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Ching Chuan Kang Air Base    | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
清泉崗空軍基地 | |||||||
| Part ofUnited States Air Force andRepublic of China Air Force | |||||||
| Located inTaichung (Taiwan) | |||||||
 Aerial image of CCK Air Base | |||||||
| Site information | |||||||
| Type | Air Base | ||||||
| Owner |  Air Force Command Headquarters | ||||||
| Controlled by |  ROC Air Force ROC Army United States Air Force(1957-1979) | ||||||
| Location | |||||||
  Ching Chuan Kang Air Base Location of Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in the Taiwan | |||||||
| Coordinates | 24°16′N120°37′E / 24.26°N 120.62°E /24.26; 120.62 (Ching Chuan Kang Air Base) | ||||||
| Site history | |||||||
| Built | 1954 | ||||||
| Built by | Taiwan United States | ||||||
| In use | 1957–present | ||||||
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War | ||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: RMQ,ICAO: RCMQ | ||||||
| Elevation | 203m (663ft)AMSL | ||||||
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Ching Chuan Kang Air Base (Chinese:清泉崗空軍基地,CCK) is aRepublic of China Air Force (ROCAF) base located inTaichung,Taiwan. It is the home to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, with three squadrons ofAIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter aircraft. It is also used by the army's airborne and special operations command.
Ching Chuan Kang Air Base is shared withTaichung International Airport (IATA:RMQ,ICAO:RCMQ).
The forerunner to CCK Air Base was built in 1936, duringJapanese rule, in the vicinity of Kōkan (Japanese: 公館), hence the former nameKōkan Airport. Construction of the airfield started in 1954, and was given the highest priority of several projects begun after the situation between Taiwan and Mainland China became tense in the mid-1950s. The air base was renamed Ching Chuan Kang Air Base on 20 March 1966 in memory ofROC Army Gen.Qiu Qingquan, and was thereafter known throughout the theater by its initials, CCK. As of the late 1990s, the longest runway at CCK was reportedly 12,000 feet (3,700 m) long.
Taiwan obtained an initial batch of AmericanF-104 Starfighters in 1960–61, and eventually received over 200 of these aircraft, all of which were withdrawn from service in the early 1990s. The Starfighters were operated by the 2nd/499th Tactical Fighter Wing atHsinchu, the 3rd/427th TFW at Ching Chuan Kang AB, and the 5th/401st Tactical Combined Wing at Taoyuan.
In May 1999 it was reported that China had built a replica of Ching Chuan Kang AB at a site near Dingxin airport (40°22′44″N99°53′24″E / 40.379°N 99.89°E /40.379; 99.89) in the northwest province of Gansu, presumably to train units assigned to attack the Taiwanese facility in the event of conflict.[1]
The base is also currently home to theAH-1W attack helicopters of the Army's 602nd Brigade.[2]
During theCold War, CCK was used by theUnited States Air Force as a support installation ofUnited States Taiwan Defense Command.At the same time, it was also the largest air base of the US military stationed in Taiwan, with about 6,000-8,000 US troops stationed.
In 1954, the USMilitary Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan (MAAG, Taiwan) was stationed at the base.
USAF use of the base began in 1958 with the deployment of twelveLockheed F-104 Starfighters from the83d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron during theQuemoy crisis. The crisis was peacefully resolved, and the aircraft were returned to the United States.
From August 1958 to January 1959, the51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing deployed eightF-86Ds to Ching Chuan Kang Air Base Taiwan to fly combat air support missions for Republic of China Armed Forces.
In February 1960, after US Air Force a survey of bases on Taiwan it was decided that Kung Kuan AB would best suit the needs of USAF tactical units.
In 10 – 20 May 1960, the67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing aircraft were deployed to Kung Kuan AB (later Ching Chuan Kang).[3]
From 20 May – 13 June 1960, theTactical Air Command (TAC) deployed the474th Tactical Fighter Wing,428th Tactical Fighter Squadron fromNellis Air Force Base,Nevada, to Kung Kuan AB.
From 4–14 June 1960, the18th Tactical Fighter Wing deployed aircraft fromKadena Air Base,Okinawa to Kung Kuan AB.
4-11 December 1960, the405th Fighter Wing deployedF-102 Delta Dagger fromClark Air Base,Philippines to Kung Kuan AB.
