Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
Encyclopedia
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport , is the airport serving the city of Guilin
in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
. It is located in Liangjiang, about 28 km (17.4 mi) southwest of the city center.
In 2010, Guilin Liangjiang International Airport was the 29th busiest airport in China with 5,259,260 passengers.
, the airport was known as Kweilin Airfield and was used by the United States Army Air Forces
Fourteenth Air Force
as part of the China Defensive Campaign (1942–1945). Kweilin was the headquarters of the 23d Fighter Group
, the "Flying Tigers" during late 1943 and through most of 1944 and also its command and control unit, the 68th Composite Wing
. The unit flew P-40 Warhawk and later P-51 Mustang fighter bombers from the airport, attacking Japanese targets and supporting Chinese army units. In support of the combat units, Kweilin was also the home of the 8th Reconnaissance Group
, which operated unarmed P-38 Lightning
aircraft equipped with an array of mapping cameras to gather intelligence over Japanese-held areas. The Flying Tigers departed the base in late 1944, being replaced by elements of the Chinese-American Composite Wing (CACW), which flew B-25 Mitchell
and P-51 Mustang
fighters from the airport on combat missions until the end of the war in September 1945. The Americans closed their facilities after the war ended in September, 1945.
Guilin
Guilin is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of far southern China, sitting on the west bank of the Li River. Its name means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city...
in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
China
Chinese 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...
. It is located in Liangjiang, about 28 km (17.4 mi) southwest of the city center.
In 2010, Guilin Liangjiang International Airport was the 29th busiest airport in China with 5,259,260 passengers.
Airlines and destinations
The following destinations are directly served from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (as of Aug 2011):World War II
During World War IIWorld 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...
, the airport was known as Kweilin Airfield and was used by the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
Fourteenth Air Force
Fourteenth Air Force
The 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....
as part of the China Defensive Campaign (1942–1945). Kweilin was the headquarters of the 23d Fighter Group
23d Fighter Group
The 23d Fighter Group is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 23d Wing and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia....
, the "Flying Tigers" during late 1943 and through most of 1944 and also its command and control unit, the 68th Composite Wing
68th Composite Wing
The 68th Composite Wing was a United States Army Air Forces organization. It was a command and control organization of Fourteenth Air Force that fought in the China Burma India Theater of World War II....
. The unit flew P-40 Warhawk and later P-51 Mustang fighter bombers from the airport, attacking Japanese targets and supporting Chinese army units. In support of the combat units, Kweilin was also the home of the 8th Reconnaissance Group
8th Reconnaissance Group
The 8th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last duty station was at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, where it was inactivated on 5 November 1945....
, which operated unarmed P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The 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...
aircraft equipped with an array of mapping cameras to gather intelligence over Japanese-held areas. The Flying Tigers departed the base in late 1944, being replaced by elements of the Chinese-American Composite Wing (CACW), which flew B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The 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...
and P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The 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...
fighters from the airport on combat missions until the end of the war in September 1945. The Americans closed their facilities after the war ended in September, 1945.
See also
- List of airports in the People's Republic of China
- List of the busiest airports in the People's Republic of China