The Chabua air base was used extensively by the Allies for the operations against the Japanese, and was abandoned after World War II. In 1962, in response to the Chinese invasion of Tibet and subsequent threat to the Northeast, the Wing 14 was formed at Jorhat and moved to Chabua. The first IAF aircraft to operate here were the Dakotas of the 49 Squadron and the Vampires of the 24 Squadron. During the Chinese aggression, air transport support for Lohit, Siang and Subansiri divisions was provided from Chabua. In 1965, it was used as the base for a squadron each of the Hunters, the Otters and Mi-4 helicopters. After the war, in 1974, the runway was renovated to enable high performance fighter operations and the 47 Squadron moved here with MiG-21 aircraft. Before its closure in 1992, there were no fighter squadrons here, but the station had two Mi-17 units for air logistics operations in Arunachal Pradesh. In 1993, it was decided to expand Chabua to once again house fighters. The helicopters were relocated to neighbouring Mohanbari and Chabua remained without any flying squadrons till 1995. The 20 Squadron, the erstwhile Thunderbolts, equipped with MiG-21FL, started operations from mid-1995. They undertook the task of training newly commissioned officers of the fighter stream. In January 1998, it was replaced by Operational Conversion Units, relocated from Chabua to Kalaikunda towards the end of 2009. On December 1, 2010, the 102 Squadron was resurrected with the magnificent Sukhoi-30MKI and Chabua once again became the easternmost fighter base of the air force.