Kunming Wujiaba International Airport

This article is about the old Kunming airport. For the new airport, see Kunming Changshui International Airport.
Kunming Wujiaba
International Airport
IATA: KMG – ICAO: ZPPP
Summary
Airport type Public (defunct)
Location Kunming, Yunnan
Elevation AMSL 1,895 m / 6,217 ft
Coordinates 24°59′32″N 102°44′36″E / 24.99222°N 102.74333°E / 24.99222; 102.74333Coordinates: 24°59′32″N 102°44′36″E / 24.99222°N 102.74333°E / 24.99222; 102.74333
Map
KMG

Location of the airport in Yunnan

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
03/21 3,400 11,155 Concrete
Statistics (2011)
Passengers 22,270,130
Kunming Wujiaba International Airport
Traditional Chinese 昆明巫家壩國際機場
Simplified Chinese 昆明巫家坝国际机场

Kunming Wujiaba International Airport was the main airport serving Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, China. It is located 4 km (2.5 mi) south-east of metropolitan Kunming. Originally built in 1923, the airport had been renovated numerous times into a modern facility before closing on 28 June 2012. It was a major hub for China Eastern Airlines, Kunming Airlines, and Lucky Air. The airport was replaced by the new Kunming Changshui International Airport. Wujiaba Airport will be demolished and the land will be redeveloped.

History

The "Flying Tigers", headquartered at Wujiaba Airport

Wujiaba is among the oldest airports in China, with a history that can be traced back over 100 years to the early 20th century, when Wujiaba Airport was first built under the supervision of local warlord, General Tang Jiyao.

During the Sino-Japanese War, which began before World War II, the airport was expanded. It was a base for operations of the legendary "Flying Tigers", the 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG), of the Chinese Air Force, led by Claire Lee Chennault before the United States entered the war.[1] After the US entered the war in December 1941, and starting in 1942, Wujiaba Airport was the headquarters of numerous United States Army Air Forces units, including the Fourteenth Air Force and later the Tenth Air Force.

The USAAF Air Transport Command (ATC) established a major air transport facility at the airport, which connected flights west to Chabua Airfield, India, with other routes within China Jiangbei Airport (Chunking); Chengtu Air Base, and Banmaw Airport (Bhamo, Burma). After the war ended in 1945, a 1,390-mile (2,224 kilometer) route east to Clark Air Base in the Philippines was established. The route to Clark AB established a complete worldwide transport route for ATC

The Flying Tigers Association visited in October 1982[2] and again in September 2005.[3]

Other facilities

When China Yunnan Airlines existed, its head office was located at the airport.[4]

Images

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Rossi, J.R. (1998). "History: The Flying Tigers – American Volunteer Group – Chinese Air Force". AVG.
  2. ↑ Older, Chuck (1980s). "Hammerhead Stalls and Snap Rolls". The Flying Tigers – American Volunteer Group – Chinese Air Force.
  3. ↑ Rossi, Lydia. "OUR FABULOUS TRIP TO CHINA". The Flying Tigers – American Volunteer Group – Chinese Air Force.
  4. ↑ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 1–7 April 1998. 57. "Wujaba [sic] Airport, Kunming, 650200, Yunnan Province, China"

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kunming Wujiaba International Airport.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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