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Chongqing Baishiyi Airport 重庆白市驿机场
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	People's Liberation Army
Operator	People's Liberation Army Air Force
Serves	Chongqing
Location	Chongqing, China
Opened	1936 (1936)
Passenger services ceased	22 January 1990 (1990-01-22)
Hub for	China Southwest Airlines (1987–1990)
Coordinates	29°29′46″N 106°21′32″E / 29.49611°N 106.35889°E / 29.49611; 106.35889
Map
Baishiyi AirportShow map of ChongqingBaishiyi AirportShow map of ChinaBaishiyi AirportShow map of Asia
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 01/19 2,272 7,500 Concrete

Chongqing Baishiyi Airport (or Baishiyi Air Base) is a People's Liberation Army Air Force in the city of Chongqing in Southwestern China, located about 21 km (13 miles) northwest of the city center. It served as the city's civilian airport until 21 January 1990, when all commercial flights were transferred to the newly-built Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.

History

During War of Resistance/World War II, the airport was known as Peishiyi (Paishihyi) Airfield (Wades-Gile)/Baishiyi (Standard Pinyin), and was the Chinese Air Force base for the 4th Pursuit Group composed primarily of Polikarpov I-15 and I-16 fighter squadrons assigned for the defense of then-wartime capital of Chongqing; an I-15bis fighter of 21st PS, 4th PG piloted by Maj. Liu Zhesheng shot down a Mitsubishi Ki-21 heavy-bomber over Bashiyi air base on 6 June 1940. The airport was then used by the United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force as the U.S. entered the war following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Baishiyi was a command and control base, being used late in the war as the headquarters of the 68th Composite Wing, which controlled the combat operations of the 23d Fighter Group and the 308th Bombardment Group. In addition C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft used the airport flying troops and supplies into the area as well as combat wounded to rear areas. The Americans remained at the airport after the war ended, the facility becoming the headquarters of the China Air Service Command, which supplied equipment and other logistical support to American and Chinese forces, along with being headquarters of Fourteenth Air Force. The American units began closing down in early 1946, with the last personnel of the 10th Weather Squadron departing the facility on 31 July 1946.

Former airlines and destinations

Between 1939 and 1949, Baishiyi airport had served destinations internationally and domestically, and was the third airport ever in China to be put to operation. Before 1990, it was a primary hub for China Southwest Airlines.

Current Military use

It currently is home to the 98th Fighter Brigade and 99th Fighter Brigade.

Accidents and incidents

• On the night of 18 January 1988, China Southwest Airlines flight 4146, an Ilyushin Il-18 arriving from Beijing, crashes into a terrain 5 kilometers from the airport due to an inflight fire caused by an engine fire and explodes, killing 108 of its occupants.

References

1. Chen, C. Peter. "Bombing of Shanghai, Chongqing, and other Cities". WW2DB. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
2. Chen, C. Peter. "Bombing of Shanghai, Chongqing, and other Cities". WW2DB. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
3. Gustavsson, Hakans. "Håkans Aviation page – Sino-Japanese Air War 1940". surfcity.kund.dalnet.se. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
4. "CAAC Timetable". Airline Timetable Images. 1 Nov 1964.
5. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Ilyushin Il-18D B-222 Chongqing Baishiyi Airport". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2021-10-21.

External links

• Airfields & Seaplane Anchorages China
• USAFHRA Document Search – Peishiyi

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

v t e USAAF Fourteenth Air Force in World War II
Previously: 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers" (Dec 1941-July 1942) China Air Task Force (July 1942-Mar 1943)
Airfields	China Ankang Chanyi Chengkung Chengtu Chihkiang Hanchung Hankow Hsian Hsingching Huhsien Kanchow Kunming Kwanghan Kweilin Laifeng Laohwangping Loping Liangshan Liuchow Luliang Nanning Peishiyi Pungchacheng Shwangliu Suichwan Tsuyung Yangkai Yunnani
Units	Wings 68th Composite 69th Composite 312th Fighter Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional) Groups Bombardment 308th Bombardment 341st Bombardment 402d Bombardment Fighter 23d Fighter 33d Fighter 51st Fighter 81st Fighter 311th Fighter 476th Fighter Transport 443d Troop Carrier Squadrons Combat Cargo 1st Combat Cargo 2d Combat Cargo 11th Combat Cargo Night Fighter 426th Night Fighter 427th Night Fighter Reconnaissance 21st Photographic Reconnaissance 35th Photographic Reconnaissance Transport 322d Troop Carrier
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

• Airports in Chongqing
• Defunct airports in China
• Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in China
• Chinese Air Force bases
• Airports established in 1936
• 1936 establishments in China