Coordinates: 21°26′00″S 119°46′58″E / 21.43333°S 119.78278°E
Corunna Downs Airfield
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 | [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
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Airfield information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
The airfield, created especially for 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]
was responsible for operating the airfield during World War II.
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]
The base has been abandoned since World War II.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Kerr, Colin (21 January 2013). "Bombers hidden in the desert". The West Australian. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ a b c "Register of Heritage Places" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
External links[]
Categories:
- Former Royal Australian Air Force bases
- World War II airfields in Australia
- Defunct airports in Western Australia
- Western Australia during World War II
- State Register of Heritage Places in the Shire of East Pilbara
- Australian military stubs
- Military aviation stubs