Nanning Wuxu International Airport - History During World War II

History During World War II

During World War II, the airport was known as Nanning (Nan Ning) Airfield and was used by the United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force as part of the China Defensive Campaign (1942–1945). It was used primarily by reconnaissance units, which operated unarmed P-38 Lightning photo-recon aircraft that flew over Japanese-held territory and obtained intelligence used by combat units. Detachments of fighter and bomber squadrons also operated occasionally from the airfield, along with being a supply point for the 2d Combat Cargo Squadron, which air-dropped supplies and munitions to ground forces on the front lines. At the end of the war, the transports also hauled men, horses and mules to the airfield. The Americans closed their facilities at the end of October 1945.

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