Pacific Wrecks - Akyab Airfield (Sittwe) Rakhine State, Myanmar (Burma)

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

Akyab Airfield (Sittwe) Rakhine State Myanmar (Burma)

Location
20° 7' 58N 92° 52' 21E Akyab Airfield is located on the southern end of Akyab Island in Rakhine State in Myanmar (Burma). Also known as Sittwe Airfield.

Construction
Built prewar. On June 18, 1937 Lockheed Model 10E Electra 1055 piloted by Amelia Earhart with navigator Frederick Joseph "Fred" Noonan landed at Akyab Airfield (Sittwe) during her attempt to circumnavigation the world. She arrived from Dum Dum Airfield near Calcutta bound for Bangkok but landed at Akyab due to bad weather. She continued her flight bound for Rangoon Airfield.

Wartime History
During 1942, occupied by the Japanese and used as a Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) base. During 1944, attacked by Allied aircraft.

American missions against Akyab
January 2 - May 20, 1944

Liberated by the Allies. Captured at the airfield were several Japanese aircraft, including: Ki-46-II, Ida, Ki-43 Oscar x 2, Ki-48 Lily x 2, Ki-21 Sally x 2.

American units based at Akyab
2nd ACG, 127th Liaison Squadrons (UC-64, L-5 detachment) February 27 - May 19, 1945 Kalaikunda
2nd ACG, 155th Liaison Squadrons (UC-64, L-5 detachment) February 27 - May 19, 1945 Kalaikunda
8th PRG, 20th TRS (F-6 detachment) April 12 - May 22, 1945 Nagaghuli
2nd ACG, 317th TCS (C-47 det) Kalaikunda April 29 - May 1, 1945 Kalaikunda
8th PRG, 40th PRS January 1945 - June 1945

Today
Still in use today as Sittwe Airport. The civilian airport has a single runway oriented 29/11 measuring 6,001' x 151' surfaced with bitumen. Airport codes: ICAO: VYSW / IATA: AKY

References
Index to Air Bases - Research Report No. 85, I.G. No 9185 - July 30, 1944

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Last Updated
July 19, 2024

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