India–China Division, Air Transport Command

India-China Division
Active	1942–1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Force
Role	Air Transport
Engagements	World War II

The India-China Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Transport Command, stationed at Dum Dum Airport (Cazes Air Base) Calcutta, British India. It was inactivated in 1946.

The organization (ICWATC) was formed from a consolidation of Tenth Air Force units in December 1942. It's mission was the air transport of supplies, personnel, equipment and aircraft within India and China during World War II.

History

Lineage

• Activated as India-China Wing on 1 December 1942

Assumed personnel and equipment of Tenth Air Force The Trans-India Ferry Command, inactivated.

Inactivated in 1946.

Assignments

• Air Transport Command, 1 December 1942-1946

Components

• 1st Ferrying Group

3d Ferrying Squadron

6th Ferrying Squadron

13th Ferrying Squadron

Dinjan Airfield, Assam, India

• 22d Transport Group

77th Transport Squadron

78th Transport Squadron

88th Transport Squadron

Jorhat Airfield, Assam, India

• 28th Transport Group

96th Transport Squadron

97th Transport Squadron

98th Transport Squadron

Tezpur Airfield, Assam, India

• 29th Transport Group

13th Ferrying Squadron

99th Transport Squadron

100th Transport Squadron

301st Transport Squadron

Sookerating Airfield, Assam, India

• 30th Transport Group

302d Transport Squadron

303d Transport Squadron

304th Transport Squadron

Mohanbari Airfield, Assam, India

• 443d Troop Carrier Group

1st Troop Carrier Squadron

2d Troop Carrier Squadron

27th Troop Carrier Squadron

315th Troop Carrier Squadron

Dinjan Airfield, Assam, India

Stations

ATC Station Number	AAF Base Unit	Name	Coordinates	Notes
1	1300th	HQ, India-China Division, ATC Hastings AAB Calcutta, India	22°33′03″N 088°19′45″E	HQ Moved from New Delhi in 1944 to be closer to operational areas. Non-flying base, location approximate. Inactivated 15 February 1946. Remains visible now part of urban area.
19	1305th	Dum Dum Airport Calcutta, India	22°39′17″N 088°26′48″E	Operated Calcutta (later Bengal) Air Depot. Responsible for movement of aircraft, supplies and equipment received at Calcutta port facilities north to Chauba for points in China or east to forces in Burma. Supported depot facilities operated by Air Materiel Command and Air Technical Service Command in Calcutta. Inactivated 14 December 1945.
2	1325th	HQ, Assam Wing Chabua Airfield, India	27°27′44″N 095°07′05″E	Assumed control of AAF Ferrying Command 1st Ferrying Group. Commanded ATC organizations stationed in the Northeast India Assam Valley. Primary mission was ferrying aircraft and moving supplies and equipment over Himalayan Mountains (The Hump). Inactivated 15 October 1945
3	1325th	HQ, Bengal Wing Tejgaon Airport, India	23°46′43″N 090°22′57″E	Located near Dacca. Successor of 10th AF Assam-Burma-India Ferry Command. Commanded ATC organizations stationed in eastern India and Burma. Also moving supplies and equipment over Himalayan Mountains from Burma. Inactivated 15 June 1946
8	1307th	Hq, India Wing Willingdon Airfield New Delhi, India	28°35′04″N 077°12′21″E	Responsible for ATC operations within most of India. Successor of 10th AF Trans-India Ferry Command. Moved supplies and equipment from Bombay, Bangalore and Ceylon, including operation of Trans-Indian Ferry route from Karachi to Bengal or Assam Wings. Inactivated 5 December 1945
13	1340th	Hq, China Wing Kunming Airport, China	24°59′32″N 102°44′36″E	Commanded ATC organizations stationed in China. On route Easy Inactivated 25 November 1945
		RAF Agartala, India	23°53′24″N 091°14′32″E	ATC staging airfield on Transport Route "Nan" (Barrackpore, India Eastbound to Szemao, China). Primarily 10th AF Combat Cargo support airfield for support of British and United States forces in Burma. Also used by 10th AF and RAF. USAAF ended operations June 1945. Now Agartala Airport, Bangladesh (IATA: IXA, ICAO: VEAT).
