Barrackpore Air Force Station
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Barrackpore Air Force Station is an Indian Air Force base located at Barrackpore in the state of West Bengal, India. Barrackpore is one of the oldest stations in the IAF, operating transport units. One of the Mi-17 squadrons is based here.
Barrackpore Air Force Station ব্যারাকপুর এয়ার ফোর্স স্টেশন बैरकपुर एयर फोर्स स्टेशन | |
|---|---|
| Summary | |
| Airport type | Military |
| Operator | Indian Air Force |
| Location | Barrackpore, India |
| Elevation AMSL | 18 ft / 5 m |
| Coordinates | 22°46′55″N 088°21′33″E / 22.78194°N 88.35917°E |
| Map | |
Barrackpore Air Force Station Location in West Bengal Barrackpore Air Force Station Barrackpore Air Force Station (India) | |
| Runways | |
History edit
During World War II, the airfield was used as a reconnaissance airfield by the United States Army Air Forces Tenth Air Force, which flew unarmed P-38 Lightning aircraft from the station, equipped with several mapping cameras to gather intelligence on Japanese forces in occupied Burma. Barrackpore was also home to several Spitfire Squadrons in the early 1950s.
In 1963 No. 11 Squadron IAF was located at Barrackpore flying Douglas Dakotas. That year two Dakotas were sent to Bandung (Husein) in Indonesia to carry air and ground crew to pick up Indonesian Air Force de Havilland Vampire fighters which were to be transferred to the IAF.[1]
Several Spitfire airframes were salvaged from Barrackpore in the 1970s and 1980s and are currently restored to flying status in the west.
Its ancillary units are 5 Tettra and 3 Tettra and Flying unit is 157 HU.[clarification needed]
References edit
- ^ Wing Cdr Venu Kondath (Retd), 'Ferrying Vampires from Indonesia' January 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Bharat-Rakshak.com, accessed October 2011
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.