Taoyuan Air Base

Taoyuan Air Base
海軍基地
F-104As of the 83rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Taoyuan Air Base in September 1958
Summary
Airport type Military (closed)
Location Taoyuan, Taiwan
Coordinates 25°03′00″N 121°13′59″E / 25.050°N 121.233°E / 25.050; 121.233Coordinates: 25°03′00″N 121°13′59″E / 25.050°N 121.233°E / 25.050; 121.233
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 10,044 Concrete/Asphalt

Taoyuan Air Base (ICAO: RCGM) is a former Republic of China Air Force base located in Taoyuan, Taiwan, southeast of Taipei's Taoyuan International Airport.

History

The United States Air Force's 44th Fighter Squadron operating the F-86 Sabre was deployed here from 27 January to 17 February 1955 and again from 3–30 September 1955.[1]

In 1957 two RB-57A reconnaissance aircraft of the 6021st Reconnaissance Squadron were based here to take part in project Heartthrob missions over the People's Republic of China and these were later replaced by RB-57Ds operated as part of project Diamond Lil.[2]

On 10 September 1958, as part of the U.S. response to the 1958 Quemoy Crisis, disassembled F-104A Starfighters of the 83rd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron were airlifted by C-124s to Taoyuan where they were reassembled as part of Operation Jonah Able. The first F-104A was operational 30 hours after arriving and by 19 September the entire squadron was operational.[3] In October 1958 the men of the 83rd FIS were relieved by the men of the 337th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron under the command of Col. James Jabara and in December the F-104s were again disassembled and loaded aboard C-124s for return to the 83rd FIS at Hamilton Air Force Base.[3]:24-5

The Black Cat Squadron flying U-2 surveillance aircraft was based here from 1961 to 1974. The 5th/401st Tactical Combined Wing operating F-104 Starfighters and later F-5s was also based here.

In November 1965 a defecting Chinese pilot landed his IL-28/H-5 bomber here.

References

  1. ↑ "Air Force Order of Battle 44th Fighter Squadron" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Gordon, Doug (2005). Tactical Reconnaissance in the Cold War. Pen and Sword. p. 67. ISBN 9781473818811.
  3. 1 2 Davies, Peter (2014). F-104 Starfighter Units in Combat. Osprey Publishing. p. 23. ISBN 9781780963136.
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