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| Location Lat 22° 19' 13N Long 114° 11' 53E Kaitak Airfield was located at an elevation of 28' above sea level at Kai Tak on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon on the mainland of China. Wartime spellings include "Kai Tak" or "Kai Tek". To the south is Victoria Harbor and beyond Hong Kong. Construction During 1912, Kai Tak Investment Company reclaimed land in the area for development. This reclaimed land was acquired by the government as an Kaitak Airfield. During 1924, the Abbott School of Aviation opened at this location with a small grass surfaced runway that was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and flying clubs. In 1928, a slipway was built for seaplanes taking off and landing in Kowloon Bay. In 1935, the control tower was built. In 1936 the first domestic airline in Hong Kong was established and operated from Kaitak Airfield. Wartime History On December 8, 1941 at the start of the Pacific War Japanese planes attacked the Royal Air Force (RAF) contingent at Kai Tak Airfield destroying all available aircraft. On December 12, 1941 when Hong Kong surrendered, occupied by the Japanese. During the Japanese occupation, expanded using Prisoner Of War (POW) labor using material from the Kowloon Walled City and memorial to Sung Wong Toi. Starting in late January 1944 attacked by Allied fighters and bombers until late March 1945. Occupied by the Japanese until the official surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945. Japanese units based at Kaitak Airfield 901 Kokutai (A6M Zero) American missions against Kai Tek Airfield January 23, 1944–March 29, 1945 Postwar Immediately, occupied by the Royal Navy as HMS Nabcatcher until August 1946. On April 1, 1947 Royal Naval Air Station, HMS Flycatcher was commissioned at this location. By the early 1950s, plans were made to turn the airfield into a civilian airport known as Hong Kong International Airport, Kai Tak. By 1957 the main runway oriented 13/31 was extended to 5,459' with the second runway oriented 7/25 measuring 4,760'. By 1958 a new northwest to southeast runway measuring 8,350' that extended onto reclaimed land into Kowloon Bay with the two older runways closed and developed into the apron and terminal area completed by 1962. Today Postwar, known as Hong Kong International Airport Kai Tak until closed. Airport codes: ICAO: VHHX. On July 6, 1998 at 1:05am Cathay Pacific CX3340 took off and the airport bound for the new Chek Lap Kok Airport as the last plane to depart before the airport ceased operation with the director of civil aviation, Richard Siegel giving a speech that ended with "Goodbye Kai Tak, and thank you". Once closed, the aiport codes were transfered to the new Chek Lap Kok Airport (Hong Kong International Airport). Contribute
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