Hathazari Airfield

Military Decommissioning. Hathazari Airfield was a temporary forward combat airfield constructed specifically for the Burma Campaign of World War II. With the surrender of Japan and the end of the war in 1945, the strategic military need for the airfield vanished. The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and Royal Air Force (RAF) units stationed there were withdrawn, and the airfield was abandoned and turned over to the local government of what was then British India. It was not designed or intended for post-war civilian use.

The site of the former Hathazari Airfield is now almost entirely reclaimed by nature and agriculture. The main runway's distinct, long, and straight outline is still clearly visible from satellite imagery, but the land itself has been subdivided into numerous agricultural plots, fish ponds (ghers), and scattered rural settlements. There is no remaining aviation infrastructure such as hangars, control towers, or paved surfaces. The land is completely demilitarized and serves civilian, primarily agricultural, purposes.

Hathazari Airfield was a critically important Allied airbase during World War II. Constructed in 1942-1943, it was heavily used by both the USAAF Tenth Air Force and the British RAF from 1943 to 1945. Its primary role was to support the Burma Campaign by launching combat missions against Japanese forces, supply lines, bridges, and airfields in Burma.

Key operations and units based at Hathazari included:
- **USAAF 12th Bombardment Group:** Flew B-25 Mitchell medium bombers on missions against Japanese targets.
- **USAAF 80th Fighter Group ('Burma Banshees'):** Flew P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft, providing escort for bombers and conducting fighter sweeps.
- **USAAF 341st Bombardment Group:** Also operated B-25 Mitchells from the airfield.
- **Various RAF Squadrons:** The airfield was a key part of the RAF's 'Third Tactical Air Force' (Third TAF) operations, hosting squadrons flying aircraft like the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire.

The airfield was instrumental in gaining air superiority over Burma and disrupting the Japanese war effort, directly contributing to the Allied victory in the region.

There are zero known plans or prospects for reopening Hathazari Airfield. The original infrastructure is non-existent, and the land has been privately owned and cultivated for over 75 years. Furthermore, its revival is economically and logistically unviable due to its relative proximity (approximately 35-40 km) to the fully operational Shah Amanat International Airport (ICAO: VGEG), which serves the major city of Chittagong and the surrounding region.