During the Second World War on 10 May 1942, the Japanese bombed the town of Imphal which did not have an airport at the time. Therefore a decision was made, on 1942, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) begun construction of the airfield, and completed it in 1943. The land needed for this airfield was acquired from its owners and also the State Government. Due to this, compensations were paid by the Army Department of India. Koirengei along with the nearby airfields helped prevent Japan's advance into India during the Battle of Imphal.[1][2]
It was promised that after the war, the land would be transferred back to the State Government when the airfield no longer served a purpose. The Military Estate Officer was operating the airfield at Koirengei Airfield, while the Air Force was in charge of it.[3]
After the Independence of India in 1947, the airfield was returned to civil purposes up until early 1959 when it was closed as Tulihal Airfield experienced major redevelopment for civil use. Only a few pieces of the runway remains today at Koirengei.[4]
