Jianqiao Airfield
| Type | 168 Air Base | |
| Historical Name of Location | Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China | |
| Coordinates | 30.333056000, 120.238889000 |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseJianqiao Airfield, located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, was established in 1922 in response to directives of Anhui clique warlord Lu Yongxiang and ace fighter pilot Zhu Binhou. In 1930, Chiang Kaishek took control of the operation for the Nationalist Party central government, and ordered that the Republic of China Military Academy would be relocated to this location from Nanjing. In the spring of 1931, barracks buildings, hangars, repair facilities, office buildings, etc. were constructed. In 1932, the first classes at the Jianqiao Central Aviation Academy began. In the subsequent few years, branch campuses were established in the cities of Luoyang and Guangzhou. By the time WW2 began in 1937, more than 500 cadets had graduated from Jianqiao. Shortly after the start of the war, the academy was relocated to the rear, initially to Kunming in Yunnan Province, then to Lahore in British India (now Pakistan), in order to provide Jianqiao as an additional base for front line combat units. On 14 Aug 1937, Japanese G3M bomber based in Taiwan attacked various Chinese airfields. Captain Gao Zhihang led his 4th Pursuit Group in defense of Jianqiao, shooting down 3 bombers without losses, leading to the date being announced Air Force Day to bolster morale. After the war, the academy returned to Jianqiao until late 1948 when it was relocated to Taiwan. In 1949, it was captured by Communist forces. After the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, Jianqiao became a military airfield for the Communist air force. In 1956, it became a military-civilian dual use airfield, with the first civilian flight taking off on 1 Jan 1957. The facilities were expanded in 1971 for US President Richard Nixon's visit in the following year. In 2000, the civilian Hangzhou Jianqiao Airport was replaced by the more modern Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, thus Jianqiao (now named Hangzhou Air Base) returned to the status of being a military-only facility once again. In 2006, the Communist government declared Jianqiao a historic site.
ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia
Last Major Update: Sep 2016
Jianqiao Airfield Interactive Map
Photographs
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Jianqiao Airfield Timeline
| 31 Aug 1932 | The pilot training program at the Republic of China Military Academy in Nanjing, China was officially reopened at the Jianqiao Airfield in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China under the new name of the Central Aviation Academy. Chiang Kaishek took personal command of the academy, relieving Lieutenant General Mao Bangchu. |
| 1 Sep 1932 | The Central Aviation Academy at Jianqiao Airfield in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China began classes. |
| 1 Oct 1932 | The Central Aviation Academy at Jianqiao Airfield in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China established a political officers training program. |
| 12 Apr 1934 | Chiang Kaishek stepped down as the commandant of the Chinese Central Aviation Academy at Jianqio Airfield, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, handing the resonsibility over to Lieutenant General Zhou Zhirou. |
| 1 Aug 1934 | The Central Aviation Academy began a basic flight training program at Nanchang Airfield, Nanchang Jiangxi Province, China. |
| 24 Feb 1936 | Lieutenant General Chen Qingyun was named the commandant of the Chinese Central Aviation Academy at Jianqio Airfield, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, relieving Lieutenant General Zhou Zhirou. |
| 1 Aug 1936 | Lieutenant General Huang Guangrui was named the commandant of the Chinese Central Aviation Academy at Jianqio Airfield, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, relieving Lieutenant General Chen Qingyun. |
| 6 May 1937 | Lieutenant General Chen Qingyun was named the commandant of the Chinese Central Aviation Academy at Jianqio Airfield, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, relieving Lieutenant General Huang Guangrui. |
| 14 Aug 1937 | 18 Type 96 G3M bombers of the Japanese Kanoya Air Group took off from the Matsuyama Airfield in Taihoku (now Songshan Airport in Taipei), Taiwan to bomb Jianqiao Airfield at Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province and Guangde Airfield in Anhui Province in China. Fighters of the Chinese 4th Pursuit Group, led by Captain Gao Zhihang, rose to intercept from Jianqiao and shot down 3 bombers without any losses. Cheng Xiaoyu's 22nd Squadron, also of the Chinese 4th Pursuit Group, rose to meet the other group attacking Guangde Airfield, shooting down another. Anti-aircraft crews claimed a further two bombers destroyed. Gao's downing was the first Republic of China Air Force victory of WW2. In 1939, the Chinese Nationalist government would declare 14 Aug as a holiday, Air Force Day, as an instrument to raise morale. |
| 1 Oct 1947 | Chiang Kaishek stepped down as the commandant of the Chinese Central Aviation Academy at Jianqio Airfield, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, handing the resonsibility over to Lieutenant General Hu Weike. |
| 1 Jan 1957 | The first civilian flight from Jianqiao Airport in Zhejiang Province, China took off. |
| 29 Dec 2000 | Jianqiao Airfield (Hangzhou Air Base) in Zhejiang Province, China became a military facility after civilian flights were transferred to the newly completed Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. |
| 25 May 2006 | Communist Chinese government declared the Jianqiao Airfield site in Zhejiang Province, China a historic site. |
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| WW2-Era Place Name | Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China |
| Lat/Long | 30.3331, 120.2389 |
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