Meiktila Air Base (RAF Meiktila)

Meiktila Air Base is a Myanmar Air Force installation east of Meiktila in Mandalay Region, Myanmar. It hosts a squadron of Mil Mi-35P attack helicopters and is controlled by the Central Sector Operations Center (SOC).

The Royal Air Force operated the airfield as RAF Meiktila between 1942 and 1946 under Air Command, South East Asia (ACSEA). No. 154 Maintenance Unit was based there from 26 January to 12 March 1942. Headquarters No. 221 (Tactical) Group RAF occupied the airfield from 12 April to June 1945, supported by No. 221 Group Communication Flight. No. 181 Wing HQ, No. 910 Wing HQ and No. 19 Satellite Airfield HQ were also stationed there during 1945.

The airfield's fighter and ground-attack units were concentrated in 1945. Nos. 34, 79 and 113 Squadrons flew the Republic Thunderbolt II from Meiktila. No. 42 Squadron reformed there on 1 July 1945 with the Thunderbolt II and disbanded on 30 December 1945. No. 146 Squadron, also equipped with the Thunderbolt II, disbanded at the base on 1 July 1945. No. 17 Squadron operated the Supermarine Spitfire VIII there in April 1945, and No. 28 Squadron flew the Hawker Hurricane IIC from April to May 1945. Detachments included No. 27 Squadron (Bristol Beaufighter X, November 1944–April 1945), No. 89 Squadron (Beaufighter VIF, August 1944–February 1945), No. 47 Squadron (de Havilland Mosquito VI, April–August 1945) and No. 681 Squadron (Spitfire XI and XIX, May 1944–May 1945).

Army cooperation and liaison aircraft operated from the airfield as well. A detachment of No. 357 Squadron flew the Westland Lysander IIIA from March to November 1945, and No. 656 Squadron operated the Auster V from April to May 1945.

Transport detachments from Nos. 10, 62 and 194 Squadrons flew the Douglas Dakota from the base between March 1945 and June 1946. A detachment of No. 298 Squadron operated the Handley Page Halifax A.7 from December 1945 to May 1946, and the AHQ Burma Communication Flight maintained a detachment there in April and May 1946.

Support units included Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 14 Casualty Air Evacuation Units, all present between April and August 1945. Nos. 94 and 98 Air Stores Parks, No. 363 Maintenance Unit, Nos. 3 and 148 Repair & Salvage Units, No. 27 Glider Servicing Echelon and No. 1582 Calibration Flight were also based at Meiktila in 1945. No. 3 Repair & Salvage Unit remained until 28 March 1946.