×
Home Intro People Events Equipment Places Maps Books Photos Videos Other Reference FAQ About
     

World War II Database


Tianhe Airfield

Type   165 Air Base
Historical Name of Location   Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Coordinates   23.133333000, 113.316667000

Contributor:

ww2dbaseTianhe (Postal Map: Tien Ho) Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China was a small fighter strip used by the Chinese Air Force in the early days of WW2. It was captured by Japanese troops in Dec 1938. For the duration of the war, it was operated by the aviation arm of the Japanese Army. On 4 Jul 1942, it was struck by American bombers for the first time, and attacks persisted occasionally, with the heaviest taking place in the latter half of 1944, until Dec 1944.

Last Major Update: Oct 2017



Tianhe Airfield Interactive Map

Photographs

Painted decoy B-29 bomber near Tianhe Airfield, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, 9 Mar 1945

Tianhe Airfield Timeline

28 Feb 1938 Wong Sun-sui, flying a Gladiator fighter out of Tianhe (Postal Map: Tien Ho) Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, shot down a Japanese E8N floatplane at about 0830 hours and claimed another as probable.
13 Apr 1938 Kaga launched 18 D1A2 bombers at 0830 hours, with 6 fighters in escort, to attack Tienhe airfield near Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China; Gladiator fighters of Chinese 28th Pursuit Squadron and 29th Pursuit Squadron intercepted the group, shooting down 2 A4N1 fighters and 2 D1A2 bombers; 4 Chinese fighters were also lost in combat.
4 Jul 1942 Five B-25 bombers of US 10th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, damaging buildings, runways, and several aircraft on the ground.
18 Jul 1942 Three B-25 bombers of US 10th Air Force based in Guilin Airfield, Guangxi Province, China attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
6 Aug 1942 B-25 bombers of US 10th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
8 Aug 1942 B-25 bombers of US 10th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China; they claimed to have shot down two Japanese fighters over Guangzhou.
23 Nov 1942 Six B-25 bombers of US 10th Air Force, escorted by 17 P-40 fighters, attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, claiming over 50 aircraft destroyed on the ground.
8 May 1943 16 B-24 bombers and 11 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, claiming about 20 aircraft destroyed on the ground.
6 Jul 1943 After sundown, B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
7 Jul 1943 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force, escorted by P-51 fighters, attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
28 Jul 1943 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
31 Jul 1943 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
20 Aug 1943 Six B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, claiming five Japanese fighters shot down over Guangzhou.
26 Aug 1943 Five B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force, escorted by 11 P-40 fighters, attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China; the US bombers and fighters together claimed five Japanese Zero fighters shot down.
4 Sep 1943 10 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force, escorted by P-40 fighters, attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, claiming three Japanese Zero fighters shot down.
24 Dec 1943 18 B-24 bombers of US 14th Air Force, escorted by fighters, attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, claiming 20 Japanese fighters shot down; one B-24 bomber was shot down.
27 Aug 1944 11 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
28 Aug 1944 Eight B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
29 Aug 1944 Eight B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
31 Aug 1944 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
7 Sep 1944 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
28 Sep 1944 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
29 Sep 1944 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
30 Sep 1944 B-24 and B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
1 Oct 1944 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
2 Oct 1944 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
3 Oct 1944 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
17 Oct 1944 15 B-25 bombers of US 14th Air Force, escorted by 12 P-40 and 10 P-51 fighters, attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
11 Dec 1944 16 fighter-bombers of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
22 Dec 1944 P-40 and P-51 fighters of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, claiming several Japanese fighters shot down.
27 Dec 1944 17 P-51 fighters of US 14th Air Force attacked Tianhe Airfield in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, claiming 10 Japanese fighters destroyed; 2 P-51 fighters were shot down.




Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this article with your friends:

 Facebook
 Reddit
 Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds


Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Commenter identity confirmed Alan Chanter says:
11 Oct 2017 06:53:05 AM

The Chinese Government ordered thirty-six Gladiator fighters in October 1937. Delivered by sea to Hong Kong, the aircraft were assembled at Kai Tak by Gloster engineers with a view to flying them to their new base at Tianhe (Tien Ho). But diplomatic pressure was brought to bear, which resulted in the aircraft being crated once more for shipment by train and junk to Canton for delivery. A handful were immediately re-assembled at Tianhe, despite Japanese air attacks, although the remainder of the first twenty machines would not be ready until late 1937/early 1938. These aircraft were then flown some 300 miles out of reach of Japanese bombing, to a new base where training could be undertaken without interruption (although a considerable proportion of these would unfortunately be destroyed in training accidents). Some of the remaining sixteen Gladiators, which eventually arrived at Tanhe, would achieve many successes against the Japanese particularly in the protection of the Chinese Aircraft Factory at Siuchow in late 1938.

All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.

Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name
Your Email
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type
Your Comments
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.

Change View
Desktop View

Search WW2DB
Modern Day Location
WW2-Era Place Name Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Lat/Long 23.1333, 113.3167
Tianhe Airfield Photo Gallery
Painted decoy B-29 bomber near Tianhe Airfield, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, 9 Mar 1945


Famous WW2 Quote
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last."

Winston Churchill


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!