U.S. Air Force Lockheed F-104C Starfighters from the 434th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 479th Tactical Fighter Wing, at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan, in April 1965.CCK AB, Taiwan, Main Gate, a joint guard post of the U.S. Air Force Security Police and the ROC Air Force Military Police, 1969Bob Hope Christmas Show at CCK Air Base, Taiwan on 29 December 1969CCK Air Base, Taiwan, Flag Raising of the U.S. Air Force Security Police and the ROC Air Force Military Police, 1973CCK Air Base, Taiwan, Flag Raising of the U.S. Air Force Security Police and the ROC Air Force Military Police, 1973Lockheed C-130E-LM Hercules 63-7825 345th TAS/374th TAWMcDonnell F-4C-23-MC Phantoms of the 44th TFS/18th TFW deployed at CCK, 2 October 1973The EF-4C fighters of the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the US Air Force took off from the CCK Air Base, Taiwan for Combat air patrol, 20 November 1972The 44th and 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed to Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taiwan, F-4 fighter pilots and ROC Air Force pilots were interviewed by reporters, 20 November 1972Main gate of Ching Chuan Kang Air BaseThe F-CK-1 fighter of the ROC Air Force is located at Ching Chuan Kang Air baseFive F-CK-1s of the 427th Wing at Ching Chuang Kang Air Base
Ching Chuan Kang Air Base (Chinese: 清泉崗空軍基地, CCK) is a Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) base located in Taichung, Taiwan. It is the home to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, with three squadrons of AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter aircraft. It is also used by the army's airborne and special operations command.
ROCAFF-16A Flight Demonstration in Ching Chuan Kang Air Force Base
The forerunner to CCK Air Base was built in 1936, during Japanese rule, in the vicinity of Kōkan (Japanese: 公館), hence the former name Kōkan 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 of ROC 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batch of American F-104 Starfighters in 1960–61, and eventually received over 200 of these aircraft, all of which were withdrawn from service in the early 1990s.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 at Hsinchu, 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 the AH-1W attack helicopters of the Army's 602nd Brigade.[2]
From August 1958 to January 1959, the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing deployed eight F-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.
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, the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing was also deployed from Itazuke Air Base, Japan to Kung Kuan AB.
20-27 February 1963, The 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron was supported by Detachment 1, 6214th Air Base Group, Kung Kuan AB, during its deployment to Taiwan.[5]
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 with Republic F-105 Thunderchief.
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：
434th Tactical Fighter Squadron (April 1965 – October 1965) (F-104C)
435th Tactical Fighter Squadron (12 October 1965 – 21 December 1965) (F-104C)
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 to Little Rock AFB, Arkansas in 1971. The 314th was replaced by the Pacific Air Forces374th Tactical Airlift Wing on 31 May 1971, being reassigned from Naha 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 in Southeast 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 the B-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 Force Strategic Air Command 4220th Air Refueling Squadron deployed to CCK, bringing KC-135 tankers formerly based at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand and Kadena ABOkinawa.
The KC-135s were redeployed to permit increased B-52 operations at U-Tapao and F-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, five U-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 the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft #61-17974 of the 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing completed a supersonic high-altitude reconnaissance operation against North Vietnam, due to the bad weather at the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, 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 the KC-135Q to avoid the PRC’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 to Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, by C-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.
5 December 1969, a C-130E - 50th Tactical Airlift Squadron 62-1800 crashed about 6 miles (9.65 km) south of Tainan 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. I was one of the lucky ones that got on the first C-130 and served at CCK from Oct. 1970-Dec. 1972 working at the Cryogenics Liquid Oxygen Plant.
On 20 February 1972 a Lockheed HC-130 set a world record [that still stands] for a great circle distance without landing with a turboprop aircraft of 8,732.09 miles (14,052.94 km), flying from Ching Chuan Kang AB to Scott AFB, Illinois.
The following are the units that the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing once stationed at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taiwan：
44th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Tail Code: ZL) (6 November 1972 – 10 April 1975) (F-4C/D)
67th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Tail Code: ZG) (6 November 1972 – 31 May 1975) (EF-4C, F-4D)
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.
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 in caretaker status.[18]
On 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 the People'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]
World's longest turboprop aircraft distance record
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, Republic of China (Taiwan), to Scott AFB, Illinois in the United States. As of 2018, this record still stands more than 40 years later.[20][21]
Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN0-88740-513-4.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-12-9.
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