https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Asansol_AirfieldAsansol Airfield - Revision history2026-07-31T14:11:21ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Asansol_Airfield&diff=406469&oldid=prevCleanupBot II at 18:23, 13 August 20232023-08-13T18:23:50Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}<br />
{{Infobox military installation<br />
|name=Asansol Airfield<br />
|location= [[Asansol]], [[India]]<br />
|pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India<br />
| pushpin_relief = 1<br />
|pushpin_mapsize=300<br />
|coordinates= {{Coord|23|37|52|N|086|58|30|E|}} <br />
|image=<br />
|caption=<br />
|type=Military airfield<br />
|code=<br />
|built=1941<br />
|builder=<br />
|materials=<br />
|height=<br />
|used= 1942-1945<br />
|demolished=<br />
|condition=<br />
|ownership=<br />
|controlledby=[[Airports Authority of India]]<br />
|garrison=<br />
|commanders=<br />
|occupants=<br />
|battles= [[Burma Campaign 1944-1945]]<br />
|events=<br />
}}<br />
''' Asansol Airfield ''' is a former wartime Royal Air Force Station and later used by the [[United States Army Air Forces]] airfield in [[Asansol]], [[India]] used during the [[Burma Campaign 1944-1945]]. It is located near Nigah village on NH 2/ [[Grand Trunk Road]].<br />
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==History==<br />
Established in 1941 by the [[Royal Air Force]] as a result of the [[Japanese conquest of Burma]]. On 3 April 1942 six USAAF [[7th Bombardment Group]] [[B-17 Flying Fortress]] aircraft took off from Asansol Airfield to bomb warehouses and docks at [[Rangoon]].<br />
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On 6–7 April, 10 [[DC-3]]s of [[Pan American Airways]] begin hauling 30,000 gallons of fuel and 500 gallons of lubricants from [[Dum Dum Airport]], [[Calcutta]] to Asansol for operations. This fuel, subsequently transferred via [[Dinjan Airfield]], India to [[China]], was for use by Lieutenant Colonel [[Doolittle Raid|James H Doolittle's raiders]] when they landed in [[Chuchow]], about 100 miles southwest of [[Shanghai]], China after their attack on Japan. Doolittle Raiders never made Chuchow due to fuel shortages, aircraft subsequently lost.<br />
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In 1943, airfield turned over to USAAF. Initially used by 5318th Provisional Air Unit, beginning late 1943 operating [[P-51 Mustang]]s, [[B-25 Mitchell]] medium bombers and [[C-47]] transports with [[Waco CG-4A]] gliders used for attacks in Burma. The unit tested the United States' first use of a helicopter in combat, six [[Sikorsky R-4]]s in May 1944. [[1st Air Commando Group]] activated in May 1944. Used by 164th, 165th, 166th Liaison Squadrons, equipped with UC-64, L-5 observation aircraft, September–December 1944. Later used by 5th and 6th Fighter Squadrons, December 1944-June 1945 flying P-47 Thunderbolts.<br />
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Also used by [[319th Troop Carrier Squadron]], flying C-47s, September–December 1944. 1st ACG returned to United States, 6 October 1945.<br />
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==References==<br />
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{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}<br />
{{Refbegin}}<br />
* Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. {{ISBN|0-89201-092-4}}<br />
*[http://www.pacificwrecks.com www.pacificwrecks.com - Asansol Airfield]<br />
{{refend}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120402085930/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/asansol.jsp Airports Authority of India]<br />
{{USAAF 10th Air Force World War II}}<br />
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{{authority control}}<br />
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[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in British India]]<br />
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in Asia]]<br />
[[Category:Defunct airports in India]]<br />
[[Category:Airports in West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Paschim Bardhaman district]]<br />
[[Category:Transport in Asansol]]<br />
[[Category:Airports established in 1941]]<br />
[[Category:World War II sites in India]]<br />
[[Category:1941 establishments in India]]</div>CleanupBot II