Snake Bay Airport
Encyclopedia
Snake Bay Airport is located at Milikapiti, Northern Territory
on the northern coast of Melville Island
, Australia
.
(RAAF) built the airfield as a forward fighter aerodrome, during World War II
as part of the proposed strategic amphibious operations by Allied forces against the Tanimbar Islands
and Kai Islands
. It was proposed to accommodate a RAAF Fighter Wing and a United States Army Air Force Fighter Group.
Construction was started on 7 July 1944, by No. 9 Mobile Works Unit RAAF with the help of 40 Aborigines
. The airfield was operational on 30 August 1944. Two side by side runways 1829 metres (6,000.7 ft) long were constructed.
The airfield was never fully utilized as the proposed amphibious operations were canceled and replaced with Papua Campaign. The airfield was known as Austin Strip and RAAF Melville Island.
Milikapiti, Northern Territory
Milikapiti is a village on the northern coast of Melville Island, Northern Territory, Australia. It is by air from Darwin.Tiwi Travel fly twice daily to and from Darwin servicing Milikapiti.The flight takes approximately 25 minutes...
on the northern coast of Melville Island
Melville Island, Northern Territory
Melville Island or Yermalner Island lies in the eastern Timor Sea, off the coast of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is west of the Cobourg Peninsula in Arnhem Land and north of Darwin....
, 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...
.
World War II
The Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal 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...
(RAAF) built the airfield as a forward fighter 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...
as part of the proposed strategic amphibious operations by Allied forces against the Tanimbar Islands
Tanimbar Islands
The Tanimbar Islands, also called Timor Laut, are a group of about 65 islands in the Maluku province of Indonesia, including Fordata, Larat, Maru, Molu, Nuswotar, Selaru, Selu, Seira, Wotap, Wuliaru and Yamdena.-Geography:...
and Kai Islands
Kai Islands
The Kai Islands of Indonesia are in the south-eastern part of the Maluku Islands, in Maluku Province.-Geography:...
. It was proposed to accommodate a RAAF Fighter Wing and a United States Army Air Force Fighter Group.
Construction was started on 7 July 1944, by No. 9 Mobile Works Unit RAAF with the help of 40 Aborigines
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
. The airfield was operational on 30 August 1944. Two side by side runways 1829 metres (6,000.7 ft) long were constructed.
The airfield was never fully utilized as the proposed amphibious operations were canceled and replaced with Papua Campaign. The airfield was known as Austin Strip and RAAF Melville Island.
Units based at Austin Strip
- No. 6 Communications Unit RAAF
- No. 9 Mobile Works Unit RAAF