Chongqing Guangyangba Airport
Chongqing Guangyangba Airport (simplified Chinese: 重庆广阳坝机场; traditional Chinese: 重慶廣陽壩機場), also known as Guangyangba Air Base, was a military and civilian airport in China, located about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) east of Chongqing. This airport was built by the warlord Liu Xiang in 1929 as a military base. It was the first airport built in southwestern China.
The airport
[edit]The airport was located on Guangyang Isle. The length of the runway was 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) and the width was 40 metres (130 ft). During World War II, this airport was one of the seven airports in the Chongqing region used for the air defense of the China's capital city. However, during the rainy season, when the civil airport of Chongqing (the Shanhuba Airport) was not suitable for landing, Guangyangba Airport also served as a civil aviation station for Chongqing region. After the opening of Chongqing Baishiyi Air Base, Guangyangba Airport was gradually abandoned.[1]
The location
[edit]The Guangyang Isle is an island on the Yangtze River, with an area of 6.4 square kilometres (2.5 sq mi). It is located at the down-stream mouth of Tongluo Valley. The altitude range of the island is from 200 to 280 metres (660 to 920 ft). The site of the airport had an elevation of 220 metres (720 ft).
References
[edit]- ^ 重庆晚报, 慢新闻 (2020-04-22). "重庆掌故| 揭秘重庆首座机场广阳坝机场，刘湘主持修建，603位民工献出生命 - 上游新闻". www.cqcb.com. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
保卫重庆的空战中，驻广阳坝的第四大队非常英勇。"历史对这一段如此评价。1939年1月15日，36架日机空袭重庆，四大队升空迎敌，敌机4架中弹负伤。这是重庆首次空战。5月3日，日机又来，四大队大队长郑少愚率30架战机升空作战，击落日机2架、重创2架。其时，重庆人正遭遇刻骨铭心的"五三"、"五四"大轰炸。5月12日，日机27架来袭，四大队6架战机迎战，击落敌机3架。6月25日，日机39架空袭重庆，又被击落2架，其中1架是指挥机，共载机师7人，在江津附近坠地……仅1939年空战中，日军26架重、中型轰炸机被我击落，93人死亡，以至日军在《101作战概要》中记述："重庆不好对付。