Cloncurry Airport is an airport in Cloncurry

Cloncurry, Queensland

-Notable residents:*Writer Alexis Wright grew up in Cloncurry.*Association Footballer Kasey Wehrman was born in Cloncurry . He went on to play domestically and in Scandinavia. His achievements include winning a NSL Championship in 1996-1997 with the Brisbane Strikers and being capped several times...

, Queensland

Queensland

Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

.

History

Cloncurry Airport has been the focal point for many of Australia’s greatest innovations. Cloncurry was involved with the beginnings of QANTAS

Qantas

Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...

, and the original QANTAS Hangar is still in use at the aerodrome, where “Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service” is still displayed above the hangar door.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service was founded there in 1928, now recognised the world over. The airport was also on route for early planes coming from overseas and a stopping place for contestants in the great air races of 1919 and 1934.

World War II

Due to the strategic importance of Cloncurry aerodrome on the main Darwin–Sydney air route, the Royal Australian Air Force

Royal Australian Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...

 expanded the aerodrome during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. Intended to be a major airbase should the Imperial Japanese have occupied New Guinea

Territory of New Guinea

The Territory of New Guinea was the Australia-controlled, League of Nations-mandated territory in the north eastern part of the island of New Guinea, and surrounding islands, between 1920 and 1949...

 and Papua.

During the Second World World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, Cloncurry Airport was the site of a major United States Army Air Force air base in 1942. As the war moved north, the USAAF units located north to forward bases.

List of Wartime Military Units Based at Cloncurry Aerodrome

• No. 29 Operational Base Unit RAAF - 22 June 1942 – 5 July 1943
• No. 30 Operational Base Unit RAAF - 12 December 1942 – 19 September 1946
• No. 107 Radar Station RAAF - 1 June 1942 – 11 September 1942
• No. 108 Radar Station RAAF - 1 June 1942 – 11 September 1942
• USAAF 19th Bombardment Group B-17 Flying Fortress

HQ 19th Bomb Group assigned to Essendon Airport

Essendon Airport

Essendon Airport is located at Essendon, in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Victoria, Australia. It is located next to the Tullamarine Freeway on , from the Melbourne Central Business District and from Melbourne Airport.-History:...

, Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

, Vic.

28th Bombardment Squadron

28th Bomb Squadron

The 28th Bomb Squadron is part of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. It operates B-1 Lancer aircraft providing strategic bombing capability...

, (28 March-5 May 1942)

Detachment operated from: Perth Airport

Perth Airport

Perth Airport is an Australian domestic and international airport serving Perth, the capital and largest city of Western Australia. The airport itself is located in the suburb of Perth Airport....

, Perth, Western Australia

Perth, Western Australia

Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....

, (28 March-18 May 1942)

30th Bombardment Squadron, (24 March-13 May 1942)

93d Bombardment Squadron, (29 March-18 May 1942)

Airlines and destinations

See also

• United States Army Air Forces in Australia
  United States Army Air Forces in Australia
  During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces established a series of airfields in Australia for the collective defense of the country, as well as for conducting offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy...
  
   (World War II
  World War II
  World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
  
  )