Chharra Aerodrome - Now abandoned - Used between 1943-44 during W W2
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historical layer / disappeared object
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The first batch of American B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers (the type used for dropping Atom Bombs in Hirosima and Nagasaki) were here. The B-29s flew from Great Bend Kansas to New Foundland to Merecach to Cairo to Karachi to Chharra. Later to Tinian Islands to Japan. USAF 444th BG was stationed here for 3 months.
On 11 April 1944 the 444th arrived after a month-long deployment over the South Atlantic transport route after completing training at Great Bend AAF, Kansas. Support elements of the group included the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Bomb Maintenance Squadrons; the 12th Photo Lab, and the 25th Air Service Group.
The first combat mission by the group finally took place on 5 June 5 when squadrons of the group off from India to attack the Makasan railroad yards at Bangkok, Thailand. This involved a 2261-mile round trip, the longest bombing mission yet attempted during the war.
Difficulties encountered at Charra forced the unit to move to Dudhkundi Airfield on 1 July 1944, leaving Charra to become a transport base for Tenth Air Force. C-87 Liberators and C-46 Commandos flew from Charra into China to support the XX Bomber Command forward bases as well as to the Air Transport Command depot at Barrackpore, picking up supplies. In June 1945 the last Americans left the base, turning it over to the British colonial government.
Upto around 1946-48, Royal Indian & Indian Airforce was using it
WB Govt intermittently talks about restarting it,but has not done so, apparently because of no operator.
KINDLY LEAVE YOUR REMARKS-RESTARTING IT WOULD HELP THIS BACKWARD DISTRICT
On 11 April 1944 the 444th arrived after a month-long deployment over the South Atlantic transport route after completing training at Great Bend AAF, Kansas. Support elements of the group included the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Bomb Maintenance Squadrons; the 12th Photo Lab, and the 25th Air Service Group.
The first combat mission by the group finally took place on 5 June 5 when squadrons of the group off from India to attack the Makasan railroad yards at Bangkok, Thailand. This involved a 2261-mile round trip, the longest bombing mission yet attempted during the war.
Difficulties encountered at Charra forced the unit to move to Dudhkundi Airfield on 1 July 1944, leaving Charra to become a transport base for Tenth Air Force. C-87 Liberators and C-46 Commandos flew from Charra into China to support the XX Bomber Command forward bases as well as to the Air Transport Command depot at Barrackpore, picking up supplies. In June 1945 the last Americans left the base, turning it over to the British colonial government.
Upto around 1946-48, Royal Indian & Indian Airforce was using it
WB Govt intermittently talks about restarting it,but has not done so, apparently because of no operator.
KINDLY LEAVE YOUR REMARKS-RESTARTING IT WOULD HELP THIS BACKWARD DISTRICT
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 23°22'13"N 86°25'48"E
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- CHARRA Air strip (Abandoned after World War II)
- Chharra Village...... 2.3 km
- BHANGRA 2.3 km
- HATUYARA FARM (BIJU. 9474366999) 3.2 km
- Golkunda. Purulia... 3.9 km
- Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Purulia 4 km
- Aarita Village... 5 km
- Patloi Irrigation Scheme (Hutmura Dam) 5.1 km
- Kustuka 5.8 km
- Forest 6.6 km