14 – 28 March 1961, the18th Tactical Fighter Wing deployed the15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron fromKadena Air Base,Okinawa to Kung Kuan Air Base,Taiwan withMcDonnell RF-101 Voodoo.[4]
18 – 25 April 1961,18th Tactical Fighter Wing deployed a detachment of12th Tactical Fighter Squadron fromKadena Air Base,Okinawa to Kung Kuan Air Base withNorth American F-100 Super Sabre.
11 – 24 May 1961, the39th Air Division based atMisawa Air Base,Japan deployed a task force of reconnaissance aircraft to Kung Kuan AB, Taiwan.
1 August – 30 September 1961,F-102 Delta Dagger of509th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron were deployed fromClark AB to Kung Kuan AB in Operation BIG TRUCK.
6 – 12 March 1962, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing aircraft deployed to Kung Kuan AB. While there they participated in exercise FLYING TIGER, March 10 – 17, the8th Tactical Fighter Wing was also deployed fromItazuke Air Base,Japan to Kung Kuan AB.
20-27 February 1963, The510th Tactical Fighter Squadron was supported by Detachment 1, 6214th Air Base Group, Kung Kuan AB, during its deployment to Taiwan.[5]
21 February 1963,405th Fighter Wing deployedF-102 Delta Dagger to Kung Kuan AB for participation in SKY SOLDIER III.
13 March – 15 May 1963, The 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron was supported by Detachment 1, 6214th Air Base Group at Kung Kuan AB for its deployment to Taiwan withRepublic F-105 Thunderchief.
17 – 27 March 1964, the15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was deployed fromKadena Air Base to Kung Kuan AB for reconnaissance missions, equipped withMcDonnell RF-101 Voodoo.
In April 1965, the479th Tactical Fighter Wing atGeorge AFBCalifornia deployed two F-104C squadrons to CCK (434th and 435th TFS).
On 17 April 1965,GeneralWilliam H. Blanchard, Vice Chief of Staff, USAF, visited Ching Chuan Kang Air Base. He formally opened the new 1,000 man dining hall.
On 2 February 1966, 6217th Combat Support Group was established in CCK.[6][7][8]
The following are the units that the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing once stationed at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taiwan：
Tactical Air Command reassigned the314th Troop Carrier Wing, withFairchild C-123 Providers andLockheed C-130 Hercules to CCK on 22 January 1966 fromSewart AFB,Tennessee. Known squadrons were:
These aircraft remained deployed to the base to provide passenger and cargo airlift throughout the Far East and combat airlift in Southeast Asia. The 314th TAW returned toLittle Rock AFB,Arkansas in 1971. The 314th was replaced by thePacific Air Forces374th Tactical Airlift Wing on 31 May 1971, being reassigned fromNaha AB, Okinawa, with CCK becoming a major depot support facility in Asia for theater-based tactical airlift aircraft. Known squadrons were:
The 374th remained heavily committed to support of operations inSoutheast Asia, and also continued routine airlift in other areas. One of the wing's humanitarian missions-flood relief in the Philippines-earned it a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation in 1972. The wing provided support in March 1973 for Operation Homecoming, the repatriation of American prisoners from Hanoi, North Vietnam.
The increase in theB-52Arc Light sortie rates over Vietnam necessitated relocation of additional KC-135's which provided PACAF fighter support. In February 1968 the United States Air ForceStrategic Air Command 4220th Air Refueling Squadron deployed to CCK, bringingKC-135 tankers formerly based atTakhli RTAFB,Thailand andKadena ABOkinawa.
The KC-135s were redeployed to permit increased B-52 operations at U-Tapao andF-111 deployment at Takhli. The move of the KC-135's to Ching Chuan Kang increased their effectiveness since they would be based nearer to Vietnam refueling areas.[9][10] In addition, fiveU-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield based radio relay aircraft were moved to Ching Chuan Kang by February 1968, along with approximately 450 additional USAF personnel.
