contact, however, little damage was done and the US fighters caught the attackers shortly afterward. 12 of the 20 Japanese bombers and 5 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.
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.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
airfield, located approximately seven miles northeast of Chabua
Chabua
Chabua is a town and a town area committee in Dibrugarh district in the state of Assam, India.-Geography:Chabua is located at . It has an average elevation of 106 metres .-Demographics:...
, in the state of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
It was abandoned after the war and, though unused, is part of an Indian Air Force base.
History
Dinjan Airfield was built on an Assam tea plantation by the hands of thousands of plantation laborers, men, women and children in beginning in March 1942, as a result of the Japanese invasion of BurmaBurma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
in December 1941. When opened in the spring of 1942, its primary mission was the protection of cargo aircraft flying over "The Hump" (Himalayan Mountains) from nearby Chabua Airfield.
- 11th Bombardment Squadron (7th Bombardment Group), June - October 1942
- Initially equipped with a mixture of B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
s and LB-30s (B-24A Liberators), the squadron flew missions against targets in Burma.
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 South 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. Flew F-4/F-5 (P-38) Lightnings.
- 51st Fighter Group, October 1942 - October 1943
- Equipped with Curtiss P-40 Warhawks and Lockheed P-38 LightningP-38 LightningThe Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
s. The group defended the Indian terminus of the "Hump" airlift route over the Himalayan Mountains between India and ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and airfields in that area. The group flew strafing, bombing, reconnaissance, and patrol missions in support of Allied ground troops during a Japanese offensive in northern Burma in 1943. Transferred from Dinjan to Kunming, China and was reassigned from the Tenth to Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
.
- 311th Fighter Group, October 1943 - July 1944
- Using A-36 Apaches and P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
s, the group supported Allied ground forces in northern Burma; covered bombers that attacked Rangoon, InseinInseinNot to be confused with Insein, KaleInsein Township is located in the northern Yangon. The township comprises 21 wards, and shares borders with Shwepyitha township in the north, Hlaingthaya township in the west, and Mingaladon township in the east and south...
, and other targets; bombed enemy airfields at MyitkyinaMyitkyinaMyitkyina is the capital city of Kachin State in Myanmar , located from Yangon, and from Mandalay. In Burmese it means "near the big river", and in fact "Myitkyina" lies on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River, just below from Myit-son of its two headstreams...
and BhamoBhamoBhamo is a city of Kachin State in northernmost part of Myanmar, located 186 km south from the capital city of Myitkyina. It is on the Ayeyarwady River. It lies within 65 km of the border with Yunnan Province, China. The population consists of Chinese and Shan, with Kachin peoples in...
; 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 make contact, however, little damage was done and the US fighters caught the attackers shortly afterward. 12 of the 20 Japanese bombers and 5 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 Group443d Troop Carrier GroupThe 443d Airlift Wing is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. Its last assignment was with Air Mobility Command, being stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma...
, July- October 1944; May - August 1945
- Flew C-47s. The group's personnel and aircraft were assigned to the 1st Combat Cargo Group. Missions were concerned primarily 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
- Flew C-47s. Supported ground forces during the battle for northern Burma and the subsequent Allied drive southward. Flew Allied troops and materiel to the front, transporting gasoline, oil, vehicles, engineering and signal equipment, and other items that the group either landed or dropped in Burma. Also evacuated wounded personnel to India. Reassigned to Myitkjina Airfield, Burma.
- 427th Night Fighter Squadron, May - June 1945
- Squadron headquarters only. P-61 Black WidowP-61 Black WidowThe Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the first operational U.S. military aircraft designed specifically for night interception of aircraft, and was the first aircraft specifically designed to use radar. It was an all-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom design developed during World War II...
aircraft being flown 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.