17	1303d	Agra Airfield, India	27°09′27″N 077°57′39″E	Built by USAAF, First American personnel arrived 19 March 1942 . On Trans-India ferrying route from Karachi to Calcutta. Major ATSC Depot and ATC transshipment facility. ATSC Central Indian Air Depot, 3d Air Depot Group. ATC ended operations December 1945, USAAF May 1946. Today Agra is a an Indian Air Force airbase Agra Air Force Station as well as public/civil airport. (IATA: AGR, ICAO: VIAG).
	1304th	Barrackpore Airfield, India	22°46′55″N 088°21′33″E	Airfield established by RAF in June 1943, taken over by USAAF in October. Became transshipment and major Air Depot for ATC transport and ferrying operations to China, Origin of Transport Route "Nan" (Barrackpore Eastbound to Szemao, China), and terminus of Transport Rotue "Oboe" (Kunming China Westbound to Barrackpore). Also supported 10th AF Combat Cargo operations into Burma for support of British and United States ground forces. USAAF operations ended March 1946. Now IAF Barrackpore Air Force Station.
		Bhamo Airfield, Burma	24°16′06″N 097°14′54″E	Built by Japanese, sized in January 1945 by British forces during the Battle of Bhamo. Became 10th Air Force airfield. Used by ATC as staging airfield on Transport Route "Oboe" (Kunming China westbound to Barrackpore, India), primarily for Combat Cargo resupply and causality transport. Closed December 1945 Now civil airport (IATA: BMO, ICAO: VYBM).
6	1333d	Chabua Airfield, India	27°27′44″N 095°07′05″E	Built at Hazelbank Tea Plantation by USAAF. Construction began April 1942, opened in September. Was major staging station on ATC Transport Route "Able" (Rupsi, India to Hsichang, China and return) and was one of the most important air transport bases in northeast Assam. A large percentage of the Hump flights originated at Chabua: it was the receiving point for high-priority items air-shipped to the Assam area for use by air and ground forces in CBI, and was the home base for a group of 10th AF B-24 bombers, with supporting fighter planes. Its only runway was 6,000 feet long. Also used by 10th AF Combat Cargo units. Attacked by Japanese aircraft on 12 February 1943. Inactivated 25 December 1945. Now IAF Chabua Air Force Station.
30	1342d	Chanyi Airfield, China	25°35′32″N 103°49′43″E	Primarily 14th AF combat reconnaissance and medium bomber base. Origin of ATC Transport Route "Charlie", (westbound to Tezpur, India) Supported 14th AF Combat Cargo units. Extensive Chinese Army transport facility. USAAF closed facilities 12 October 1945. Now Zhanyi Airport/Air Base civil airport/PLA-AF base (Closed).
15	1339th	Chengkung Airfield, China	25°50′36″N 102°47′57″E	Construction of the airfield began in November 1942, with the airfield opening on 27 January 1943. Chengkung was a major terminal for "the Hump" trans-Himalayan transport aircraft between India and China for Air Transport Command C-47 Skytrain and C-46 Commando aircraft. On Transport Route "Nan" (eastbound from Barrackpore, India) In addition, Air Technical Service Command maintained a maintenance and supply facility at the base to support the airlift operations over the Himalayas. Also 14th AF Combat Cargo Facility. Inactivated 20 October 1945.
		Dinjan Airfield, India	27°32′16″N 095°16′10″E	On Route Able. Also used by 10th Air Force.
23	1334th	Golaghat Airfield, India	26°29′17″N 093°59′24″E	On Route Easy. Inactivated on 7 March 1945
		Hsinching Airfield, China	30°25′13″N 103°50′41″E	Hub on routes Able and Roger. Also used by XX Bomber Command and 14th Air Force. Now Xinjin Airport
4	1335th	Jorhat Airfield, India	26°43′54″N 094°10′32″E	On Route Charlie. Inactivated 15 June 1946
		Karachi Airport, India	23°26′14″N 091°11′22″E	On Route Nan
22	1329th	Deragon Airfield, India	21°12′22″N 079°12′23″E	Inactivated on 18 July 1945 Location approximate, obliterated. Replaced by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport.
		Fenny Airfield, India	23°02′06″N 091°23′37″E	On Nan Route. Also used by 10th Air Force.
26		Fort Hertz Airfield, Burma	27°19′48″N 097°25′35″E
