World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Xinjin Airfield (Postal Map romanization: Hsinching) in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China was originally built in 1928. In 1940, three years after the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the runways were reinforced to support modern aircraft. After the US entry into WW2 in Dec 1941, it ws decided to further modernize Xinjin Airfield, which was completed in 1943. Beginning in Mar 1944, it became the forward base of US 40th Bombardment Group, flying B-29 Superfortress bombers, and several raids against the Japanese Home Islands were launched from this airfield; on 6 Apr 1944, the forward headquarters of US XX Bomber Command was established at Xinjin. Around the same time, 24th Combat Mapping Squadron of US Tenth Air Force, an aerial photographic reconnaissance squadron, was established at this location as well. The B-29 bombers were relocated to the Mariana Islands in Feb 1945, but the base would remain in US Army Air Forces use until 29 Aug 1945, mainly as a communications station. After the war, the communist Chinese government operated the airfield as the Xinjin Airport for civilian use and for the training of the students of the Civil Aviation Flight University.

Xinjin Airfield Timeline