Ledo Airfield

The closure was a direct result of the end of World War II. Ledo Airfield was a purpose-built, temporary military installation designed to support Allied operations in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater. With the surrender of Japan and the conclusion of the war, its strategic military purpose ceased to exist. The USAAF withdrew its forces and assets, and the airfield was decommissioned and abandoned.

The site is currently abandoned and in a state of ruin. Satellite imagery clearly shows the faint outline of the main runway and some taxiways, but they are heavily overgrown with vegetation, broken up, and unusable for aviation. There are no standing airport buildings, hangars, or control towers. The land has largely reverted to nature, with parts of the former runway reportedly used by local villagers as a footpath, for drying rice, or for grazing cattle. The airfield exists today only as a historical relic.

Ledo Airfield was one of the most critical and famous Allied airbases of World War II. Its historical importance is immense:

1. **Gateway to the Ledo Road:** It was the western terminus and primary construction support base for the Ledo Road (later renamed the Stilwell Road). This vital overland supply route was built by Allied forces, primarily American engineers, to connect India with China and resupply the Chinese army after the original Burma Road was captured by the Japanese.

2. **'The Hump' Airlift Operations:** The airfield was a major hub for the USAAF's Air Transport Command. It was a key departure point for transport aircraft, such as the C-46 Commando and C-47 Skytrain, flying the treacherous air route over the eastern Himalayas known as 'The Hump'. This massive airlift operation was the sole means of supplying China for a significant period and was one of the most dangerous and challenging aviation feats of the war.

3. **Combat Air Base:** Ledo served as a forward operating base for the USAAF Tenth Air Force. It hosted numerous combat units, including fighter groups (flying P-40 Warhawks and P-51 Mustangs) and bomber groups, which conducted missions against Japanese forces in Burma. These missions included providing air support for ground troops, attacking enemy airfields, and interdicting Japanese supply lines.

4. **Major Logistical Hub:** As the starting point for both the air and land routes into China, Ledo was a massive logistical center, processing and dispatching enormous quantities of personnel, fuel, equipment, and supplies for the war effort in the CBI Theater.

There are no known official plans or realistic prospects for reopening Ledo Airfield. The infrastructure is completely derelict and would require a total reconstruction from the ground up, which would be prohibitively expensive. Furthermore, its strategic military importance is gone, and for civilian purposes, the region is adequately served by other airports in Assam, such as Dibrugarh Airport (DIB), which is relatively nearby. The site's value is now historical and touristic rather than operational.