20	1311th	Gaya Airfield, India	24°44′40″N 084°57′04″E	Also 8th Operational Training Unit. Inactivated on 5 December 1945
23	1334th	Golaghat Airfield, India	26°29′17″N 093°59′24″E	Inactivated on 7 March 1945
27	1309th	HAL Airport Bangalore, India	12°57′00″N 077°40′06″E	Inactivated on 15 October 1945
		Hsichang Airfield	27°59′28″N 102°11′03″E	Hub on Route Able
		Indainggale Airfield, Burma	23°11′19″N 094°03′06″E	Hub on Route Nan
		Ipin Airfield, China	28°48′02″N 104°32′46″E	Hub on Routes Able and Mike. Now Yibin Airport/Air Base
4	1335th	Jorhat Airfield, India	26°43′54″N 094°10′32″E	Inactivated 15 June 1946
28	1308th	Juhu Airport Bombay, India	19°05′53″N 072°50′02″E	Inactivated on 13 November 1945
16	1306th	Karachi Airport, India	24°54′24″N 067°09′39″E	Inactivated 3 January 1946
		Katha Airfield, Burma	24°09′17″N 096°19′38″E	On Route Obo, Obliterated.
	1346th	Kurmitola Airfield, India	23°50′34″N 090°24′02″E	On Oboe Route.
10	1326th	Lalmanir Hat Airfield, India	25°53′33″N 089°25′41″E	Inactivated 26 October 1945. Now abandoned, extensive amount of remains visible
		Lashio Airfield, Burma	22°58′39″N 097°45′09″E	On Route Nan
		Likiang Airfield, China	26°40′45″N 100°14′45″E	Now Lijiang Airport.
		Liulang Airfield, China	24°59′17″N 103°38′27″E	On Routes Nan and Easy. Also used by 14th Air Force. Now CAF Liulang Air Base.
		Loping Airfield, China	24°50′42″N 104°18′31″E	Hub of Routes Easy and Mike. Also used by 14th Air Force.
		Lushien Airfield, China	28°51′09″N 105°23′34″E	Terminus of Route Able. Now Lantianzhen Air Base
		Mangshih Airfield, China	24°24′01″N 098°31′53″E	On Route Fox. Now Mangshih Airport
		Manipur Road Airfield, India	25°53′01″N 093°46′19″E	On Route Fox. Now Dimapur Airport/Air Base
		Mengasa Airfield	23°52′33″N 100°05′59″E	On Route Oboe. Obliterated, now part of urban area of Linxiang
11	1328th	Misamari Airfield, India	26°49′01″N 092°35′52″E	On Route Able. Inactivated 20 October 1945
9	1332d	Mohanbari Airfield, India	27°29′02″N 095°01′01″E	On Route Able. Inactivated 5 December 1945
21	1331st	Moran Airfield, India	27°08′34″N 094°54′15″E	Inactivated on 7 March 1945
		Myitkyina Airfield, Burma	25°23′01″N 097°21′06″E	Hub on Peter, Fox and Oboe Routes. Also used by 10th Air Force.
18	1312th	Ondal Airfield, India	23°35′38″N 087°13′28″E	Inactivated on 7 February 1945
		Paoshan Airfield, China	25°03′13″N 099°10′04″E	On Route Easy. Now Baoshan Airport
		Peishiyi Airfield, China	29°29′46″N 106°21′32″E	On Route Roger. Also used by 14th AF. Now: Chongqing Baishiyi Air Base
	1306th	RAF Jiwani, India	25°04′04″N 061°48′20″E	Former British Imperial Airways airport on Cairo-Karachi route, used by ATC as a refueling field for ferrying aircraft over Middle East or Central African Route to Karachi. 973 miles (1,566 km). USAAF operations at base ended, September 1945.. Now Jiwani Airport, Pakistan (IATA: JIW, ICAO: OPJI).
29	1310th	RAF Station Negombo Colombo, Ceylon	07°10′52″N 079°53′01″E	Used by ATC for special fights between India and Australia. Inactivated on 19 October 1945. Now Bandaranaike International Airport (IATA: CMB, ICAO: VCBI).
25		Ranchi Airfield, India	23°18′51″N 085°19′18″E	Used primarily as a staging airfield, moving supplies and equipment from Bombay and Barrackpore into southeast India though Deragon. Now Birsa Munda Airport (IATA: IXR, ICAO: VERC).
	1361st	Rupsi Airfield, India	26°08′28″N 089°54′25″E	Major transshipment facility in Assam Valley, Western terminus of Transport routes "Able" and "Easy" into and returning from China. Also home of 10th AF 308th Bombardment Group in July 1945. Closed October 1945. Now Rupsi Airfield, although largely closed, many abandoned wartime facilities evident in aireal imagery.
		Sadiya Airfield, India	27°50′35″N 095°40′00″E	Most northeasterly airfield in Assam Valley of India. Location approximate Hub of east-west "Able" transport route, also origin of westbound "Easy" route to Yunnanyi, China. Closed September 1945. Earthquakes in 1950 and in 1967 Sadiya seriously damaged and later destroyed facility, all remnants removed and today all signs of the airfield are obliterated by redevelopment, no visible remains.
