Antil Plains Aerodrome
Encyclopedia
Antil Plains Aerdodrome was an aerodrome located 19.38 kilometres (12 mi) south of Townsville, Queensland
, Australia
near Antill Plains.
The aerodrome was constructed in 1942, during World War II
, for the Royal Australian Air Force
as part of a group of airfields to be used as aircraft dispersal fields in the event of Imperial Japanese attack on the Townsville area. It was leased to the United States Army Air Force.
The aerodrome had two runways, one running east-west and the other NE-SW. It was abandoned after the war. Today, the airfield is in constant use by the Barrier Reef Adventure Trikes (B.R.A.T.S) Who fly their ultralights. There are numerous hangars and a model aero club at the end of runway 270. The airfield is now owned and operated by Andrew Hicks and is referred to locally as Montpelier Airpark; www.montpelier-microlights.com.au. Current members include women Trike pilots Pam Pemberton, Ruth Moore and Natalie Tonking. The male Trike flyers are Pembo, Pete Holmes, Tim Moore, Steve Runciman, and Andrew Hicks. There are several fixed-wing aircraft also based there and one Gyro flown by Darryn Watts. Fixed wing pilots include Ross Millard, Arthur Johnston, Darren Simons, Bill Caton, and Steve Goldman. It is the closest UL airfield to town of the three in the area.
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
, 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...
near Antill Plains.
The aerodrome was constructed in 1942, 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...
, for 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...
as part of a group of airfields to be used as aircraft dispersal fields in the event of Imperial Japanese attack on the Townsville area. It was leased to the United States Army Air Force.
The aerodrome had two runways, one running east-west and the other NE-SW. It was abandoned after the war. Today, the airfield is in constant use by the Barrier Reef Adventure Trikes (B.R.A.T.S) Who fly their ultralights. There are numerous hangars and a model aero club at the end of runway 270. The airfield is now owned and operated by Andrew Hicks and is referred to locally as Montpelier Airpark; www.montpelier-microlights.com.au. Current members include women Trike pilots Pam Pemberton, Ruth Moore and Natalie Tonking. The male Trike flyers are Pembo, Pete Holmes, Tim Moore, Steve Runciman, and Andrew Hicks. There are several fixed-wing aircraft also based there and one Gyro flown by Darryn Watts. Fixed wing pilots include Ross Millard, Arthur Johnston, Darren Simons, Bill Caton, and Steve Goldman. It is the closest UL airfield to town of the three in the area.
Units based at Antil Plains Aerodrome
- 33rd Bombardment Squadron33d Flying Training SquadronThe 33d Flying Training Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron based out of Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. It is a part of the 71st Flying Training Wing...
of the 22nd Bomb Group22nd Bomb Group (Red Raiders) 5th Army Air ForceThe 22d Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 22d Air Refueling Wing. It is stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, and is assigned to the Air Mobility Command Eighteenth Air Force....
- (B-26 MarauderB-26 MarauderThe Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
's) 7 April 1942 - 20 July 1942.
See also
- United States Army Air Forces in AustraliaUnited States Army Air Forces in AustraliaDuring 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 IIWorld War IIWorld 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...
)