RAAF Base Darwin: Difference between revisions

RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory in Australia
	A USAF C-130 taking off from RAAF Base Darwin in 1999
	RAAF Base Darwin; (YPDN) Location in the Northern Territory
Coordinates	12°24′53″S 130°52′36″E / 12.41472°S 130.87667°E
Type	Military airfield
Site information
Owner	Department of Defence
Operator	Royal Australian Air Force
Website	RAAF Base Darwin
Site history
In use	1 June 1940 – present
Battles/wars	Bombing of Darwin, World War II
Garrison information
Occupants	No. 452 Squadron Darwin Flight; No. 92 Wing Detachment B; No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit; Headquarters No. 396 Combat Support Wing; No. 321 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron; No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Darwin; No 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron; 2 Security forces Squadron Detachment Darwin
Airfield information
Identifiers	IATA: DRW, ICAO: YPDN
Elevation	31 metres (103 ft) AMSL
Runways
11/29	3,354 metres (11,004 ft) Asphalt
18/36	1,524 metres (5,000 ft) Asphalt
	Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart

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Latest revision as of 22:47, 1 June 2024

RAAF Base Darwin (IATA: DRW, ICAO: YPDN) is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base located in the city of Darwin, in the Northern Territory, Australia. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport, for civil aviation purposes. The heritage-listed^[2] RAAF Base Darwin is a forward operating base with year-round activity with approximately 400 personnel.^[3]

History

Construction of the airfield began in 1938 and RAAF Station Darwin was established on 1 June 1940,^[2] from elements of No. 12 Squadron RAAF. No. 13 Squadron RAAF was also created at the same time and was based at the base. Charles Eaton was the first Commanding Officer between 1940 and 1941. No. 12 Squadron RAAF relocated from Parap Airfield, Northern Territory in April 1941 to RAAF Station Darwin. The base hosted a large number of RAAF and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) units during World War II. The base was bombed by Japanese forces many times, beginning with two major air raids on 19 February 1942.

Parts of the 45-hectare (110-acre) site are listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List, since 2004, with the citation stating:^[2]

RAAF Base Darwin is historically significant for its direct association with the defence build up in Darwin in the period immediately before WWII. The base illustrates a change in Australian Defence policy with the Federal Government establishing a major military presence in the north of Australia. Importantly this action was material evidence of the development by Australia of an independent strategic policy in the years preceding WWII. The large scale of the base demonstrates the significance of the governments commitment to such a policy, and the scale of the perceived threat. This military development greatly accelerated Darwin's own development as a major centre in northern Australia.

The heritage items include several timber-framed and fibrous-cement clad houses, the timber-framed Sergeants Mess and Single Officer's Mess, the former Airmen's Mess, the Administrative Building, the Gymnasium and Canteen building, the Commanding Officers' Residence, the non-denominational chapel, the water tower, Guard House, the timber-framed School of Instruction, and various other residential quarters.^[2]

Units based at RAAF Darwin during World War II

During World War II RAAF Base Darwin served as a first refuge for retreating USAAF units from the Philippines in 1941. The USAAF Far East Air Force and its subordinate commands, V Fighter and V Bomber established headquarters at Darwin in late December 1941. Later, the USAAF 49th Fighter Group and other units were assigned to Darwin before moving north to forward bases in 1943. From 9 August 1944 to 20 February 1945 the USAAF 380th Bombardment Group based four squadrons of long-range B-24 Liberator bombers at the base. From Darwin, the group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for a series of long-range attacks on oil refineries, shipping, and dock facilities in Balikpapan, Borneo, in August 1943. The unit repeatedly bombed enemy airfields in western New Guinea during April and May 1944 in support of American landings in the Hollandia area, being awarded another DUC for this action. Moved in February 1945 to Mindoro in the Philippines.^[4]

In 1975, during the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy, the base was the centre of the largest airlift in Australian history in which the majority of Darwin's inhabitants were evacuated.

The base was an emergency landing site for the NASA Space Shuttle due to the length of its runway. United States Air Force (USAF) B-1 Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress bombers, as well as KC-10 and KC-135 tankers can operate from RAAF Base Darwin.

