Jump to content

Corunna Downs Airfield

Coordinates: 21°26′00″S 119°46′58″E / 21.43333°S 119.78278°E / -21.43333; 119.78278
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Corunna Downs Airfield
Part of World War II
Pilbara region
Near Marble Bar in Australia
Corunna Downs Airfield is located in Western Australia
Corunna Downs Airfield
Corunna Downs Airfield
location of the airbase in Western Australia
Coordinates21°26′00″S 119°46′58″E / 21.43333°S 119.78278°E / -21.43333; 119.78278
TypeAirbase
Site information
OwnerRoyal Australian Air Force
OperatorNo. 73 Operational Base Unit RAAF[1]
Open to
the public
Yes
ConditionPoor
Site history
Built1942 (1942)
In useuntil 14 January 1946 (1946-01-14)
FateAbandoned
EventsLong range missions against Japanese shipping and base facilities in the Dutch East Indies
Garrison information
OccupantsAustralia

United States

Airfield information
Runways
Direction Length and surface
NS 5,000 ft × 150 ft (1,524 m × 46 m) Dirt
EW 7,000 ft × 150 ft (2,134 m × 46 m) Dirt
Brockman's Station
LocationSalgash Corunna Downs Road, East Pilbara, Pilbara region
Nearest cityMarble Bar
Built1942 (1942)
Built forRoyal Australian Air Force
Original useMilitary base
Current usePublic use
Designated26 May 2006 (2006-05-26)
Reference no.3695

Corunna Downs Airfield was a secret Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base at Corunna Downs, 40 km (25 mi) south of Marble Bar in the Pilbara region of Western Australia during World War II.[2][3][4] In 1942 the RAAF built a secret airbase on Corunna Downs Station, adjacent to the 1891 homestead. The airfield, created especially for B-24 Liberator long-range heavy bombers, comprised two intersecting bitumen runways, a north–south (165°) runway 5,000 ft × 150 ft (1,524 m × 46 m) and an east–west (107°) runway 7,000 ft × 150 ft (2,134 m × 46 m).[2]

No. 73 Operational Base Unit was responsible for operating the airfield during World War II.[5]

The RAAF No. 24 Squadron, No 25 Squadron and the United States Army Air Corps 380th Bomb Group flew long range missions against Japanese shipping and base facilities in the Dutch East Indies.[2][6]

The base has been abandoned since World War II.[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kerr, Colin (21 January 2013). "Bombers hidden in the desert". The West Australian. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Register of Heritage places – Assessment Documentation". InHerit. Heritage Council of Western Australia. 30 March 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  3. ^ Images of World War Two airbase at Corunna Downs near Marble Bar, 1942, retrieved 8 January 2023
  4. ^ "Base played vital WWII role". Royal Australian Navy News. Vol. 38, no. 17. Australia, Australia. 11 September 1995. p. 13. Retrieved 8 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ Cafarella, Antonio (1998), Corunna Downs the invisible WW2 airfield, A. Cafarella, ISBN 978-0-9586209-1-8
  6. ^ 380th Bombardment Group U. S. A. A. F, retrieved 8 January 2023
  7. ^ "Airfield Opens". The Daily News. Vol. LXX, no. 24, 190. Western Australia. 24 October 1952. p. 8 (FINAL). Retrieved 8 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
[edit]