Air Force Station Kalaikunda is one of the premier fighter bases of the Indian Air Force. It is one of the oldest airfields in the Eastern Air Command and is located in West Medinipur district of West Bengal, 121 Km from Kolkata. Air Force Station Kalaikunda was set up during World War Il as a forward airfield against the Japanese offensive in Burma and Malaya. The base was originally designed for the B-24 Liberator, an American heavy bomber. In 1943, Air Force Station Kalaikunda was designated as the “XX Bomber Command' for the operation of B-29 Super Fortress bomber aircraft of the US Air Force. It was one of the four B-29 Super Fortress bases established by the Americans in India. The XX Bomber Command took shape with the first batch of B-29s at Kalaikunda on March 28, 1944 under the command of General K B Wolfe. It was a major airfield in the supply route for the Nationalist Army of China in its fight against the Japanese forces. Aircraft from the RAF and USAF flew regularly to China via Chabua, Johrat and Vijayanagar across the infamous ‘Hump Route' over Arunachal and East Tibet. This airfield and other nearby airfields such as Dudhkundi, Salua, Digri, Salboni, Amarda and Chakulia formed a complex of airfields created by the Allies as part of their response to stem the Japanese advance in the East. On June 5, 1944, the 468th Bombardment Group flew its first operational mission from Kalaikunda against railroad yards at Bangkok, Thailand. Ten days later, the Group opened Air Offensive Phase against Japan with B-29 Super Fortress bomber aircraft by bombing the Imperial Iron & Steel Works, Yawata, Japan. Within a year, it participated in eight campaigns and earned three Distinguished Units Citations - one of the highest American gallantry awards. From June 1944 until May 1945, operating at maximum range, the 468th group of 'XX Bomber Command' launched Operation Matterhorn. It conducted aerial reconnaissance and bombing operations from Kalaikunda and bases in China against Japanese targets in Japan, Manchuria, Taiwan, Burma, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore and Sumatra. Sixteen- hour combat missions were common with the longest stretching to 21 hours. Air Force Station Kalaikunda was later put under the control of EAC. The Station was base for three Mystere squadrons. Canberras were also stationed in Kalaikunda. In 1960s, one more squadron with Toofani aircraft (French Ouragan) was added. In 1963, Dudhkundi was converted to air-to-ground armament firing range. In the 1980s, the Station was expanded with the inclusion of 4 Air Force Hospital, 4 AF Dental Centre, Operational Conversion Unitss, TTF and 28 Sqn. In 1982, the Golden Jubilee of Indian Air Force saw the inception of nine Hunter aircraft formation team called thunderbolts. Kalaikunda later became the home for MiG-27. As the IAF modernised, it graduated from Ajeet to MiG- 27. TTF continued to fly Hunters before the aircraft was phased out on Air Force Day Flypast at Palam, New Delhi in 2002.