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Chengdu was chosen for the Chinese bases because of its remoteness meaning it was difficult for the Japanese to reach. Advance Army Air Forces personnel arrived in India to prepare for the B-29 operations (December 1943). Their assignment was to to organize the building of the extended airfields needed by the B-29s in India and China. Heavy equipment was availabe for use in India. Thousands of Indians labored to construct four permanent bases in eastern India around Kharagpur. At the same time, 1,000 miles (1,600 km) to the northeast, across the formidable Himalayan mountains, an incredible work force of 350,000 Chinese workers. As men had mostly been conscripted and in the Army, much of the workforce was women and children. They set about building four forward staging bases in western China around Chengdu. Little or no heavy equipment was available for this effort as flying it over the Hump was impossible. Chengdu was formerly romanized as Chengtu which is the name appearing in many World War II histories. It is the provincial capital of Sichuan province in southwest China. (Looking a the map it looks like central China, but this is only with Tibet included. Southwest is more correct if just China proper is considered. Chengdu was a city of ancient origins. Today is a huge modern city in Western China with some 14 million people. It is one of the most important economic, finance, commerce, culture, transportation, and communication centers in Western China. At the time of the war it was much less developed, but food was available. It is located on a fertile Chengdu Plain, known as the "Country of Heaven" / "The Land of Abundance". China built four forward air bases around Chengdu for the American B-29 bombers from from India to operate from for attacks on the Home Islands. Chengdu was far enough west in mountainous terrain to make it difficult for the Japanese to get to them. The mountains are why Chengdu is prime panda territory. It soon became apparent, however, that flying the fuel, bombs, and spares needed to support the forward bases in China over the Hump was a much more difficult undertaking than originally understood. The XX Bomber Command planned to have two combat wings of four groups each, This was reduced to a single wing of four groups because of sufficient aircraft were not avilble. And then the limitations on staging B-29 formation in China became icreasingly apparent. .
Hsinching (A-1): This was the forward base for the 40th Bombardment Group based in Chakulia. India.
Kiunglai/Qionglai (A-5): The 462d Bombardment Group It was known by the Americans as Kiunglai/Kuinglai/Chiung-Lai. The B-29s operated from Piardoba, India. The 462d conducted the first mission against Japan (June 15) at the time the invasion of Saipan was commencing. It was the first American assault on the Home Islands since the Doolittle raid in 1942.
Kwanghn (A-3): This was the forward base for the 444th Bombardment Group based in Dudhkund, India.
Pengshan (A-7): This was the forward base for the 468th Bombardment Group based in Kalaikunda, India.
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