The '''Xi'an Xiguan Airfield''' was built in 1924 under the directives of
Zhang Xueliang of the
Fengtian Army, and as the Chinese warlord battles raged,
Feng Yuxiang and
Yan Xishan sought to subjugate the Nationalist government of
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek; the Young Marshall however sided with the Nationalists, and the
Nationalist Chinese Air Force units began their stationing at Xi'an Xiguan Airfield, specifically the
6th Reconnaissance-Attack/Scout-Attack Group composed of
O2U-1 light-attack/scout-bombers in 1929–30, which were deployed in the
Central Plains War. During the
War of Resistance-World War II, the airport was known as
Hsian Airfield and was used by the
United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force as part of the China Defensive Campaign (1942–1945). The Americans used the airport primarily as a photo-reconnaissance airfield, with unarmed
P-38 Lightnings, equipped with aerial cameras flew over Japanese-held territory providing intelligence to the Chinese ground forces. In addition,
P-61 Black Widow night interceptor aircraft flew from the airport, providing defense against night bombing raids by the Japanese, along with
P-47 Thunderbolts day fighters and
C-47 Skytrain transports flying in supplies and ammunition to support friendly forces in the area. The Americans closed their facilities at the airport after the end of the war in September 1945. By the 1980s, the airport was too small to handle rapid increase of local and foreign tourists and the terminal grew inadequate and the airport could no longer expand. On September 1, 1991, the airport was closed and all the flights and vehicles left at the airport were transferred to the new Xianyang Airport. The site of the airport was then converted into a civil park. at the tarmac in 1988. At that time, bicycles patrolling the airport apron was still a norm. == Former airlines and destinations ==