RAAF Station Cunderdin
Encyclopedia
RAAF Station Cunderdin was a Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) airfield located at Cunderdin, Western Australia
during World War II
.
fighter aircraft at Cunderdin in March 1942 to provide air defence coverage of Perth
.
Between March and June 1942, two B-24 Liberator
heavy bombers of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) 28th Bombardment Squadron, from the 19th Bombardment Group, were based at Cunderdin and carried out long-range ocean patrols in the defence of southern Western Australia.
No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron
was based at Cunderdin from February 1945, operating Liberators until its disbandment in 1946. The remains of a No. 25 Squadron B-24 (A72-124) is located at the end of one of the runways.
In June 1945, No. 86 Operational Base Unit took over the running of the RAAF base at Cunderdin from 9EFTS.
Cunderdin Airfield was employed as a migrant camp between 1949 and 1952, with a capacity of 700 persons. It is currently used as a civilian airfield and headquarters for a gliding club.
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...
(RAAF) airfield located at Cunderdin, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
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...
.
History
Cunderdin was home to No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School (9EFTS) and No. 17 Repair and Salvage Unit. The RAAF also assembled a number of P-40 KittyhawkCurtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
fighter aircraft at Cunderdin in March 1942 to provide air defence coverage of Perth
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....
.
Between March and June 1942, two B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
heavy bombers of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) 28th Bombardment Squadron, from the 19th Bombardment Group, were based at Cunderdin and carried out long-range ocean patrols in the defence of southern Western Australia.
No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron
No. 25 Squadron RAAF
No. 25 Squadron is a general reserve squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force. The squadron is based at RAAF Base Pearce in Perth, Western Australia and forms part of the Combat Reserve Wing. The squadron has been based at Pearce since 1938. 25 Squadron was originally formed at RAAF Base...
was based at Cunderdin from February 1945, operating Liberators until its disbandment in 1946. The remains of a No. 25 Squadron B-24 (A72-124) is located at the end of one of the runways.
In June 1945, No. 86 Operational Base Unit took over the running of the RAAF base at Cunderdin from 9EFTS.
Cunderdin Airfield was employed as a migrant camp between 1949 and 1952, with a capacity of 700 persons. It is currently used as a civilian airfield and headquarters for a gliding club.