No. 20 Radar Station RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 20 Radar Station RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force
radar station formed at Nelson Bay
, New South Wales
, Australia
, during World War II
on 12 April 1942. The radar station was set up upon Tomaree Head, Port Stephens
and became operational on 1 June 1942.
, plus all flight movements along the coast in the vicinity and reporting to No. 2 Fighter Sector HQ
. The radar was made non-operational on 1 September 1945 and was disbanded on 21 January 1947.
After World War II, the radar antennae was left on the headland until it was knocked over during a bad storm. The collapsed radar tower was recovered by the RAAF in 1993 from the top of Tomaree Head. The turning gear base of the radar tower was returned to its original position in 2001 with the rest of the radar tower stored at RAAF Base Williamtown.
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...
radar station formed at Nelson Bay
Nelson Bay, New South Wales
Nelson Bay is a suburb of the Port Stephens Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on a bay of the same name on the southern shore of Port Stephens about by road north-east of Newcastle, its nearest rail link. At the 2006 census, Nelson Bay had a...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, 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...
, 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...
on 12 April 1942. The radar station was set up upon Tomaree Head, Port Stephens
Port Stephens
Port Stephens is a large natural harbour located about north-east of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. It lies wholly within the Port Stephens Local Government Area although its northern shoreline forms the boundary between the Port Stephens and Great Lakes LGAs...
and became operational on 1 June 1942.
Overview
The radar was the first HMV (Aust) produced AW radar. The radar site necessitated the need to build a high voltage power line to provide electricity to power the rotating radar antennae. The radar station was responsible for plotting flight movements from RAAF Base WilliamtownRAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Tactical Fighter group. The base is located north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales in the Local Government Area of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with...
, plus all flight movements along the coast in the vicinity and reporting to No. 2 Fighter Sector HQ
No. 2 Fighter Sector RAAF
No. 2 Fighter Sector was a Royal Australian Air Force unit formed at New Lambton, Newcastle, New South Wales on 25 February 1942. No. 2 Fighter Sector was responsible for fighter aircraft control and coordination for the Newcastle and Hunter region....
. The radar was made non-operational on 1 September 1945 and was disbanded on 21 January 1947.
After World War II, the radar antennae was left on the headland until it was knocked over during a bad storm. The collapsed radar tower was recovered by the RAAF in 1993 from the top of Tomaree Head. The turning gear base of the radar tower was returned to its original position in 2001 with the rest of the radar tower stored at RAAF Base Williamtown.
Commanding officers
- R.E. Abbott (PltOffPilot OfficerPilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
) - 12 April 1942 - L.F. Sawford (PltOff) - 30 June 1942
- W.deB. Perceval (FltLtFlight LieutenantFlight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
) - 4 October 1942 - J.D.H. Muir (PltOff) - 18 June 1943
- A.H. Philp (PltOff) - 3 September 1943
- W.G. Denney (FltLt) - 8 September 1943
- R.E. Oldfield (FlgOffFlying OfficerFlying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
) - 6 December 1943 - R.J. Ferrie (FltLt) - 24 December 1944
- P.R. Watson (FltLt) - 5 April 1945
- A.P. Wallace (FltLt) - 29 August 1945
- T.J. Campbell (SgtSergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
) - 15 September 1945