In 2010 it was reported that some houses near the base required extra sound proofing to deal with the extreme sound levels of the low observable Joint Strike Fighter.^[5]

Current units

Unit name	Force Element Group	Aircraft/equipment
Headquarters No. 452 Squadron	Surveillance and Response Group
No. 452 Squadron Darwin Flight	Surveillance and Response Group
No. 92 Wing Detachment B	Surveillance and Response Group	AP-3C Orion
No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit	Surveillance and Response Group	AN/FPS-117 radar
Headquarters No. 396 Combat Support Wing	Combat Support Group
No. 321 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron	Combat Support Group
No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Darwin	Combat Support Group
No 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron	Combat Support Group (RAAF Active Reserve)

Gallery

Former RAAF Base Darwin Control and Water Tower
RAAF Base Darwin's main gate

References

^ YPDN – Darwin (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 13 June 2024, Aeronautical Chart Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "RAAF Base Precinct, Stuart Hwy, RAAF Base Darwin, NT, Australia (Place ID 1052524)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government.
^ "RAAF Base Darwin". Royal Australian Air Force. Australian Government. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
^ Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4
^ "Homes to be insulated against Strike Fighter noise". ABC News. Australia. 1 October 2010.

External links

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

[AIP-1] YPDN – Darwin (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 13 June 2024, Aeronautical Chart Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine

[AHD-2] "RAAF Base Precinct, Stuart Hwy, RAAF Base Darwin, NT, Australia (Place ID 1052524)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government.

[RAAF-3] "RAAF Base Darwin". Royal Australian Air Force. Australian Government. Retrieved 15 August 2017.

