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]
Corunna Downs Airfield | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Part of World War II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pilbara region Near Marble Bar in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  Corunna Downs Airfield location of the airbase in Western Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 21°26′00″S 119°46′58″E / 21.43333°S 119.78278°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Airbase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Royal Australian Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | No. 73 Operational Base Unit RAAF[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Open to the public | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condition | Poor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Built | 1942 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In use | until 14 January 1946 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fate | Abandoned | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Events | Long range missions against Japanese shipping and base facilities in the Dutch East Indies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupants | Australia
United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
- ^ Kerr, Colin (21 January 2013). "Bombers hidden in the desert". The West Australian. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ a b c "Register of Heritage places – Assessment Documentation". InHerit. Heritage Council of Western Australia. 30 March 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ Images of World War Two airbase at Corunna Downs near Marble Bar, 1942, retrieved 8 January 2023
- ^ "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.
- ^ Cafarella, Antonio (1998), Corunna Downs the invisible WW2 airfield, A. Cafarella, ISBN 978-0-9586209-1-8
- ^ 380th Bombardment Group U. S. A. A. F, retrieved 8 January 2023
- ^ "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.
External links edit
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