On 21 March 1968, after theSR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft #61-17974 of the1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron of the9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing completed a supersonic high-altitude reconnaissance operation againstNorth Vietnam, due to the bad weather at theKadena Air Base inOkinawa, two aircraft Under the cover of the KC-135Q aerial tanker, it landed at the Ching Chuan Kang Air Base early. During the process, it also used the call sign of one of theKC-135Q to avoid thePRC’s surveillance. When it entered the Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, the SR-71 pilots Major Jerry O'Malley and Colonel Ed Payne requested permission from the tower to land, and landed in the middle of the two KC-135Qs at a speed of 175 knots, and immediately after landing The photographed film is transported toYokota Air Base inTokyo, byC-130 transporter for processing. It was also the first long-range strategic reconnaissance plane that landed in Taiwan. And returned to Kadena Air base on 23 March.
On 31 May 1968, the 6217th Combat Support Group was disbanded.
TwoMartin EB-57 Canberras from the347th Tactical Fighter Wing based atYokota ABJapan deployed to CCK, between 29 November and 8 December 1968. These aircraft provided Republic of China Air Defense pilots an opportunity to detect and intercept enemy aircraft that usedelectronic countermeasure (ECM) equipment.
5 December 1969, a C-130E -50th Tactical Airlift Squadron 62-1800 crashed about 6 miles (9.65 km) south ofTainan Air Base.2 October 1970, a c-130 departed Songshan Airport in Taipei with incoming Airforce personnel to CCK. It crashed 6 minutes after take off on top of a mountain and all on board were killed. That aircraft was one of two c-130 sent from CCK to Songshan Airport in Taipei to transport incoming personnel. On 20 February 1972 a Lockheed HC-130 set a world record [that still stands] for agreat circle distance without landing with a turboprop aircraft of 8,732.09 miles (14,052.94 km), flying from Ching Chuan Kang AB toScott AFB,Illinois.
The18th Tactical Fighter Wing based atKadena AB,Okinawa maintained two Squadron ofMcDonnell F-4C Phantom II aircraft from November 1972 until May 1975.
On 6 November 1972, the 18th Wing dispatched theMcDonnell Douglas F-4C/D Phantom II fighters of44th Fighter Squadron and67th Fighter Squadron to the Ching Chuan Kang Air Base until 31 May 1975, to assist Taiwan's defense against aerial threats from China.[11][12][13][14][15]
The following are the units that the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing once stationed at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taiwan：
In March 1973, the number of US troops stationed at CCK was about 5,000.
16 September 1973 - A 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C aircraft crashed during a temporary duty assignment in Taiwan; the crewmembers safely ejected.
15 October 1973, an EF-4C 63-7462 of the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron crashed shortly after takeoff from CCK AB.
On 13 November 1973, the374th TAW was reassigned toClark Air Base in thePhilippines.
On November 15, 1973, the 6217th Combat Support Group was reactivated.
On 1 September 1974, the 6217th Combat Support Group was renamed the 6217th Tactical Group.[16][17]
On 10 April 1975, the44th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the18th Tactical Fighter Wing withdrew from Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taichung, Taiwan, total of 24McDonnell F-4C/D Phantom II fighters and 450 pilots and ground crews toKadena Air Base inOkinawa.
In May 1975, the67th Tactical Fighter Squadron was withdrawn from CCK AB, Taiwan, with the final squadron of 18 F-4Cs departing forKadena Air Base,Okinawa, between 27 and 31 May.
From 1 June 1975, due to the withdrawal of F-4 fighter jets, the 6217th Tactical Group was reorganized to the 6217th Air Base Squadron, and CCK AB had been placed incaretaker status.[18] By 31 July 1975, the number of US troops stationed at CCK AB was 571. From 1977, the number of US troops stationed at CCK AB has been reduced to 100.
On 1 January 1979, the US normalized relations with thePeople's Republic of China (PRC). on 25 April 1979, which resulted in the lowering of the national flag by US Air Force personnel and their withdrawal from the base.[19]
On 20 February 1972, Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Allison, USAF, and his flight crew set a recognized turboprop aircraft class record of 8,732.09 miles (14,052.94 km) for a great circle distance without landing. The USAF Lockheed HC-130H was flown from Ching Chuan Kang Air Base toScott Air Force Base, Illinois in the United States. As of 2018, this record still stands more than 40 years later.[20][21]
On 21 January 2025, a master sergeant officer of theRepublic of China Air Force died after being sucked into a fighter jet engine during a routine final checkup of the aircraft inside a hangar.[22]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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