[4] Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4

[5] "Homes to be insulated against Strike Fighter noise". ABC News. Australia. 1 October 2010.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Airport in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2013}}
+{{For|the civilian use of this facility|Darwin International Airport}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
 {{Use Australian English|date=May 2013}}
-{{about|the military air base|the civilian aerodrome|Darwin International Airport}}
 {{Infobox military installation
 | name = RAAF Base Darwin
@@ Line 40: / Line 41: @@
 | open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
 | site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
 | site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities - radar types etc -->
 | site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
 | code = <!--facility/installation code, applies to US -->
@@ Line 57: / Line 58: @@
 | garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group -->
 | occupants = {{bulleted list|[[No. 452 Squadron RAAF|No. 452 Squadron Darwin Flight]]|[[No. 92 Wing RAAF|No. 92 Wing Detachment B]]|{{nowrap|[[No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit RAAF|No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit]]}}|[[No. 396 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing RAAF|Headquarters No. 396 Combat Support Wing]]|{{nowrap|[[No. 321 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron RAAF|No. 321 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron]]}}|[[No. 1 Airfield Operations Support Squadron RAAF|No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Darwin]]|[[No. 13 Squadron RAAF|No 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron]]}}<!-- squadrons only -->
+Security forces Squadron Detachment Darwin
 | website = [https://www.airforce.gov.au/Bases/Northern-Territory/RAAF-Base-Darwin/?RAAF-vlicpVEzRKLvk0AtF7pXCq/tUEqnIuez RAAF Base Darwin]
 <!-- begin airfield information  -->
@@ Line 69: / Line 71: @@
 | r1-number = 11/29
 | r1-length = {{Convert|3354|m|0}}
-| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]
+| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
 | r2-number = 18/36
 | r2-length = {{Convert|1524|m|0}}
@@ Line 75: / Line 77: @@
 | airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
 | airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
-| footnotes = Sources: Australian [[Aeronautical Information Publication|AIP]] and aerodrome chart<ref name="AIP">{{AIP AU|YPDN|name=Darwin}}, [http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/dap/TEMAD01-119.pdf Aeronautical Chart]</ref><!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code -->
+| footnotes = Sources: Australian [[Aeronautical Information Publication|AIP]] and aerodrome chart<ref name="AIP">{{AIP AU|YPDN|name=Darwin}}, [http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/dap/TEMAD01-119.pdf Aeronautical Chart] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325121507/http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/dap/TEMAD01-119.pdf |date=25 March 2012 }}</ref><!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code -->
 <!--  end airfield information   -->
 }}
-'''RAAF Base Darwin''' {{airport codes|DRW|YPDN}} is a [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) [[Military airfield|military air base]] located in the city of [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]], in the [[Northern Territory]], Australia. The base shares its [[airfield|runway]] with [[Darwin International Airport]], for [[civil aviation]] purposes. The [[Commonwealth Heritage List|heritage-listed]]<ref name=AHD>{{cite AHD|1052524|RAAF Base Precinct, Stuart Hwy, RAAF Base Darwin, NT, Australia}}</ref> RAAF Base Darwin is a [[forward operating base]] with year round activity with approximately 400 personnel.<ref name=RAAF>{{cite web |url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/Bases/Northern-Territory/RAAF-Base-Darwin/?RAAF-vlicpVEzRKLvk0AtF7pXCq/tUEqnIuez |title=RAAF Base Darwin |work=[[Royal Australian Air Force]] |publisher=Australian Government |date= |access-date=15 August 2017 }}</ref>
+'''RAAF Base Darwin''' {{airport codes|DRW|YPDN}} is a [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) [[Military airfield|military air base]] located in the city of [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]], in the [[Northern Territory]], Australia. The base shares its [[airfield|runway]] with [[Darwin International Airport]], for [[civil aviation]] purposes. The [[Commonwealth Heritage List|heritage-listed]]<ref name=AHD>{{cite AHD|1052524|RAAF Base Precinct, Stuart Hwy, RAAF Base Darwin, NT, Australia}}</ref> RAAF Base Darwin is a [[forward operating base]] with year-round activity with approximately 400 personnel.<ref name=RAAF>{{cite web |url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/Bases/Northern-Territory/RAAF-Base-Darwin/?RAAF-vlicpVEzRKLvk0AtF7pXCq/tUEqnIuez |title=RAAF Base Darwin |work=[[Royal Australian Air Force]] |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=15 August 2017 }}</ref>
 ==History==
-Construction of the airfield began in 1938 and RAAF Station Darwin was established on 1 June 1940,<ref name=AHD/> from elements of [[No. 12 Squadron RAAF]]. [[No. 13 Squadron RAAF]] was also created at the same time and was based at the base. Charles Eaton was the first Commanding Officer between 1940-1941. No. 12 Squadron RAAF relocated from [[Parap Airfield]], Northern Territory in April 1941 to RAAF Station Darwin. The base hosted a large number of RAAF and [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) units during [[World War II]]. The base was bombed by [[Empire of Japan|Japanese forces]] many times, beginning with [[Bombing of Darwin|two major air raids]] on 19 February 1942.
+Construction of the airfield began in 1938 and RAAF Station Darwin was established on 1 June 1940,<ref name=AHD/> from elements of [[No. 12 Squadron RAAF]]. [[No. 13 Squadron RAAF]] was also created at the same time and was based at the base. Charles Eaton was the first Commanding Officer between 1940 and 1941. No. 12 Squadron RAAF relocated from [[Parap Airfield]], Northern Territory in April 1941 to RAAF Station Darwin. The base hosted a large number of RAAF and [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) units during [[World War II]]. The base was bombed by [[Empire of Japan|Japanese forces]] many times, beginning with [[Bombing of Darwin|two major air raids]] on 19 February 1942.
 Parts of the {{convert|45|ha|acre|adj=on}} site are listed on the [[Commonwealth Heritage List]], since 2004, with the citation stating:<ref name=AHD/>
