Sahmaw is a town in Kachin State, Myanmar.

Second World War

During the Burma Campaign 1944-1945 in the Second World War, Sahmaw was the site of a United States Army Air Forces airfield, now abandoned. The airfield was a temporary combat airfield used by the 33d Fighter Group between 26 December 1944 and 4 May 1945, flying P-47 Thunderbolts and P-38 Lightnings. It was also used by the 71st Liaison Squadron, between 15 October and 16 January 1945, flying L-4 Piper Cubs and UC-64A Norseman light aircraft. After the Americans moved out, the airfield was abandoned and was returned to agricultural use. Sahmaw was a part of the Jeep Railway, a system of trains consisting of jeeps fitted with railway wheels and running on tracks, organized by the 36th Infantry Division of the British Army during the Burma Campaign.