		Sahmaw Airfield, Burma	25°14′35″N 096°48′06″E	Location approximate. Seized from Japanese in August 1944. Primarily 10th AF and RAF combat airfield, used by ATC as a staging airfield and hub on southern transport routes between India and China. Used on Eastbound route "Oboe" to Barrackpore, India and westbound route "Fox" from Rupsi, India, both connecting to Ipin, China. UAAF facility closed September 1945. Airfield today obliterated by redevelopment.
		Shamshernagar Airfield, India	24°23′41″N 091°55′00″E	Opened in late 1944 on southern route to China via Burma. Was a staging airfield on Route Oboe to Barrackpore, India. Currently Used as a STOL airport by Bangladesh Air Force (IATA: ZHM, ICAO: VGSH).
7	1337th	Sookerating Airfield, India	27°33′10″N 095°34′14″E	Opened in the Assam Valley in late 1944 as a sub-field of Chabua. Airfield was used as a transport base by ATC also as a 10th AF combat airfield. Used for westbound aircraft towards Rupsi, India as a landing/servicing airfield. UAAF facility closed 25 November 1945. Now IAF Sookerating Air Force Station.
		Szemao Airfield, China	22°47′41″N 100°57′32″E	Opened June 1945 on southern transport route "Nan" from Barrackpore, India to Kunming. Also used by 14th AF as a fighter base. USAAF facilities closed in October 1945. Today Simao Airport (IATA: SYM, ICAO: ZPSM).
		Tamu Airfield, Burma	24°12′21″N 094°18′19″E	Location approximate. Seized from Japanese on 4 August 1944 during Battle of Imphal. Used by 10th AF as a combat reconnaissance airfield, ATC used facility as both as resupply and evacuation tactical field and also as transport base on Route "Oboe" between Sookerating and Bhamo. USAAF closed Facility December 1945. Today obliterated by urban area.
	1345th	Tezgaon Airfield, India	23°46′39″N 090°22′59″E	Aslo known as RAF Dainodda. Built by RAF in 1941 as a Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) station. The first RIAF light fighter landed on the under‑construction runway of Tejgaon at the beginning of 1943. ATC use began in March 1944. On Route "NAN" and "Obo" to and from Barrackpore, India to Kunming. USAAF use ended January 1945. Tejgaon Airport became the first airport to operate civil aviation in the then East Pakistan and it was also a station of the Pakistan Air Force. After 1971 it became the first civil airport of Bangladesh. Today it is a part of BAF (Bangladesh Air Force) Base Bashar (ICAO: VGTJ).
5	1327th	Tezpur Airfield, India	26°42′44″N 092°47′14″E	Constructed by the British Royal Indian Air Force during World War II in 1942. Used as a 10th AF B-24 bomber base. Used by ATC as a sub-field of Chabua on Rotue "Able" from Rupsi, India to Ipin, China in both directions. USAAF operations ended 26 October 1945. Now IAF Tezpur Air Force Station (IATA: TEZ, ICAO: VETZ).
		Tsuyung Airfield, China	25°00′39″N 101°33′57″E	On Route Easy. Obliterated, now part of urban area of Chuxiong
		Tulihal Airfield, India	26°45′36″N 093°53′48″E	On Route Obo
14	1341st	Yangkai Airfield, China	25°24′14″N 103°06′46″E	Inactivated 10 September 1945
12	1338th	Yunnanyi Airfield, China	25°26′44″N 100°44′05″E	Established in December 1942. Had supported American Volunteer Group prior to absorption into USAAF control. ATC staging airfield on Transport Route "Love" (Barrackpore, India Eastbound to Ipin, China). Also connected into Kunming on Routes "Charlie" and "Peter" westbound to Barrackpore. Contained large storage facilities for equipment and supplies. Also supported 14th AF Fighter units. Closed October 1945.. Now Xiangyun Airport, status is undetermined and it may be closed.

See also

• South Atlantic air ferry route in World War II

References

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

• The Army Almanac, Armed Forces Information School (U.S), Washington. D.C.: U.S. G.P.O., 1950
• India-China Wing
• USAAF 14th Air Force Airfields in China, 1942-1946