Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Defence |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Founder | William D. Pawley |
| Fate | Relocated operations multiple times; eventually ceased operations after WWII |
| Headquarters | Originally near Hangzhou Jianqiao Airport; later Yunnan (Loiwing), Hankou, Hengyang, Rangoon, Bangalore , China (originally) |
Area served | China, Burma, India |
Key people | William D. Pawley (founder), Bruce Gardner Leighton (general manager 1937–1939), Wang Zhu (chief engineer 1934–1937) |
| Products | Fighter and attack aircraft production and assembly (Hawk II, Hawk III, Gamma 2E, Curtiss H-75 fighters, Vultee V-11 light bombers, Curtiss P-40 fighters) |
The Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company (CAMCO; ), which became known as the Loiwing Factory (雷允飛機製造廠) following its move to Yunnan, was a Chinese aircraft production firm established in the 1930s by American businessman William D. Pawley.
History
Starting in 1933, CAMCO produced approximately 100 Hawk II and Hawk III fighter-bombers, along with 25 Gamma 2E attack bombers at a plant located near Hangzhou Jianqiao Airport. These planes, initially created for the United States Navy, became the backbone of the Republic of China Air Force during the opening phase of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The chief engineer position from 1934 to 1937 was held by former Boeing engineer Wang Zhu.
During the Nationalist retreat from coastal areas in 1937–38, CAMCO shifted its operations to Hankou, led by general manager Bruce Gardner Leighton (1937–1939). This site concentrated on repairing aircraft damaged in combat and likely assembled newer versions of the Curtiss H-75 fighters, an export variant of the U.S. Army’s P-36. After Hankou’s fall in October 1938, CAMCO relocated again to Hengyang, where production expanded to include Vultee V-11 light bombers. Simultaneously, a new facility was set up at Loiwing on the China-Burma border, commencing operations in spring 1939 with supplies transported via the Burma Road from Rangoon (now Yangon). Funded by Chongqing’s Nationalist government, this factory assembled Hawk 75 (Curtiss P-36 Hawk) and Curtiss-Wright CW-21 fighter aircraft.
In the winter of 1940–41, Pawley played a key role in recruiting and equipping the first American Volunteer Group (AVG), later called the Flying Tigers. AVG pilots were released from U.S. military service to serve as trainers or "Metal Workers" for China, with CAMCO acting as their official employer. Additionally, CAMCO established an assembly plant at Mingaladon airport near Rangoon to build 100 Curtiss P-40 fighters destined for the AVG. CAMCO operated administrative offices in both Rangoon and New York City to provide ongoing support for the AVG until its dissolution in July 1942.
The Loiwing factory handled repairs on AVG P-40s and supported air raids into Thailand and Burma. When Allied forces withdrew from Burma in spring 1942, this facility fell under Japanese control. Subsequently, Pawley moved operations to Bangalore, India, collaborating with Hindustan Aircraft Ltd. There, he oversaw assembly of Harlow trainer aircraft for the Indian Air Force, contributing significantly to Bangalore’s rise as a center for advanced technology during the 20th century.
See also
- Aircraft operated in China prior to and during 1937
- Development of Chinese Nationalist air force (1937–1945)
- National Aerospace Laboratories
- Mahindra Aerospace
References
- Annals of the Flying Tigers
- Byrd, Martha. Chennault: Giving Wings to the Tiger. Tuscaloosa, AL: University Alabama Press, 2003. .
- Ford, Daniel. Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942. Washington, DC: HarperCollins|Smithsonian Books, 2007. .
- Porritt, Mamie. letters from Loiwing
- Rosholt, Malcolm. Flight in the China Air Space. Privately printed, 1984.