-{{block quote|''RAAF Base Darwin is historically significant for its direct association with the defence build up in Darwin in the period immediately before WWII. The base illustrates a change in Australian Defence policy with the Federal Government establishing a major military presence in the north of Australia. Importantly this action was material evidence of the development by Australia of an independent stategic policy in the years preceding WWII. The large scale of the base demonstrates the significance of the governments commitment to such a policy, and the scale of the perceived threat. This military development greatly accelerated Darwin's own development as a major centre in northern Australia.''}}
+{{block quote|''RAAF Base Darwin is historically significant for its direct association with the defence build up in Darwin in the period immediately before WWII. The base illustrates a change in Australian Defence policy with the Federal Government establishing a major military presence in the north of Australia. Importantly this action was material evidence of the development by Australia of an independent strategic policy in the years preceding WWII. The large scale of the base demonstrates the significance of the governments commitment to such a policy, and the scale of the perceived threat. This military development greatly accelerated Darwin's own development as a major centre in northern Australia.''}}
-The heritage items include several timber-framed and fibrous-cement clad houses, the timber-framed Sergeants Mess and Single Officer's Mess, the former Airmen's Mess, the Administrative Building, the Gymnasium and Canteen building, the Commanding Officers' Residence, the non-denominational chapel, the [[water tower]],  Guard House, the timber-framed School of Instruction, and various other residential quarters.<ref name=AHD/>
+The heritage items include several timber-framed and fibrous-cement clad houses, the timber-framed Sergeants Mess and Single Officer's Mess, the former Airmen's Mess, the Administrative Building, the Gymnasium and Canteen building, the Commanding Officers' Residence, the non-denominational chapel, the [[water tower]], Guard House, the timber-framed School of Instruction, and various other residential quarters.<ref name=AHD/>
 ===Units based at RAAF Darwin during World War II===
@@ Line 93: / Line 95: @@
 *[[No. 34 Squadron RAAF]]
-During World War II RAAF Base Darwin served as a first refuge for retreating USAAF units from the [[Philippines]] in 1941. The USAAF [[Fifth Air Force|Far East Air Force]] and its subordinate commands, V Fighter and V Bomber established headquarters at Darwin in late December 1941. Later, the USAAF [[49th Operations Group|49th Fighter Group]] and other units were assigned to Darwin before moving north to forward bases in 1943. From 9 August 1944 to 20 February 1945 the USAAF [[380th Expeditionary Operations Group|380th Bombardment Group]] based four squadrons of long-range [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|B-24 Liberator]] bombers at the base. From Darwin, the group received a [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Distinguished Unit Citation]] for a series of long-range attacks on oil refineries, shipping, and dock facilities in [[Balikpapan]], [[Borneo]], in August 1943. The unit repeatedly bombed enemy airfields in western [[New Guinea]] during April and May 1944 in support of American landings in the [[Jayapura|Hollandia]] area, being awarded another DUC for this action. Moved in February 1945 to Mindoro in the Philippines.<ref>Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. {{ISBN|0-89201-092-4}}</ref>
+During World War II RAAF Base Darwin served as a first refuge for retreating USAAF units from the [[Philippines]] in 1941. The USAAF [[Fifth Air Force|Far East Air Force]] and its subordinate commands, V Fighter and V Bomber established headquarters at Darwin in late December 1941. Later, the USAAF [[49th Operations Group|49th Fighter Group]] and other units were assigned to Darwin before moving north to forward bases in 1943. From 9 August 1944 to 20 February 1945 the USAAF [[380th Expeditionary Operations Group|380th Bombardment Group]] based four squadrons of long-range [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|B-24 Liberator]] bombers at the base. From Darwin, the group received a [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Distinguished Unit Citation]] for a series of long-range attacks on oil refineries, shipping, and dock facilities in [[Balikpapan]], [[Borneo]], in August 1943. The unit repeatedly bombed enemy airfields in western [[New Guinea]] during April and May 1944 in support of American landings in the [[Jayapura|Hollandia]] area, being awarded another DUC for this action. Moved in February 1945 to Mindoro in the Philippines.<ref>Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. {{ISBN|0-89201-092-4}}</ref>
 In 1975, during the aftermath of [[Cyclone Tracy]], the base was the centre of the largest airlift in Australian history in which the majority of Darwin's inhabitants were evacuated.
@@ Line 102: / Line 104: @@
 ==Current units==
-{| class="wikitable sortable"
+{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:1em auto;"
 !Unit name!![[Force Element Group]]!!Aircraft/equipment
 |-
@@ Line 130: / Line 132: @@
 ==See also==
+* [[United States Army Air Forces in Australia]] (Lists all United States airbases during World War II)
-{{stack|{{Portal|Northern Territory|World War II|Royal Australian Air Force|Aviation}}}}
-* [[United States Army Air Forces in Australia]] (World War II)
 * [[List of airports in the Northern Territory]]
-*[[List of Australian Air Force installations]]
+* [[List of Royal Australian Air Force installations]]
 * [[Marine Rotational Force - Darwin]]
@@ Line 141: / Line 142: @@
 ==External links==
 {{Commons category|RAAF Base Darwin}}
-*{{URL|airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/bases/darwin.htm|RAAF Museum website{{spaced endash}} Darwin Base}}
+*[http://airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/bases/darwin.htm RAAF Museum website {{endash}} Darwin Base]
-*{{URL|ozatwar.com/airfields/raafdarwin.htm|OzatWar website{{spaced endash}} RAAF Darwin Airfield}}
+*[http://ozatwar.com/airfields/raafdarwin.htm OzatWar website {{endash}} RAAF Darwin Airfield]
 {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
+{{Portal bar|Royal Australian Air Force|Aviation}}
 {{RAAF Bases}}
 {{Airports in the Northern Territory}}
+{{authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Darwin, RAAF Base}}
@@ Line 153: / Line 156: @@
 [[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Australia]]
 [[Category:Airports in the Northern Territory]]
-[[Category:Airports established in 1940]]
-[[Category:Australian historic places]]
 [[Category:1940 establishments in Australia]]
-[[Category:Military installations established in 1940]]
+[[Category:Military airbases established in 1940]]
+[[Category:Commonwealth Heritage List places in the Northern Territory]]
+[[Category:Military installations in the Northern Territory]]
+[[Category:Darwin, Northern Territory in World War II]]
+[[Category:Bombing of Darwin]]
+[[Category:World War II sites in Australia]]
 [[ja:ダーウィン国際空港]]

