Kai Tak airport – BAAG Reports 1942-1944, plus other HK landing strips

I would also like to mention that the HK Government Information Services once published a very informative undated booklet about Kai Tak called simply Hong Kong Airport.  It contains photos, floor plans of the building, history etc.

HF: These reports contain information about developments at Kai Tak including its expansion during the Japanese occupation.

There are also reports on several actual or potential aerodromes and “landing grounds” including:

Kukong Intelligence Summary No. 3, 24.6.1942.

KIS #6: 10.7.1942.
Kai Tak – 5th July 1942. “To be the biggest airfield in Far East”. Work has started on the extension of the airfield at Kai Tak. Houses in the vicinity must be demolished by occupants forthwith, compensation HK$1,000. Precise details of reported extension are not yet availaable but the following data has come to hand:
Stage 1 – Has been started. Clearance of all villages in paddy north of present landing ground.
Stage 2 – Orders issued. Clearing of all village buildings in SW corner making all land at present enclosed by main road available.
Stage 3 – To be staarted in August. Clearing of all ground east of bearing [?] degrees from Police station.
The whole area is now a prohibition Area. An unconfirmed report states that British working parties have been seen working there.

Waichow Intelligence Summary No 6. 14.8.1942

WIS #8: 9.10.42.

WIS # 13: 8.12.42.

WIS #15: 30.12.42.

WIS #17: 28.1.1943.

WIS #17: 28.1.1943.

WIS #18: 12.2.1943.

WIS #18: 12.2.1943.

WIS #19: 17.2.1943.

WIS #19 17.2.1943.

WIS #23 14.3.43.

WIS #24: 23.3.43.

WIS #25: 27.3.43.

 

WIS #25: 27.3.43.
(cont)

WIS #26: 7.4.43.

WIS #27: 14.4.43.

WIS #27: 14.4.43 cont

WIS #27: 14.4.43 cont.

WIS #27: 14.4.43 cont.

WIS #27: 14.4.43 cont.

From a letter from Col Ride to Nilitary Attaché of 12.5.43:

WIS #28: 25.4.43.

 

 

————————
N.B by EMR: I have not found the sections “IIa – Air” for KWIZ # 5 of 12.7.43 to #68 of 29.9.44.

————————-

Kweilin Weekly Intelligence Summary KWIZ.

KWIZ #4: 27.6.1943.

KWIZ # 69: 6.10.44.

KWIZ # 70: 13.10.44.

 

KWIZ # 72: 27.10.44.

KWIZ #74: 10.11.44.

KWIZ #75: 17.11.44.

KWIZ #76: 24.11.44.

KWIZ #77: 15.12.44.

KWIZ #78: 22.12.44.

This article was first posted on 27th July 2014.

Related Indhhk articles:

1. World War Two – Kai Tak airport, BAAG maps, sketches and plans
2. Kai Tak airport – 1925 to 1945, a brief history
3. Flying boats before Kai Tak runway opened – SCMP article
4. To Kwa Wan “Concrete Factory” during WW2 – Japanese expansion of Kai Tak airport
5. Tai Koo Dockyard – 1950s general engineering including Kai Tak hangars, tramcars and wireless masts…
6. “The Past and Future of Industries” in Kwun Tong, Kowloon Bay and Kai Tak – EKEO proposals
7. Pearl Harbour Day in Hong Kong – Japanese attack on Kai Tak airport, December 1941
8. First commercial airliner shot down by hostile air action – out of Kai Tak, 1938
9. Japanese Extension of Kai Tak aerodrome, BAAG reports, 1942-1944
10. Netherlands Harbour Works Company – dredging HK harbour / reclamation at Kai Tak 1927

Further information:

• For general information about the Elizabeth Ride collection, her father Sir Lindsay Ride, and the British Army Aid group during WW2 a very useful introduction is through http://gwulo.com/node/13968
• The BAAG papers are kept at the  Hong Kong Heritage Project –
•  http://www.hongkongheritage.org/Archive/internet/eng/ArchiveSearchResult.aspx?parent_code=6482&searchType=1

Related Indhhkk articles:

The website has many articles about BAAG reports from HK during WW2 and about various aspects of life in HK during the Japanese occupation. The index shows all of these.