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]
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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 (1942) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In use | until 14 January 1946 (1946-01-14) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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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.
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.
Western Australia during World War II | |
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Fremantle Fortress |
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