v t e Royal Australian Air Force bases
Current bases including bare bases	Amberley Darwin East Sale Edinburgh Gingin Glenbrook Pearce Richmond Tindal Townsville Wagga Williams Williamtown Woomera Range Complex including Woomera Base Curtin Learmonth Scherger
Former bases	Albion Park Archerfield Bairnsdale Bowen Bundaberg Cairns Camden Coffs Harbour Cunderdin Daly Waters Deniliquin Evans Head Fairbairn Gove Guildford Horn Island Jervis Bay Mallala Mascot Moruya Mildura Nabiac Narrandera Narromine Nowra Oakey Parafield Pokolbin Rathmines Parkes Sandgate Schofields Temora Tengah (Singapore) Tocumwal Ubon (Thailand) Uranquinty West Sale Western Junction
Overseas bases	Butterworth (Malaysia) Cocos Island (Cocos (Keeling) Islands) Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea)
Shared bases	Defence Establishment Orchard Hills
Flying boat bases	Lake Boga Rathmines
Other facilities	Delamere Air Weapons Range
RAAFs Curtin, Learmonth and Scherger are so-called "bare bases"

v t e Airports in the Northern Territory
Public airports	Alice Springs Ayers Rock Bathurst Island Borroloola Croker Island Darwin Elcho Island Garden Point Gove Groote Eylandt Hooker Creek Kalkgurung Lake Evella Maningrida Milingimbi Ngukurr Numbulwar Oenpelli Port Keats Ramingining Smith Point Snake Bay South Goulburn Island Tennant Creek Ti-Tree Yuendumu
Private airports	Emkaytee Jabiru McArthur River The Granites Victoria River Downs
Military airports	Darwin Tindal
Defunct airports	Batchelor Coomalie Creek Daly Waters Fenton Gorrie Gould Hughes Katherine Livingstone Long MacDonald Manbulloo Parap Pell Pine Creek Sattler Strauss
Related	New South Wales Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia Territories of Australia
Airports in bold are international airports