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    Yunnani Airfield (Yunnanyi, Yunnan-yi)  China
Location
Yunnani Airfield was located at an elevation of 6,000' roughly 10km from Xiang Yun on the Burma Road in Xiang Yun County about 80km from Kunming and another 100km from the front in western Yunnan. Allied wartime spelling "Yunnan". Also spelled Yunnanyi or Yunnan-yi. Today located in the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Construction
The single runway measured 6,000' oriented north to south. On the western side of the runway were the base operations and most of the revetments for parked aircraft. At the northern end of the runway was a hardstand area.

Wartime History
Yunnanyi was originally intended as a field for American Volunteer Group (AVG) instructors to train Chinese pilots. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War and the loss of the Burma Road, Yunnanyi became the westernmost airfield on the China side of the "Hump" route from India. This new status resulted in its constant garrisoning by the fighter squadrons from the China Air Task Force (CATF) and 14th Air Force.

During the war, Yunnani became a major base for supplies and equipment for the training of Chinese troops bound for the Salween front. During August 1942, China Air Task Force (CATF) B-25s moved from Central China to Yunnani.

Between December 1944–January 1945 "Operation Grubworm" 10th Air Force, Air Transport Command lands Chinese Army troops and equipment at Yunnani.

Japanese missions against Yunnani
December 26, 1942–January 16, 1943

American units based at Yunnani
23rd FG, 75th FS (P-40) Chanyi arrives January 20, 1943–March 31, 1943 departs Lingling
23rd FG, 74th FS (P-40) Kunming arrives March 12, 1943 - ?
51st FG, 25th FS (P-40, P-51) Dinjan arrives September 14, 1943 - ? returns Leangshan Feb 4, 1945
341st BG, 22nd BS (B-25 det) Yangkai arrives April 29 - May 6, 1944 Yangkai returns Nov 5, 1944 - Jan 20, 1945 Yangkai
51st FG, 16th FS (P-40 det) Chengkung arrives May 1 - July 1, 1944 Chengkung
443rd TCG, 27th TCS (C-47) Sylhet arrives May 21, 1944 - ?
51st FG, 449th FS (P-38 det) Chengkung arrives July 23, 1944 - ?
1st CCG, 2nd CCS (C-47 det) Sylhet arrives September 11 - 18, 1944 Sylhet
1st CCG, 4th CCS (C-47 det) Sylhet arrives September 11, 1944 - October 11, 1944 Sylhet
1st CCG, 1st CCS (C-47) Sylhet arrives September 15, 1944 - October 2, 1944 Sylhet
1st CCG, 3rd CCS (C-47) Sylhet arrives September 16, 1944 - October 2, 1944 Sylhet
14th AF, 35th PRS (F-5) Kunming arrives September 16, 1944
443rd TCG, 27th TCS (C-47) ? - February 15, 1945 departs Chengkung
51st FG, 449th FS (P-38) ? - March 1, 1945 departs Chengkung
14th AF, 11th CCS (C-47) Dinjan arrives May 14 - June 20, 1945 Luliang

References
Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and the American Volunteer Group by Daniel Ford
Sharks over China: The 23rd Fighter Group in World War II by Carl Molesworth

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Last Updated
April 19, 2021

 

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