Kolkata has been the centre of aviation in India for many years. Although the history of air travel in the city is commonly associated with Dumdum, the site of its only airport since 1924, Kolkata’s aviation roots stretch far deeper. The city was a major hub for early Indian aviation, with multiple locations witnessing historic flights. From hosting India’s first air show in 1910 to functioning as an airbase during war, Kolkata’s air travel history abounds with interesting milestones.
Aviation History In Kolkata: Beyond Dumdum Airport
The aviation history of the city started much earlier than Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport was constructed in Dumdum. One of the earliest air flights to be recorded in Kolkata aviation history was on December 28, 1910, when India’s first air show was conducted in Tollygunge.
Two airships carrying 21 passengers took off for a joyride and landed back on the green pastures of Tollygunge, which was a landmark in Indian aviation. Soon after, on December 24, 1912, two French pilots, Jules Tyck and Baron De Cators, took off from Calcutta Maidan, flying over the city in an early demonstration of air travel’s potential.
The contribution of aviation from Kolkata grew significantly during World War II when US bombers were utilising the Red Road runway. This heightened the status of Kolkata as a gateway for civilian and military aviation.
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Victoria Memorial: An Airbase During Wartime
One of the lesser-known facts about Kolkata’s aviation history is its connection with the Victoria Memorial. During the early 1920s, when the stately building was yet to be completed, it was operated as a temporary airbase.
In March or April 1920, an Italian squadron of aircraft flying from Rome to Tokyo made use of the empty space surrounding the Victoria Memorial as a landing strip. This lesser-known incident points to how Kolkata was already a part of international air connectivity in the early 20th century.
Even as Kolkata’s leadership in international aviation waned after 1968, the city has gradually reclaimed some of its former glory. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is still one of India’s busiest airports, and Kolkata aviation history continues to develop, keeping the city linked to the world.
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As we look back on this incredible journey, one cannot help but ask oneself—what other lost tales of aviation are waiting to be unearthed in the city’s history?
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
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